Portfolio Planning & Assurance Senior Manager, Scoping and Development - Change and Planning Directorate

London, England, United Kingdom

7/8/2025

Location: Leeds and 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 for the Bank. 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 that change delivered is traceable and delivers 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 Scoping and Development.

You will lead the team who identify, scope, and manage projects that align with the strategic investment priorities of the Bank. You will ensure that all projects have detailed, compelling business cases which deliver clear outcomes and benefits. You will ensure we have a consistent intake process and a clearly identified pipeline of work over a three-year horizon, ensuring transparency in the prioritisation process and alignment with the Bank's overall strategic narrative.

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 Portfolio Planning & Assurance team 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.​
• Scoping and Development: Provide expert leadership on all elements of Scoping and Development, ensuring that new change activities are identified and tracked, and that all projects and programmes have detailed, documented scopes and business cases.

Key Requirements:

Minimum Criteria

• Proven experience in change and portfolio management, 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 understanding of financial budgeting, pipeline management, benefits management and realisation, outcomes management forecasting & analysis
• Proficiency in project and portfolio 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

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.


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Our Approach to Inclusion

The Bank values diversity, equity and inclusion. We play a key role in maintaining monetary and financial stability, and to do that effectively, we believe we need a workforce that reflects the society we serve.

At the Bank of England, we want all colleagues to feel valued and respected, so we're working hard to build an inclusive culture which supports people from all backgrounds and communities to be at their best at work. We celebrate all forms of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. We believe that it's by drawing on different perspectives and experiences that we'll continue to make the best decisions for the public.

We welcome applications from individuals who work flexibly, including job shares and part time working patterns. We've also partnered with external organisations to support us in making adjustments for candidates and employees in the recruitment process where they're needed.

For most roles where work can be carried out at home, we aim for colleagues to spend half of their time in the office, with a minimum of 40% per month. Subject to that minimum requirement, individuals and managers should work together to find what works best for them, their team and stakeholders.

Finally, we're proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme. If you wish to apply under this scheme, you should check the box in the 'Candidate Personal Information' under the 'Disability Confident Scheme' section of the application.

Salary and Benefits Information

We encourage flexible working, part time working and job share arrangements. Part time salary and benefits will be on a pro-rated basis as appropriate.

This role offers a salary of:

• London from £84,720 to £95,310
• Leeds from £76,240 to £85,770

In addition, we also offer a comprehensive benefits package as detailed below:

• Currently a non-contributory, career average pension giving you a guaranteed retirement benefit of 1/80th of your annual salary for every year worked. There is the option to increase your pension (to 1/65th) or decrease (to 1/105th) in exchange for salary through our flexible benefits programme each year. The Bank has the discretion to vary standard accrual rates and dial up and dial down rates at any time and to withdraw dial up and dial down options at any time.
• A discretionary performance award based on a current award pool.
• An 8% benefits allowance with the option to take as salary or purchase a wide range of flexible benefits.
• 26 days' annual leave with option to buy up to 12 additional days through flexible benefits.
• Private medical insurance and income protection.

National Security Vetting Process

Employment in this role will be subject to the National Security Vetting clearance process (and typically can take between 6 to 12 weeks post offer) and the passing of additional Bank security checks in accordance with the Bank policy. Further information regarding the vetting and security clearance requirements for the role will be provided to the successful applicant, and information about how the Bank processes personal data for these purposes, is set out in the Bank's Privacy Notice.

The Bank of England welcomes applications from all candidates, but as a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approved sponsor, we have a responsibility to comply with the Immigration Rules and guidance. As such, our ability to employ individuals who require sponsorship for immigration purposes is limited. The Bank cannot guarantee that you and / or the role you are applying for will be eligible for sponsorship and that any application made to UKVI will be successful. Eligibility will therefore be considered on a case by case basis.

The Application Process

Important: Please ensure that you complete the 'work history' section and answer ALL the application questions fully. All candidate applications are anonymised to ensure that our hiring managers will not be able to see your personal information, including your CV, when reviewing your application details at the screening stage. It's therefore really important that you fill out the work history and application form questions, as your answers will form a critical part of the initial selection process.

The assessment process will comprise of two interview stages.

This role closes on 22nd July.

Please apply online, ensuring that you complete your work history and answer ALL the application questions fully and in detail as your application will not be considered if all mandatory questions are not fully completed.