Lead: Porfolio Performance (Business Planning)

The Benefits In return, you will receive an extensive reward and benefits package including: - 41 days annual leave, including bank holidays. - Potential for flexible and hybrid working, subject to the operational needs of the role. - A generous pension scheme, discount portal, cycle to work scheme, access to the University accommodation service, relocation expenses scheme, employee assistance programme and family-friendly policies.

The Role The University of Cambridge is seeking a senior portfolio planning professional to lead the Portfolio Performance (Business Planning) function within the University Change Support Office (UCSO). The role is responsible for the arrangements through which the University obtains coordinated, decision-ready visibility of programme plans, sequencing and portfolio impacts.

UCSO provides expertise in change and communications, benefits realisation, portfolio planning, common standards, strategic reporting and business-case appraisal. It supports the Change and Programme Management Board in directing and overseeing the University's portfolio of major change programmes.

The post-holder will own the standards, planning logic, reporting methods and sequencing practices used to provide coherent visibility of delivery, risks, costs, benefits, return on investment and stakeholder impacts. The role will define the requirements for real-time portfolio information, determine how it should be structured and presented, and intervene where inputs, systems or processes are incomplete, inconsistent or not fit for governance use.

The role will chair UCSO's Sequencing Steering Group, lead the development of sequencing policy and decision-support approaches, and manage the planning function. It will work across programme teams and portfolio functions to strengthen data quality, reporting systems and the practical use of portfolio planning information. It is important that the role-holder works collaboratively and actively with existing expert functions, especially University Information Services (UIS) and the Academic Planning and Strategy Office (APSO) to ensure coherence of approach to the change portfolio.

Key responsibilities - Lead and control the standards, policies and processes for portfolio planning, sequencing, reporting and management information. - Provide reliable, real-time visibility of programme delivery, interdependencies, risks, costs, benefits, return on investment and impacts on stakeholder groups. - Chair the Sequencing Steering Group and design, implement and monitor the policy and decision-support arrangements governing the sequencing of programme activity. - Set requirements for portfolio systems, data and presentational outputs; diagnose weaknesses and implement improvements with UIS, APSO and other partners. - Manage and develop staff within the planning function, and provide briefings, workshops and practical guidance to strengthen planning and reporting capability across the University.

Limited funding: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time working or other flexible working arrangements.