LOCATION: LEEDS OR LONDON

As a Portfolio Planning & Assurance Senior Manager you will play a pivotal role in delivering strategic, data-informed and independent portfolio planning and assurance services. You will be a trusted partner, enabling the Bank to achieve its strategic priorities by setting up projects and programmes for success. You will ensure the Portfolio Planning & Assurance team delivers effective portfolio management, ensuring all changes are traceable, accountable and deliver measurable benefits.
As a member of the Portfolio Planning & Assurance Leadership team you will hold collective responsibility for our cross-cutting objectives whilst also carrying responsibility for a specific specialist area, that being Delivery Assurance.
You will lead the team who are responsible second line assurance of change initiatives throughout their lifecycle to ensure adherence to agreed-upon plans and standards. You will ensure there is a robust framework in place to conduct periodic reviews, health checks and maintaining accountability across all portfolio activities and ensure that all actions and recommendations are effectively communicated and addressed.
As a people manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management and development of the team through effective sharing of information, coaching and communication of a clear vision. You will ensure that team members are productive, engaged and motivated to deliver our vision and objectives. This will include setting clear goals and stretch objectives.

PRIMARY OUTCOMES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Drive Portfolio Management Practices: Lead the Delivery Assurance function ensuring that consistent and proportionate assurance is applied across all investment programmes. This involves leading a team of assurance experts to drive high performing portfolio management practices, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration and accountability.
• Measure effectiveness: Build and maintain insights across all Bank programmes to provide a clear picture of the Portfolio’s effectiveness.
• Be a Trusted Advisor: Demonstrate advanced stakeholder management skills by serving as the primary point of contact, ensuring effective communication and collaboration across all levels of the organisation.
• Develop a high performing team: Lead and develop a high-performing team by fostering a culture of continuous improvement, setting clear performance goals, and providing regular feedback and professional development opportunities.
• Lead your area of Portfolio responsibilities: ensuring that all team members are aware of their responsibilities and acting as a point of contact for any escalations.
• Being a role model and ambassador for the Division, committed to the purpose of the Bank and providing a supportive, diverse and inclusive team environment.
• Frameworks and reporting: Own and develop frameworks, which are continuously reviewed and improved, which support the Portfolio practices across the Bank. Ensure that all reporting is accurate and relevant.
• Support Strategy & Business Planning: ensure that activities are aligned with the overall strategic goals of the organisation.
• Delivery Assurance: Provide expert leadership on all areas of delivery assurance, ensuring that it improves our overall standards of delivery and promotes learning and continuous improvement.Delivery Assurance: Ensure Leadership has a clear view of the Portfolio health and progress.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum Criteria

• Proven experience in delivering or assuring complex change initiatives, preferably within the banking or financial services sector.
• Proven experience of successful delivery of complex change in the Financial Services industry with critical thinking.
• Can evidence excellent people leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence business decisions and command credibility at senior management level, managing complex relationships across an organisation.

• Sound experience of developing and working with assurance frameworks and investment governance.Proficiency in project management software and tools such as Planview.

Essential Criteria

• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills, with the ability to think ahead, provide strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and be innovative in meeting business needs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex and technical information effectively in written and oral form with a style that is moderated according to the audience.

• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, with the ability to influence and gain buy-in from stakeholders at all levels of the organisation. Able to understand other perspectives and work to find a solution which suits all.Capable of managing a diverse workload and prioritising work to meet business deadlines, with the ability to remain calm and focused under pressure and to manage stress effectively.

Desirable Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• Experience within a similar organisation in supporting portfolio definition and executing successful delivery, understanding business priorities, supporting business change and managing successful business partnerships.
• Recognised expertise in change delivery, ideally with qualifications such as MSP, PRINCE2 or equivalent.

This is a people management role. You will be responsible for day to day management of the team and for defining roles and responsibilities. You will develop your team through sharing information effectively, coaching and communicating a clear vision to ensure that your staff are productive, engaged and motivated to deliver the area’s aims. This will include setting clear goals and smart stretching objectives that are aligned to those of the team, division and directorate. You will also be responsible for managing all staff-related matters that may arise including performance, absence and sickness.

• London from £84,720 to £95,310
• Leeds from £76,240 to £85,77