Project Portfolio Governance & Planning Manager

The role

You will ensure the change initiatives portfolio is governed, prioritised, and planned effectively. You will lead governance processes to assess proposed initiatives for strategic alignment, value, cost, risk, and feasibility.

What you will do

• Lead portfolio intake and demand management processes.
• Partner with collaborators to shape and refine proposals.
• Ensure initiatives are assessed against governance standards and investment requirements.
• Challenge arguments, assumptions and benefit forecasts.
• Highlight risks, dependencies, opportunity costs, trade-offs and capacity impacts.
• Manage the quality and completeness of submissions to governance forums.
• Lead portfolio capacity planning.
• Support quarterly and annual planning cycles.
• Produce governance reporting and provide actionable portfolio insights.
• Build trusted relationships with senior collaborators.

Required qualifications

• Proven experience leading enterprise portfolio management, PMO/VMO leadership or strategic programme governance.
• Strong understanding of technology change and the ability to bring together expertise from multiple technical teams.
• Excellent financial competence with experience evaluating investment value, benefits and return on investment.
• Experience working within complex, matrixed organisations.
• Outstanding facilitation, communication and collaborator management skills, including engagement with senior leaders.
• Ability to translate strategic objectives into practical prioritisation frameworks and governance processes.
• Strong analytical skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making.

Nice to have

• Experience within media, publishing, digital subscription or technology-led organisations.
• Experience supporting investment identification, prioritisation and portfolio oversight.
• Familiarity with Agile delivery environments and product operating models.
• Experience with portfolio management frameworks such as Lean Portfolio Management, MoP, SAFe LPM or enterprise PPM platforms.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave
• Medical coverage
• Inclusive parental leave packages
• Discounted gym memberships
• Chances to contribute to the community

About the company

The Financial Times is a top news organisation known for its authority, integrity, and accuracy. Its mission is to provide quality information and services around the globe.