Head of Portfolio Management

Student Loans Company • Darlington, SC

16h • Hybrid

About The Position

SLC are seeking an accomplished Head of Portfolio Management to join us in a senior leadership role at a pivotal moment of enterprise‑wide transformation. Operating at the centre of our newly formed Transformation Directorate, this role brings the strategic elevation of planning and orchestration, ensuring that programmes and projects are effectively organised to maximise alignment and productivity across the organisation. You will set clear strategic direction so that portfolios, programmes and projects are aligned, prioritised, resourced and governed to deliver organisational value. A key part of the role is shaping and overseeing ENABLE, our flagship, fully funded transformation programme and one of the largest currently underway in the public sector, reflecting strong confidence in SLC from the Department for Education. You will use insight and evidence to support senior decision‑making, using data to target management intervention to turn‑around projects in difficulty, while maintaining a strong focus on outcomes, benefits realisation and delivery. Leading specialist functions across portfolio management, resource planning, performance and value insight, and assurance, you will ensure that SLC’s governance requirements and agile delivery are synchronised, enabling pace without compromising control. You will also play a critical role in ensuring strategic alignment across Digital & Data and Tech & Security when it comes to workflow management and resource prioritisation. We are looking for a leader with gravitas and a deep understanding of risk management, able to plan twelve months ahead, take a horizon‑scanning view and maintain a strong control environment. You will confidently hold Programme Directors to account, optimising people and resources and intervening decisively where required. This is a highly visible role with exposure across SLC and government. For a senior portfolio leader, it offers a rare opportunity to shape how large‑scale transformation is governed and delivered in a nationally important organisation.

Requirements

• Ability to lead and shape a prioritised, value-driven portfolio that aligns with organisational goals and adapts to changing priorities
• Ability to assess and mitigate risks across complex, interdependent programmes and projects
• Knowledge of budgeting, investment appraisal, and value-based decision-making in a portfolio context
• Competence in interpreting data to provide visibility of delivery performance and inform strategic decisions
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage senior stakeholders and drive cross-functional collaboration
• Exhibits a proactive approach to resource estimation and issue resolution, effectively optimising resource allocation and ensuring alignment with financial constraints
• Experience leading portfolio management functions within large, complex organisations, ideally in transformation or change-intensive environments
• Proven track record of working at senior management level, influencing executive stakeholders and driving strategic alignment across departments
• Demonstrated success in overseeing cross-functional programmes and managing interdependencies, risks, resources and benefits at portfolio level
• Qualification in portfolio or programme management (e.g. Management of Portfolios (MoP), Managing Successful Programmes (MSP), or equivalent)
• Membership of a recognised professional body such as the Association for Project Management (APM) or Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Right to work in the UK

Responsibilities

• Set clear strategic direction so that portfolios, programmes and projects are aligned, prioritised, resourced and governed to deliver organisational value.
• Shape and oversee ENABLE, our flagship, fully funded transformation programme.
• Use insight and evidence to support senior decision‑making.
• Use data to target management intervention to turn‑around projects in difficulty, while maintaining a strong focus on outcomes, benefits realisation and delivery.
• Lead specialist functions across portfolio management, resource planning, performance and value insight, and assurance.
• Ensure that SLC’s governance requirements and agile delivery are synchronised, enabling pace without compromising control.
• Ensure strategic alignment across Digital & Data and Tech & Security when it comes to workflow management and resource prioritisation.
• Hold Programme Directors to account, optimising people and resources and intervening decisively where required.

Benefits

• A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 28 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays
• Option to buy/sell annual leave
• Flexi-time and enhanced flexible working options available
• Option to join the Civil Service pension scheme
• Life insurance cover for 4 x annual salary
• Enhanced company sick pay and family leave including maternity, paternity and adoption
• Contributory lifestyle benefit options including discounts at hundreds of retailers, cycle to work scheme, access to the Civil Service Sports and Leisure Club for discounted gym memberships, and an optional dental insurance scheme

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed