Portfolio Manager

Job summary

Are you an experienced Project Delivery professional with a passion for leading complex, high‑risk change programmes that truly make a difference?

Do you thrive on shaping strategic direction and want to be at the forefront of defining and leading DVLA’s change roadmap—driving both immediate impact and long‑term innovation?

Are you motivated by the challenge of ensuring that critical digital services and business functions are transformed and future‑proofed, while continuing to meet the evolving needs of customers and users?

If you’re excited by the opportunity to influence at scale, lead transformational change, and play a pivotal role in the delivery of DVLA services at a national scale, then we’d love to hear from you.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at DVLA - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

DVLA is seeking a highly experienced G6 Portfolio Manager to lead one of our complex change portfolios, helping to shape the future of the Agency and the services we provide to millions of customers each year.

Aligned to the Portfolio Manager (G6) role within the Government Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF), this role is responsible for leading a portfolio of programmes and projects that deliver DVLA’s strategic objectives and government priorities. You will work closely with Executive Team members in their role as Senior Responsible Owners (SROs) to define, prioritise and balance the mix of projects that will maximise business outcomes and value for money.

As a senior leader within DVLA’s established Project & Portfolio Management (PPM) capability, you will take ownership of large, complex programmes of change. This includes securing and managing internal resources and external suppliers, overseeing multi-million-pound budgets, and ensuring the successful delivery of benefits across the full change lifecycle. You will manage strategic dependencies across programmes and business-as-usual operations, ensuring robust governance and clear accountability.

The role spans business change, customer engagement, stakeholder and supplier management, procurement, and digital, data and technology delivery. Operating in a multi‑modal environment, you will blend established programme and project methodologies with agile principles to deliver at pace while managing risk effectively. Typically, you will be responsible for an annual change budget ranging between £10m - £25m, shaping the roadmap of projects and programmes to meet DVLA’s strategic objectives. You will take direct line management responsibility for between 15-30 Project Delivery professionals, with a wider delivery team that may range between 100 - 200 internal and external resources across a range of technical and business disciplines.

Reporting directly to the Head of Profession for Project Delivery, you will sit on the PPM Senior Management Team, playing a critical role in shaping and strengthening DVLA’s project delivery capability. You will champion the Project Delivery Profession across DVLA, the Department for Transport and wider government, driving continuous improvement in delivery standards, methodologies and the implementation of the PDCF. You will also support the ongoing professional development of DVLA’s PPM community of around 120 Project Delivery practitioners, ensuring that core Government guidelines and best practices are adhered to and championed, including HM Treasury Green Book, Teal Book and the Government Functional Standard for Project Delivery.

At DVLA, the Project Delivery profession is about more than technology. Our change portfolio covers everything from customer migration and channel shift, business process transformation and strategic procurement, to digital services, infrastructure and estates delivery; all focused on improving outcomes for customers, stakeholders and staff.

If you are an experienced portfolio leader who thrives in complex environments and wants to make a real impact at a national scale, this is an outstanding opportunity to lead transformational change at DVLA.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

People & Leadership: Communicate and build commitment to a shared vision and sense of purpose. Support business areas to take decisions independently and take the lead in their area of expertise.

Stakeholder Management: Map stakeholder interest and influence to determine priorities for engagement and communication. Communicate regularly and obtain input on issues such as means of communication. Engage in debate to resolve issues and differences between stakeholders and to challenge assumptions.

Governance & Reporting: Establish clear governance framework and reporting regime aligned to Management of Portfolios best practice. Co-ordinate reporting from projects and provide analysis of performance at portfolio level for review by governance bodies. Provide secretariat support for senior governance boards.

Planning, Scheduling & Resourcing: Maintain portfolio delivery map and critical path to monitor project progress. Recognise and track interdependencies across change projects. Recommend how financial and other resources be allocated across change initiatives to optimise the organisation’s return on investment. Develop strategies to address resource gaps.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Open Sessions: Would you like to find out more about the role, the team and what it’s like to work in our department? If so, we are organising an open session where you can virtually 'meet the team' on 28th May 2026 at 12:00pm. Sign up here.

Person specification

Required experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• You will have a varied depth of project delivery experience, allowing you to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering some of DVLA’s most complex, high‑profile and high‑risk programmes and projects. Drawing on a rich blend of delivery disciplines, tools and techniques, you’ll confidently lead work that makes a real difference to citizens, customers and Government.
• You’ll be confident and experienced in a variety of change delivery scenarios, from vision setting and strategic planning, through to the detail of technical delivery and release planning within complex, multi-team and multi-discipline environments
• You’ll bring a strong professional foundation, supported by recognised project and programme management qualifications (such as PRINCE2, PRINCE2 Agile, MSP, MoP and/or APMP, MPLA or equivalent). Just as importantly, you’ll be a passionate and inclusive leader—someone who thrives on developing talented project professionals at all stages of their careers, enabling them to succeed, grow and contribute meaningfully to the wider project delivery community.
• Comfortable operating at senior levels, you’ll engage with credibility and influence across DVLA, the Department for Transport and wider Government, acting as a visible ambassador for DVLA’s change delivery ambitions and the Government Project Delivery Profession. You’ll build trust quickly, communicate with clarity, and represent the organisation with professionalism and impact.
• Your leadership style will inspire and motivate diverse, multidisciplinary teams while bringing together a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders and delivery partners. You’ll balance strategic thinking with hands‑on engagement—maintaining a clear, long‑term view of delivery roadmaps and organisational strategy, while confidently diving into the detail with technical, business, policy and corporate experts when it counts.
• Above all, you’ll be a relationship‑builder with a strong commercial and delivery mindset, able to forge collaborative partnerships that unlock value, manage risk and deliver tangible business benefits.

Additional Information

Working for the DVLA Digital Team

At DVLA, licensing is just the start. Every project you implement, touch and deliver has a ripple effect that’ll wash across the nation. Here the work you’re doing has the capacity to change the way 53 million people interact with our services. As we aim to keep our roads some of the safest in the world, our innovative, transformative digital-led services help optimise a nation of individuals and business every single day.

To see how our people are transforming our digital services, head over to our DVLA Digital Services Blog and, to understand more about the great opportunities and benefits of working at DVLA read our Inside DVLA blog.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week. Applications will be accepted from full time/part time/job sharers. Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 35 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

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

• Project Delivery Capability Framework – Governance (Level Expert)
• Project Delivery Capability Framework - Stakeholder Engagement (Level Practitioner)
• Project Delivery Capability Framework – Risk and Issue Management (Level Practitioner)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £69,501, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency contributes £20,134 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).

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 Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV by Inspire People (our recruitment Partners)

Stage 2: Sift of CV by DVLA panel

Stage 3: Pre-recorded video interview

Stage 4: Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift by Inspire People

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following essential criteria:

• Successful leadership and delivery of multiple or concurrent large projects or programmes in a complex, multi-team portfolio environment, in line with the scale and complexity outlined in the role description above
• Experience of developing and managing short and long-term delivery roadmaps and pipelines, applying portfolio management principles to successfully deliver large-scale change, incorporating a range of business and technology outcomes across the technology spectrum (digital service development, infrastructure, corporate technologies and/or cloud technologies)
• Evidence of working with and managing internal and external resources at all levels within an organisation working across boundaries with senior/Executive-level stakeholders to deliver defined business outcomes
• Development of PPM best practice and professional capability, helping others to develop and perform to their highest potential demonstrating the breadth of your expertise across a range of delivery methodologies and your credibility as a senior Project Delivery and transformation leader

Stage 2: Sift by DVLA panel

If successful through sift by Inspire People your CV will then be sifted by a panel at DVLA.

This sift will take place week commencing 1st June 2026.

Should we receive a high volume of quality applications, we may invite a shortlist of the highest scoring candidates to interview. This means that some applications that meet the required standard could be placed ‘on hold’ after the sift and invited to interview if the vacant position(s) remain unfilled. You will be notified if your application is being put ‘on hold’ once the sift has been completed. Following interviews, any applicants remaining on hold will be notified by the panel of the next steps regarding their application.

Stage 3: Pre-recorded video interview

If at sift your application is successful, you will be invited to the first stage of the interview process (hosted by Inspire People), where you will be asked to complete a pre-recorded video interview (this again will be based on the experience points outlined in the essential criteria on this advert).

If you are successful at this stage, you will be invited to a final stage interview (which will include an assessment) and be conducted by DVLA Hiring Managers.

Stage 4: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours:

Leadership

Seeing the Big Picture

• Technical –
• Project Delivery Capability Framework – Governance (Level Expert)
• Project Delivery Capability Framework - Stakeholder Engagement (Level Practitioner)
• Project Delivery Capability Framework – Risk and Issue Management (Level Practitioner)

The interview will also include a presentation exercise, details of which will be provided to you if you are invited to interview.

The interviews will take place week commencing 22nd June 2026.

This interview will be conducted in person at our Swansea office (DVLA, Swansea SA6 7JL). Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

Further information on the selection process

We will also hold a12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If your application is successful but you have been dismissed from the Civil Service within the last 12 months, your application could be removed at the pre-employment checking stage.

All External applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as:

Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour

Threats or acts of violence

Illegal activity or substance misuse

Sexually explicit material

Extremist views or affiliations

Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public.

Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. It’s not about judging your personality or lifestyle—it’s about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture.

If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail what’s being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Andrew Medhurst - Inspire People
• Email : amedhurst@inspirepeople.net

Recruitment team

• Email : ITSRecruitment@dvla.gov.uk

Further information

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 Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.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 Here

Attachments

Role Profile Opens in new window (pdf, 241kB)DVLA Digital Job Brochure - V1 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 2074kB)