Head of CPO & Business Management

Overview

In this role you will lead and shape the Corporate Portfolio Office and Business Management function to connect priorities, investment and capacity with measurable outcomes. You will steer a portfolio of programmes, ensure strong governance, and unlock decisions to maximise change value. Working with senior leaders and partners, you’ll build a high-performing team and drive delivery that benefits residents and communities. This is an opportunity to create a forward-looking function that supports financial sustainability and strategic priorities within a dynamic council.

Pay / Benefits

• 30 days leave + bank holidays
• hybrid working opportunities
• health and wellbeing support
• generous local government pension scheme
• discount schemes across leisure and culture

Responsibilities

• Provide portfolio leadership across large-scale portfolios, programmes and business management activities
• Drive programme delivery, governance, assurance and benefits realisation to achieve measurable outcomes
• Shape and grow the function by defining services, capabilities and direction
• Ensure alignment of investment and capacity with organisational work priorities
• Lead and develop a skilled PMO and business management team, fostering collaboration and high standards
• Engage with senior leaders, elected members, partners and suppliers to enable timely, informed decisions
• Manage risk, performance reporting, and financial planning to support delivery and savings for residents

Key requirements

• substantial experience steering large-scale, complex portfolios and programmes
• strong leadership, judgement and stakeholder management skills
• ability to translate priorities into a coherent, deliverable portfolio
• extensive experience in financial planning, budget management, risk, benefits realisation and performance reporting
• credibility to influence at the highest organisational levels and manage external partnerships
• ambition to develop teams, foster continuous improvement and deliver value for residents

• leadership and vision
• strategic influencing and relationship management
• clear and constructive challenge
• project, programme and portfolio leadership
• financial planning and budget management
• risk management

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