Portfolio Lead

About us:

We are the Information Intelligence Group (IIG) of CACI UK, a specialist software consultancy providing new bespoke solutions to solve our customers complex operational problems. The Central Government (CG) team is one of four key Business Streams within IIG. Building on our strong track record and growing market presence in adjacent sectors such as Defence, Critical National Infrastructure, and National Security, we have set ambitious yet achievable targets for significant growth. To support this strategy, we are seeking an experienced Portfolio Lead to provide strategic oversight across our portfolio of Central Government projects.

With Offices across the UK including Bristol, Cheltenham, London & Manchester, we adopt a hybrid approach to work, either from an office or from home, you decide. There will however be requirements to meet customers on a regular basis.

The Role:

Reporting directly to the CG Account Director, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful delivery of customer requirements across a diverse range of small, medium, and complex in-flight technology projects. Collaborating closely with Delivery Leads, you will focus on high-level planning, managing project deliverables, and maintaining exceptional standards in both project outcomes and team performance (encompassing software and architecture). A key part of your role will be to implement robust project management methodologies, establish effective governance frameworks, and enhance reporting tools to drive efficiency and consistency across the programme portfolio.

As the CG Portfolio Lead, you will leverage our well-established relationships with UK Central Government clients and key partners to strengthen IIG’s influence in the sector. Through consultative engagement, you will nurture stakeholder relationships, enhance IIG’s reputation, and expand our footprint within the Central Government market.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading Project and Portfolio Management: Oversee programme, project, and portfolio management services across assigned portfolios, including planning, financial management, risk mitigation, issue resolution, resource dependency management, change request processing, and benefit tracking.
• Motivating and Engaging Teams: Ensure project team members remain motivated and appropriately tasked to maintain balanced workloads and productivity.
• Managing Project Changes: Address changes arising from delivery challenges, acting as the primary escalation point for clients and ensuring continuity of project objectives.
• Contract Change Oversight: Coordinate Contract Change Note (CCN) processes, including contract extensions, in collaboration with Bid, PMO, and Account teams. While delegating tasks as needed, maintain responsibility for timelines and quality to meet client expectations.
• Conducting High-Level Reviews: Gather, validate, and critically assess updates from Project Managers and Delivery Leads to identify data gaps and ensure clear, accurate communication.
• Driving Continuous Improvement: Apply lessons learned to refine project delivery methods and contribute to organisational improvement efforts.
• Proactive Risk Management: Identify and manage risks to minimize delivery disruptions and maximise project benefits.
• Interdependency Management: Define and manage interdependencies across projects, addressing their impact on portfolio performance.
• Facilitating Collaborative Forums: Organise and lead forums, such as Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), to promote visibility, communication, and alignment across related projects. Support budgeting and cost control efforts aligned with the Change Funding Model to ensure financial discipline.
• Bid Support: Contribute to bid processes, ensuring successful project launches that align with client objectives and intended benefits.
• Stakeholder Management: Identify and engage project-specific stakeholders, serving as the primary point of contact for clients.
• Financial Oversight: Actively manage project finances to avoid under- or overspending, ensuring accurate resource forecasting, with delegation to PMO where appropriate. Internal Reporting and Documentation: Maintain accurate data in internal systems (e.g., Effort Forecast Spreadsheets, NetSuite), delegating tasks to PMO or Finance Operations Officers as necessary.
• Progress Reporting: Prepare client progress reports, delegating specific tasks to PMO or Finance Operations Officers as needed.
• Identifying Growth Opportunities: Recognise and capitalise on opportunities for follow-on or adjacent projects stemming from current engagements.

The Fit:

The successful candidate will have proven experience in a Senior Project or Portfolio Management role with UK Government customers. You will be able to demonstrate success in managing IT projects using Agile delivery and leveraging PMO tools and methodologies to drive efficiency and agility in delivery.

Due to the industries we work in, we require all our team to be able to obtain security clearance. To qualify for this, you must be a British passport holder and have lived permanently in the UK for the last 5 years.

Culture & Benefits:

We take great pride in taking care of our talent, providing a highly dynamic, inclusive and team-led environment where everyone can thrive. We value every member of our business, and strive to be a place you’re excited to work. Our market-leading package of benefits reflects this.

• WELLBEING - Free 24/7 counselling helpline and employee assistance programme
• WORK YOUR BEST - City-centre offices across the UK, combined with flexitime and at home working
• LEARN & GROW - Assigned Career Coach to holistically guide development
• SOCIAL - Get-togethers throughout the year, from ad hoc socials to the Summer Party in London and annual awaydays
• ONSITE ALLOWANCES - expenses for lunch and drinks

Equal Opportunities:

CACI is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Embracing the diversity of our people, we are on a journey to build a truly inclusive work environment where no one is treated less favourably due to ethnic origin, age, sex, gender identity, veteran status, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital status, and disability or health condition, actively working to prevent discrimination.

As a Disability Confident employer, we will;

• Provide reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process where requested (contact a member of the recruitment team on 020 7602 6000 to discuss individual requirements further).
• Offer people with health conditions and disabilities, meeting the minimum criteria for a role, an interview.

Our people are unique and we encourage, and support them, to be confident in contributing to our inclusion journey.