Portfolio Analyst Lead (Ref: 17250)

Job summary

This position is based nationally.

Job description

Job role: Portfolio Analyst Lead

Grade: SEO

Directorate: Change Directorate

About us

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for administering criminal, civil, and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our mission is to deliver justice effectively and efficiently, helping people and businesses access justice.

The Change Directorate plays a pivotal role in shaping and delivering HMCTS’s strategic objectives through effective portfolio management. Our team of experienced portfolio and project professionals ensures that HMCTS can adapt swiftly to evolving priorities, delivering initiatives that align with organisational goals and maintain high standards of quality.

We oversee a diverse portfolio of 20 to 30 active projects at any given time, each targeting improvements in the efficiency, effectiveness, and accessibility of courts and tribunals. Through structured portfolio oversight, we ensure that resources are optimally allocated, risks are managed proactively, and benefits are realised across the full spectrum of change initiatives.

We’re looking for individuals with a passion for public service and who also want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice. If you're looking to build a career with real purpose, we encourage you to apply. Join us and be part of a team where your experience directly supports the delivery of justice for all.

About the role

As the Portfolio Analyst Lead, you will be reporting to the Portfolio Manager. You will be responsible for supporting some of our most complex and exciting projects. This is a central portfolio function that supports projects and programmes on all aspects of delivery. 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.

This is a high-profile role with significant visibility across the department. You will work alongside a team of project delivery professionals who each lead on their respective functions and provide expertise to projects as required. You will be responsible for contributing to core change portfolio office functions including but not limited to: horizon scanning, intercept assessments for new initiatives, prioritisation, risk assumptions issues and dependencies management, planning, benefits management and reporting.

Your role as the Portfolio Analyst Lead encompasses several key aspects (but not limited to):

• Run a clear Portfolio Governance Framework and reporting rhythm.
• Support projects throughout their delivery lifecycle to ensure they are set up and running effectively. Drive effective adoption and implementation of the project delivery lifecycle across the portfolio, in partnership with our Change Governance and Assurance team.
• Work with business areas to identify and categorise new projects for the portfolio pipeline.
• Manage a significant work area covering a major function or range of related functions. Responsibilities will include managing diverse teams with lead accountability for a functional element of activity with full accountability for a range of resources including a leadership role in developing staff and raising their performance.
• In a wider management context, you will be expected to contribute to and support organisational change initiatives, support collaborative working across boundaries and regularly seek out opportunities to provide more responsive services.

For a comprehensive overview of the role and requirements, please refer to the attached role profile, and refer to the Government Project Delivery Capability Framework: Government Project Delivery Capability Framework

Who are we looking for? (Person Specification)

Candidates should demonstrate that they meet the following essential criteria in line with the Portfolio Analyst SEO-level as set out in the Government Project Delivery Capability Framework

Essential

• Experience of working within a fast-paced and complex Portfolio office, demonstrable experience of working within a team that has undertaken significant organisational transition.
• Knowledge and understanding of project delivery practice with a background in projects and experience using and championing associated project delivery methodologies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with partners and stakeholders, including the ability to work across boundaries to influence and gain confidence of senior project delivery leaders and sponsors.
• The ability to analyse data and present qualitative and quantitative information, adapting style and tone for different audiences, in a concise and meaningful way through working alongside programmes and other portfolio functions.
• Ability to work to tight timescales and adapt to changing circumstances, managing competing priorities and ensuring delivery of quality products, whilst maintaining performance.
• Strong ability to identify areas of improvement and create and implement innovative approaches to delivering better quality services and processes.
• Leadership and management skills together with experience of the work area and broader areas relevant to individual areas of responsibility.

How to apply

Please submit a CV that clearly demonstrates your skills and experience against the essential criteria, ensuring it is clearly formatted, concise, well‑structured and no more than 2 pages.

Please also submit a Statement of Suitability (maximum 500 words) providing evidence of your experience supporting delivery within a fast‑paced and complex Portfolio Office or portfolio environment. We are particularly interested in how you have:

• Contributed to portfolio‑level governance, reporting, controls, and analysis, supporting informed decision‑making
• Worked effectively in ambiguous and changing environments, managing competing priorities and adapting your approach as information evolves

Your response should clearly outline your personal role, the actions you took, and the outcomes achieved. We recommend following the STAR format.

Please note: We review all applications manually, no automated or algorithmic sifting is used.

Interview

If successful at sift you will be invited to attend a formal interview remotely via Microsoft Teams, which will be assessed against the Civil Service Success Profile Framework, and the Government Project Delivery Capability Framework.

You will be asked the following technical and behavioural questions:

• Frameworks and methodologies - The ability to identify and amend appropriate frameworks and methodologies to enable a consistent and efficient approach to delivery at all stages of the lifecycle.
• Working with ambiguity - The ability to work in an environment of uncertainty and continual change. Able to feel comfortable making decisions and setting direction without having the full picture and re-focus as details emerge. Can apply knowledge and techniques to reduce ambiguity. Aligned to the making effective decisions Civil Service behaviour.
• Collaboration - The ability to establish and develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, bringing people together to benefit the project. Aligned to the working together Civil Service behaviour.

We will also test you on a range of strengths during the interview. These are designed to test your ability to respond to situations that you may face in your day-to-day role and will not be shared in advance.

Further information on the relevant frameworks and the required standards for this SEO post can be found at:

Government Project Delivery Capability Framework

Success Profiles - GOV.UK

Travel requirements

This role is advertised nationally; however some occasional travel may be required for team days and quarterly meetings, typically in London or another HMCTS site. Travel and accommodation costs incurred for official duties will be fully funded by HMCTS in line with departmental policy.

About our benefits

We reward our people for their hard work and commitment. We have a number of family friendly and flexible working polices that will help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition, we offer a range of employee benefits which include generous annual leave, a highly competitive contributory pension scheme, childcare benefits, season ticket and bicycle loans.

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.

Technical Skills

Skill 2

Working with ambiguity - The ability to work in an environment of uncertainty and continual change. Able to feel comfortable making decisions and setting direction without having the full picture and re-focus as details emerge. Can apply knowledge and techniques to reduce ambiguity. Aligned to the making effective decisions Civil Service behaviour.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Frameworks and methodologies - The ability to identify and amend appropriate frameworks and methodologies to enable a consistent and efficient approach to delivery at all stages of the lifecycle.
• Please refer to the Job Description
• Collaboration - The ability to establish and develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, bringing people together to benefit the project. Aligned to the working together Civil Service behaviour.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,914, HM Courts and Tribunals Service contributes £12,432 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
• Telephone : 0345 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/17250?entityId=17250