Portfolio Manager

Government Recruitment Service; Leeds; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability Confident employer

Job summary

Government Recruitment Service in Leeds is seeking a Portfolio Manager to join the Strategic Change Function within Defra. The role focuses on delivering organisational change, modernising ways of working, and aligning portfolios with Defra’s outcomes across multiple areas.

You will oversee the Change Portfolio, provide governance insight, and support decision-making to optimise resource allocation. This is a high-profile, fast-paced position within a Government department.

Responsibilities

• Oversee significant change initiatives to deliver Defra outcomes.
• Provide insight to strengthen portfolio governance and enable prioritisation decisions.
• Support efficient allocation of resources across the portfolio and reporting frameworks.

Job description

Portfolio Manager

Company: Government Recruitment Service

Salary: £58,207 to £71,178 a year

Hours: Full-time

Location: Leeds

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 8 Oct 2026

Closing date: 30 Oct 2026

Summary

Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink. In terms of programme and project delivery, Defra has one of the largest and most complicated portfolios in Government.

We are seeking a Portfolio Manager to join the Strategic Change Function. We have a strong appetite to ensure that as an organisation we deliver policy and services, enable the department to modernise & change ways of working, live within our means, become high performing, and be valued by our customers.

The Change Directorate was established to support the delivery of changes required to meet this challenge. The post holder would sit within the Change Portfolio team. This presents an exciting opportunity to become a part of a team that is key to delivering critical organisational change initiatives.

This role is aimed at bringing about critical organisational change to deliver Defra’s Outcomes Framework, drive efficiency and shape the future of the organisation. You will be working in a high profile, fast paced team working across all areas of Defra including its Arms Length Bodies. You will support the efficient and effective running of Defra’s Change Portfolio, be exposed to a variety of projects and work with stakeholders across a wide range of areas across Defra.

As Portfolio Manager you will be responsible for the oversight of significant change initiatives that contribute to the delivery of departmental or business area objectives. You will focus primarily on providing insight, information and support that strengthens portfolio governance and enables prioritisation decisions and effective allocation of resources across the portfolio.

You will help to ensure the optimal delivery of departmental/business strategic objectives which will be aligned to Defra’s outcomes and wider government priorities. This will be through the analysis of information sources and engagement with programme and project stakeholders. You will use the appropriate reporting method to convert this insight to inform decision making.

This role is aligned to the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF) career pathway G7 Portfolio Manager, You can find more information about the PDCF on the gov.uk homepage (search "Project Delivery Capability Framework").

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