Location: London, City Hall (2 days per week onsite)
Contract Length: 6 months
Day Rate: £700-£800 per day
Engagement: Interim / Contract
Sector: Public Sector / Digital Transformation
The Greater London Authority is seeking an experienced Interim Head of Portfolio to lead and oversee the successful creation, management and delivery of a complex digital portfolio.
This is a senior leadership opportunity within the Digital Experience Unit, joining the Senior Leadership Team and taking responsibility for a portfolio of multi-million-pound digital, data, technology and transformation programmes.
The successful candidate will drive the organisation’s digital-first agenda, ensuring robust governance, effective portfolio prioritisation, successful programme delivery and continuous improvement across the full project lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and manage the GLA digital portfolio, ensuring successful delivery of complex programmes and projects
- Develop and implement project, programme and portfolio management strategies across the organisation
- Lead the internal and external engagement agenda for the digital, data, technology and transformation strategy
- Take accountability for the management and assurance of multi-million-pound programmes and projects
- Establish and embed a consistent end-to-end delivery lifecycle from idea and initiation through to delivery, closure and handover
- Ensure compliance, governance, accountability and assurance are embedded throughout the portfolio
- Set and maintain standards for portfolio, programme and project management across the organisation
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives and develop a best-practice delivery framework
- Manage risk, issues and escalations proactively within a complex digital environment
- Lead and develop a team of six direct reports, including project managers, business partners and support functions
- Oversee the Project Management Office function and ensure strong programme governance
- Line manage the business partner team, digital training and business support teams
- Support and influence senior stakeholders across the organisation as part of the Digital Experience Unit Senior Leadership Team
- Significant experience operating in a senior management role within a digital, technology or transformation environment
- Proven experience leading large-scale digital portfolios and multi-million-pound programmes
- Strong experience within a Project Management Office / PMO environment
- Demonstrable experience of project and programme governance, assurance and portfolio management
- Experience of managing and mitigating complex risks, issues and escalations
- Previous experience as part of a senior leadership team
- Proven line management experience, including managing project managers and multidisciplinary teams
- Strong understanding of portfolio prioritisation, resource allocation and delivery planning
- Experience implementing and embedding governance frameworks and delivery standards
- Ability to engage, influence and build relationships with senior stakeholders across a large organisation
- Previous experience within local government, public sector or a large complex organisation
- Experience supporting digital transformation and digital-first strategies
- Knowledge of business support functions such as procurement orders, invoicing, FOIs, mayoral questions and organisational governance
To apply, please submit your CV highlighting your experience in digital portfolio leadership, PMO, governance and senior stakeholder management.
Interim Head of Portfolio - Digital / Technology
