IT Portfolio Manager

The MCA IT Delivery Management function enables the organisation to deliver world class services. They are responsible for the direction and management of IT portfolios, programmes, and projects, ensuring value for money and aligning delivery with government policy and organisational objectives.
The Portfolio Manager is accountable for effective delivery of complex, innovative, high-risk products and services as well as the oversight and responsibility for all projects being delivered within their portfolio. Without them the portfolio of work would not get delivered and would severely impact the directorates ability to transform and operate. They will possess strong communication skills and be able to engage senior stakeholders to support the effective delivery of products and services whilst strategically planning the future road map to deliver against the directorates needs. They have greater responsibility and accountability than delivery managers and act as the main point of escalation. They coach and mentor the Delivery Managers.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government’s maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea.
Safer lives. Safer Ships. Cleaner Seas.
Our vision is to be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, our customers and our planet at the heart of everything we do.
We are committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams.
We want everyone to feel valued and supported to achieve their potential at MCA.
This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks groups covering, Women’s, LGBTQI+, Race, Carers, Mental Wellbeing and volunteer Respect Ambassadors., The key responsibilities of this role will include but are not limited to:
+ Take responsibility for all projects and initiatives within the Portfolio that they are achieved against agreed objectives, within time, cost, and quality constraints.
+ Manage and hold responsibility for all project finances within the IT Portfolio including forecasting, accruals, and actuals, management of programme and capital funds, working closely with Finance and Procurement throughout.
+ Influence the effective prioritization of incoming requirements through to the Portfolio Roadmap, working closely with the Portfolio Management Office.
+ Manage strategic stakeholder relationships across the MCA and wider DfT/Civil Service. Proactively working with stakeholders to influence change; delivering to the organisations vision.
For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile., This role will be based in the Southampton HQ. MCA supports flexible working and operates a hybrid working model between home and office for this role, giving you greater flexibility over where and when you work.
The expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace or out on official business. Details of the arrangement will be discussed further with your line manager.
There may be a requirement for occasional travel on official duty within the UK, which may involve overnight stays. Notice will be given prior to travel.

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Leadership
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Changing and Improving
+ Working Together, As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and 1250 word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Within your CV and Personal Statement please demonstrate your knowledge and experience of:
+ A successful track record of leading change in a portfolio/project environment and of managing, developing, motivating, and building organisational and team skills and capabilities.
+ Experience of building, motivating, developing, and retaining high-performing teams, including experience of working within and leading multi-disciplinary and geographically dispersed teams.
+ Experience of assessing risks, scoping resource requirements, managing budgets and operating costs to ensure value for money and sustainable development of teams and services.
It is essential when submitting your Personal Statement that you provide as much detail as possible, and utilise the full word count given, against the essential criteria outlined above as this will be used in conjunction with your CV to assess candidate suitability to move to the next round in the recruitment process.
Sift and Interview Dates
The sift is due to take place from w/c 20th January 2025.
Interviews/assessments will take place from 03rd February 2025.
This interview will be conducted via face to face at our Southampton office. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.
The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:
+ An interview.
+ A presentation.
You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes., A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

+ A successful track record of leading change in a portfolio/project environment and of managing, developing, motivating, and building organisational and team skills and capabilities.
+ Experience of building, motivating, developing, and retaining high-performing teams, including experience of working within and leading multi-disciplinary and geographically dispersed teams.
+ Experience of assessing risks, scoping resource requirements, managing budgets and operating costs to ensure value for money and sustainable development of teams and services.
Successful candidate must be qualified to a Practitioner level in one of the following;
+ PRINCE2 Practitioner
+ Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
+ Management of Risk Practitioner
+ Managing Portfolios Practitioner
+ APM Chartered Project Professional