Portfolio Manager

Job summary

We are looking for Portfolio Managers to join UKHSA, providing strong leadership to ensure the successful delivery of a portfolio of projects and programmes. This involves planning, prioritisation, tracking progress, managing dependencies and risks, assessing progress towards achieving benefits and providing governance and reporting to the appropriate boards.

Successful candidates will be assigned to one of the agencies portfolio offices (sub-portfolio, group portfolio, or central portfolio management office), and will have a broad remit covering all elements of portfolio management. In addition, they will have lead responsibility for one or more elements of portfolio management such as:

• Governance and portfolio reporting
• Planning
• Risk and opportunity management
• Business cases and assurance
• Benefits management.

Working for your organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

As Portfolio Manager you will be responsible for leading a collection of programmes or projects, typically of low complexity, that contribute to the delivery of UKHSA objectives. You will have responsibility for the prioritisation and allocation of resources across the portfolio to ensure optimal delivery of departmental / business strategic objectives in line with government priorities.

This role is a government project delivery profession role and part of UKHSA’s project delivery resource model. It is aligned to the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF) career pathway Portfolio Manager G7.

The main responsibilities for this role are as follows:

• Collaborate with business areas to identify and categorise new projects for a decision on entry into the portfolio, producing regular updates on pipeline projects to the Portfolio Board / other management boards.

• Provide clear governance frameworks and co-ordinate the reporting from projects across the portfolio, including the analysis of performance at portfolio level for review by governance bodies.

• Provide secretariat support for governance boards.

• Provide advice and guidance for business case development, ensuring specialist input is gathered and submitted.

• Maintain the portfolio delivery map and critical path to monitor progress across projects, tracking interdependencies across change projects.

• Co-ordinate the identification and monitoring of portfolio risks, threats, and opportunities.

• Provide recommendations for how finance and resources are allocated across change initiatives to optimise return on investment.

• Agree ownership and responsibility for benefit realisation, reviewing business cases regularly to assess progress towards benefits realisation.

• Utilise digital tools to analyse data and oversee governance and management of data standards across the portfolio.

• Map stakeholder interest and influence to determine priorities for engagement.

• Engage with stakeholders, providing updates, challenge assumptions and resolve issues.

• Be a visible leader, building commitment to a shared vision and sense of purpose. Support business areas to take decisions independently.

• Be an active member of the UKHSA Project Delivery Profession Community.

This list is not exhaustive.

The job holder will be supported to work towards achieving Government Project Delivery Accreditation where they do not already hold this.

Person specification

Essential role criteria:

• Demonstrable experience in portfolio management with in-depth knowledge of governance, planning, scheduling, risk and issue management and benefits management in a complex environment. (lead behaviour)

• Knowledge and experience of business case development, resource management, business change and implementation and asset allocation in a project delivery environment

• Practical experience of project/programme assurance, budgeting, and cost management.

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to maintain levels of performance in challenging circumstances with experience of leading cross-functional teams.

• Good analytical skills, experienced in utilising digital tools to interpret and analyse complex data.

• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence and challenge key stakeholders.

• Experience of sharing and promoting best practices and lessons learned to create a culture of learning that supports continuous improvement to optimise project delivery.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,276 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

At sift stage you will be assessed against the 7 Essential Criteria listed in the job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• Up to 1000 word supporting statement

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible).

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. Any words above this limit will not be considered by the panel.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

Only those that meet all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift will be conducted against the lead criteria- Demonstrable experience in portfolio management with in-depth knowledge of governance, planning, scheduling, risk and issue management and benefits management in a complex environment.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a remote interview via MS Teams.

This vacancy is being assessed using Success Profiles. During the interview we will assess you against the below:

Behaviours:

• Leadership (lead)
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical and Experience:

• Project Delivery technical knowledge and experience

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Eligibility Criteria

Option 1 – External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Security Clearance Level Requirement:

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Grade 7

• £56,185- £66,581 (National)
• £58,340- £68,574 (Outer London)
• £60,494- £70,566 (Inner London)

Hybrid any Core HQ

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ’s. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQ’s (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London). Most of our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Please note: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) group, where this role sits, is undergoing organisational change over the next 12–18 months. While the process is still in the planning stage, some roles may be affected by future restructuring. We are committed to keeping candidates informed and will share updates as they become available.

Future location
UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK. The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs. You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-servicecareers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

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.

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

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 : Project Delivery Resourcing Team
• Email : projectdeliveryresourcing@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment
Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Visit the Civil Service Commission website for further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk