Portfolio Demand & Planning Manager

HomeServe are currently recruiting for a Portfolio, Demand & Planning Manager to join the Technology & Change Team in Walsall. This role would be ideally suited to someone currently in a portfolio role who is looking to progress to the next stage of their career.
The successful candidate will have strong excel skills and be an analytical thinker. You will be seeking more autonomy in a PMO, forecasting, planning and demand management.
We work in a hybrid way, mostly remote with a requirement to travel into our Walsall office at least twice a week to work with the team. With that in mind you will be located within a convenient commute to Walsall., Accountable to the Director of Change you will be responsible for leading on the Technology Change Portfolio Demand Management & Forecasting, & for Portfolio level governance and reporting for HomeServe Technology Change projects. You will work closely with the Heads of Programme, Head of Business Analysis, Finance Business Partner and Technology supply partners (internal and external). Specifically, you will:
Demand Management

• Design, implement and then manage a new demand process to ensure appropriate prioritisation, efficiency and ROI, and support the success and timely delivery of all IT project & programmes of work for the near and long term.


• Identify, define and track demand and budget from the portfolio to business requirements & objectives


• Ensure on-going alignment with business & industry strategy as well as IT technology roadmaps


• Support on stakeholder engagement alongside the Heads of Programme who will be the conduits for demand, enabling forums for prioritisation of spend and resource.


• Manage the project investment approval process (to start and additional funding / change requests).


• Manage and provide clear visibility of IT demand pipeline, in line with Capex and Opex Portfolio budget (reflecting live project forecasts and future forecast). This to include providing transparency on the roadmaps for agile delivery, where appropriate.


• Work with Heads of Programme and project stakeholders to gather, organise and analyse financial data to understand, in detail the portfolio view against budget.


Project Definition

• Deliver the demand process through appropriate stage gates from Idea to "Approved to Start", including the high level intent, solution and business case, recommendation on delivery approach and resource, and the high level project plan


Forecasting/Planning

• Ensure robust resource forecasting from in-flight project


• Work with resource managers to understand resource availability, and propose supply scenarios for the most effective and efficient use of internal and external resource


• Be the conduit to external resource providers on future demand, and to ensure all statements of work are prepared and reconciled.


Management Information/Reporting

• Own the regular stakeholder forums, specifically the Exec Portfolio Management Group, to engage, update and ensure governance and oversight of key decisions.


• Provide on-demand Change Portfolio information in a timely manner to the Director of Change and CIO


Team

• Demonstrate a continuous improvement approach to ensure best practice and innovation are embedded


• Work flexibly within the PMO team as and when required, covering other roles when necessary


• Responsible for the day to day management, coaching and development of direct reports ensuring they have the necessary tools, knowledge and skills to fulfil their roles


• Engages employees by consistently role modelling company values and behaviours and proactively encourage others to do the same
  
  Practical experience in either PMO, Programme, Project or Portfolio Management


• Ability to demonstrate experience of strong demand management and planning within complex, cross-functional IT projects with extensive knowledge and expertise in the use of Project & Demand Management techniques, methodologies, frameworks and best practices


• Exceptional communication skills (both verbal and written) with ability to convey difficult messages and complex information to internal and external stakeholders at all levels with self-confidence and drive to build and maintain good relations.


• Excellent and proven problem-solving, decision-making and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to adapt quickly to change.


• Broad understanding of IT Project Management and Software Development methodologies and tools


• Skilled user of Excel and Powerpoint.


Desirable:

• People Management experience


• Third Party Supplier Engagement & Contracting (supply volume focus)


• Experience of working in an FCA regulated / insurance environment


• Connected with forums, external bodies, etc. to stay up-to-date with best practices and innovations.


• Experience in early discovery and definition phases of projects, to get to decisions to invest.
  
  Not Specified