Portfolio Office Leader

The Portfolio Office provides integrated oversight, governance, assurance and insight across NPL’s internal and external project portfolios. It operates as the strategic Centre of Excellence for project delivery, ensuring that the right change is delivered at the right time, in the right way, with the right support.

We are seeking an experienced and credible leader to shape and lead this function at enterprise level.

The Portfolio Office Leader sets the direction for how projects are governed and supported across NPL. The role ensures that portfolio oversight is proportionate, effective and strategically aligned, enabling confident leadership decision-making on delivery feasibility, sequencing and risk exposure.

This is a senior leadership role requiring strategic judgement, organisational influence and the ability to balance independent assurance with practical enablement.

Key Responsibilities

Governance & Assurance

• Own and evolve the governance model, so it remains proportionate and effective.
• Set the assurance strategy and operating rhythm, ensuring independence and consistency across the portfolio.
• Provide oversight and constructive challenge to ensure projects meet agreed governance, quality and assurance standards.
• Maintain visibility of major portfolio risks, ensuring appropriate escalation and leadership visibility.
• Ensure lessons learned and good practice are captured and embedded across the portfolio.

Strategic Leadership

• Set a clear vision for the Portfolio Office as a recognised strategic enabler of delivery.
• Build and lead a high-performing team operating within a Hub-and-Spoke model.
• Develop organisational capability in programme and portfolio management.
• Provide visible leadership that promotes clarity, discipline and confidence in delivery.
• Contribute to wider departmental leadership priorities and cross-functional collaboration.

Risk, Value & Insight

• Maintain a consolidated view of cross-portfolio risks and interdependencies.
• Ensure reporting is accurate, timely and decision-focused.
• Provide trusted advice to senior leadership on portfolio health and strategic risk exposure.
• Champion value realisation and benefits-led delivery.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead the ongoing evolution of governance, assurance, reporting and prioritisation.
• Benchmark against recognised best practice to ensure standards remain credible and effective.
• Embed a culture of learning and continuous improvement across the portfolio.

Essential

• Significant senior experience in portfolio or enterprise PMO leadership roles.
• Proven experience establishing or leading governance and assurance frameworks in complex organisations.
• Strong strategic judgement with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Ability to balance independence of assurance with pragmatic delivery support.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Highly Desirable

• Experience operating within a Centre of Excellence or hub-and-spoke model.
• Professional qualification or equivalent experience in portfolio or programme management (e.g. APM, MSP, P3O or equivalent).
• Experience within complex, matrixed or public sector environments.
• Familiarity with enterprise portfolio reporting and performance insight.

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview
 
NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.
 
At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome. More about this on our Diversity & Inclusion page.
 
We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of rewards, benefits and recognition. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.