Head of Portolio

Summary

A head of portfolio leads a team of digital portfolio managers. You will ensure the portfolio of digital projects delivers the best possible outcomes.

At this role level, you will:

lead the tracking and governing of digital projects

ensure the right controls are used

address risks and deal with, or escalate, issues

provide leaders with insights into the portfolio's future so they can make informed decisions

build and lead a diverse, skilled and motivated team of digital portfolio managers

ensure the portfolio team is meeting the needs of the organisation

support the professional development of the portfolio community, including line management and coaching

Background

Description	Background
Has proven programme management and leadership skills, and a good knowledge of demand and supply management. Knows own organisation's strategy, policy framework, management structures and reporting procedures. Has excellent planning, communication and presentation skills and is expert in project and programme quality management.	Prior Knowledge and Skills

Work Activity Components

Title	Details
Execute and support(POMG) (Level 7)	Authorises and prioritises the projects or programmes within a portfolio based on the agreed-upon business objectives of the organisation's leadership.
Portfolio definition(POMG) (Level 7)	Leads the definition, implementation and review of the organisation’s portfolio management framework. Sets parameters for the prioritisation of resources and the changes to be implemented, and enables on-going monitoring, governance and review of portfolio performance.
Portfolio economics (POMG) (Level 7)	Determines, monitors and reviews and authorises all portfolio economics, including cross programme costs, operational budgets, staffing requirements, resources and portfolio risk. Ensures that there are appropriate and effective governance arrangements in place supported by comprehensive reporting and engagement with senior management.
Reporting and controls (POMG) (Level 7)	Escalates/engages/influences senior management to take corrective action. Leads the review of project/programme structure, governance, resourcing, timings, risks, funding, and dependencies.
Approach, standards and good practice(POMG) (Level 7)	Establishes and maintains the portfolio management approach across the IT function. Aligns project and programme activities with business strategy and the business solution objectives. Leads on the governance, monitoring and review of the portfolio to ensure alignment to strategic benefits.
Issues(POMG) (Level 7)	Evaluates changes to portfolio management practices and initiates improvement to organisation practices, cascading them to programmes and projects as appropriate.
Lead, manage and supervise(PEMT) (Level 5)	Manages, supports and guides the work of groups of staff in line with organisational strategy.
Work allocation, support and delegation (PEMT) (Level 5)	Allocates responsibilities, including supervisory and assigns packages of work to groups of staff. Ensures that work packages are aligned with the particular skills and abilities of teams. Supports teams in the delivery of work packages. Delegates work to individuals and teams, taking full account of skills and capabilities.
Guidance, performance and feedback (Level 5)	Optimises the performance of people, measuring and reporting on performance against agreed quality and performance criteria. Collects data on the performance of groups of staff. Gives regular feedback to teams and senior staff as to team performance on work packages.
Formal appraisals (Level 5)	Conducts formal appraisals of the performance of team members. Facilitates a dialogue with team members about expectations, progress, performance and development needs. Participates, as appropriate, in formal processes such as compensation negotiations, grievance procedures, and disciplinary procedures.
Empowerment and role model(PEMT) (Level 5)	Facilitates effective working relationships within and between teams of staff. Motivates groups of staff and teams towards a high level of performance. Engages with, and empowers groups of staff. Acts as a role model for groups of staff, setting a standard, acting professionally at all times and working to a professional code of conduct and ethics.

Behavioural Skills

Title	Details
Decision Making	Making decisions at the appropriate time, taking into account the needs of the situation, priorities, constraints, known risks, and the availability of necessary information and resources.
Goal Orientation	Maintaining focus on agreed objectives and deliverables.
Commercial Orientation	Understanding commercial considerations and ensuring alignment with them when making decisions or recommending actions.
Organisational Awareness	Understanding the hierarchy and culture of own, customer, supplier and partner organisations and being able to identify the decision makers and influencers.
Cross-Functional and Inter-Disciplinary Awareness	Understanding the needs, objectives and constraints of those in other disciplines and functions.
Interacting with People	Establishing relationships, contributing to an open culture and maintaining contacts with people from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. Effective, approachable and sensitive communicator in different communities and cultures. Ability to adapt style and approach to meet the needs of different audiences.
Influence, Persuasion and Personal Impact	Conveying a level of confidence and professionalism when engaging with stakeholders, influencing positively and persuading others to take a specific course of action when not in a position of authority.
Leadership	Clearly articulating goals and objectives, and motivating and leading others towards their achievement.
Providing Direction	Directing others to undertake specified tasks within a defined timescale.
Delegation	Delegating tasks, responsibilities and authorities effectively.
Follow-up and Monitoring	Checking progress against targets, taking action to resolve exceptions/ issues and reporting and escalating where necessary.

Technical Skills

Title	Details	Depth
Business Analysis Techniques	Applying techniques that help investigating, analysing, modelling and recording a business area or system of interest.	Familiar with

Other Skills

Title	Details	Depth
Presentation Techniques	Methods and techniques for delivering effective and accessible presentations, either face-to-face or online within various contexts and to a variety of audiences.	Proficient in
Appraisal Techniques	Methods and techniques for appraising an individual's performance and potential.	Proficient in
Budgets	Principles, methods, techniques and tools for the preparation and monitoring of budgets to manage costs and ensure cost-effectiveness and value for money.	Proficient in
Business Proposals	Methods and techniques for preparing and presenting business cases, requests for proposal (RFP) invitations to tender (ITT) and statements of requirements/work both verbally and in writing.	Proficient in
Project Management	Principles, methods, techniques and tools for the effective management of projects from initiation through to implementation.	Expert in
Techniques for Effective Meetings	Methods and techniques for running effective meetings and for understanding and influencing the roles played by participants.	Proficient in
Coaching Techniques	Methods and techniques for coaching individuals or groups by a balanced combination of support and direction, which could include use of virtual learning environments plus add-ons to augment feedback specific to work items, workflow or career plans.	Proficient in
Project Planning and Control Techniques	Methods and techniques associated with planning and monitoring progress of projects.	Expert in
Programme Management	Principles, methods, techniques and tools for the effective management of a programme of projects and related activities through to the successful achievement of planned business benefits.	Expert in
Resource Allocation	The effective and efficient routine deployment of resources, (but also including reassessment and reallocation in a dynamic multi-project environment), to achieve optimum results.	Proficient in
Project Risk Management	The identification, assessment and management of project risks, that could result in time or cost over-runs, or failure to deliver products which are fit for purpose.	Expert in
Performance Monitoring	Identifying, agreeing and monitoring (usually by face-to-face interviews) objectives and deliverables with individuals. Identifying under-performance issues against agreed quality standards and performance criteria. Identifying gaps in capability and causes, disciplinary or ability-related (needing assistance, training or other support).	Proficient in
Disciplinary Issues and Procedures	Managing episodes of unsatisfactory behaviour or performance in accordance with appropriate policies and legislative conformance. Includes changes to circumstances, such as sickness, disability and other personal issues.	Familiar with

Training

Title	Details
Strategic Planning for Information and Communications Systems	The process of defining the ICT strategic plan of an organisation in a methodical way based on business aims and objectives thereby enabling the specification of options and associated action plans for the use of IT-enabled business processes.
Coaching	Concepts, methods and techniques for providing coaching in subject specialisms to individuals or groups (e.g. GROW model).
Human Resource Planning	Techniques and practices involved in planning the numbers and types of personnel needed over time by a particular skillset, department or function within an organisation.
Mentoring	Methods and techniques for providing mentoring support to less experienced individuals.
Latest Cyber Security Threats for Senior Execs	Short, high-level, up-to-date and to-the-point briefing on the latest threats and vulnerabilities in cyber security.

Professional Development Activity (PDA)

Title	Details	PDA Group
Mentoring	Acting as a mentor, advising those for whom there is no direct responsibility, on matters to do with their job role, career and professional development.	Broadening Activities
Gaining Knowledge of Broader IT Issues	Increasing and maintaining currency of knowledge of broader IT issues through reading, attending and participating in seminars or conferences, special studies, temporary assignments etc.	Increasing Knowledge
Gaining Strategic Knowledge of Employing Organisation	Developing a comprehensive understanding of the business environment in which the employing organisation operates and its position, policies and direction in relation to health and care, country and global issues.	Increasing Knowledge
Gaining Knowledge of Standards and Legislation	Gaining and maintaining knowledge of relevant national and international standards and legislation.	Increasing Knowledge
Participation in Professional Body Affairs	Taking an active part in professional body affairs at branch, specialist group, committee or board level.	Participation in Professional Activities
General Management	Continuing learning and development in general management skills, such as effective communication, leadership styles and skills, team building and team roles, motivation and delegation, planning and resource scheduling, influencing, persuasion and negotiation, so as to be in a position to accept greater responsibility at senior management or director (including non-exec) level.	Developing Professional Skills

Organisational Skill Name and Description

Framework	Skill	Level
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Agile working Agile delivery involves encouraging teams to build incrementally, test and iterate their work based on regular feedback and other useful data.	Awareness Agile working You can: show an awareness of Agile methodology and the ways to apply the principles in practice take an open-minded approach explain why iteration is important iterate quickly
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Communicating analysis and insight	Expert Communicating analysis and insight You can: communicate relevant, compelling stories using the most appropriate medium make complex recommendations at a tactical and strategic level present analysis and visualisations in clear ways to communicate complex messages communicate negative and positive information to stakeholders
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Governance and assurance Governance and assurance involves defining and ensuring adherence to an organisation's quality control and compliance processes.	Practitioner Governance and assurance You can: evolve and define governance take responsibility for working with and supporting other staff in wider governance assure services across sets of services use tools such as standards, guardrails and principles to effectively govern delivery
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Planning	Practitioner Planning You can: understand the environment and prioritise the most important or high value tasks use data to inform planning manage complex internal and external dependencies provide delivery confidence remove blockers or impediments that affect plans and can develop a plan for difficult situations ensure that teams plan appropriately for their capacity
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Stakeholder relationship management Stakeholder relationship management involves managing stakeholder requirements and communications throughout a project, while remaining focused on the user needs.	Expert Stakeholder relationship management You can: direct the strategy towards stakeholder relationships set stakeholder objectives and recommend that they’re met influence important senior stakeholders and provide mediation
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Strategic thinking Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives.	Practitioner Strategic thinking You can: define strategies and policies, providing guidance to others on working in the strategic context evaluate current strategies to ensure business requirements are being met and exceeded where possible

Framework

Skill

Level