Head of Business Transformation

Summary:

Are you a visionary leader ready to shape the future of a purpose driven organisation? Do you have the strategic mindset to bridge the gap between complex change and real world results?

This is your opportunity to join as Head of Transformation, a high impact role where you'll provide strategic oversight for our entire change management portfolio, ensuring every project isn't just a task, but a step towards our long-term organisational strategy. You'll be the central heartbeat of our transformation journey, balancing risks, managing significant budgets, and driving a culture of excellence.

Reporting to the Technology & Insights Director, this role provides strategic oversight and management of the entire project and programme portfolio. This involves defining and enforcing governance standards, ensuring all projects align with organisational strategy and driving continuous improvement across the business.

This position acts as the central point of contact for all change portfolio related activities. Key responsibilities include managing high level reporting and dashboards for all levels of senior management, resolving escalated issues and providing guidance and coaching to Project and Programme Managers.

A core function of this role is to cultivate a high-performing Project Management Office (PMO) team to ensure the consistent and successful execution of all projects and programmes.

Main responsibilities:

• Provide senior management accountability for the Change Project Management Office (CPMO), leading its strategic direction and maturity.
• Serve as the key liaison and central point of contact between business departments, ensuring seamless alignment and communication across the portfolio.
• Direct the portfolio governance process, including the design and enforcement of frameworks, to ensure all projects and programs align with organisational strategy.
• Manage resource allocation across the entire project portfolio to optimise value delivery and achieve strategic objectives.
• Assume direct accountability for the Transformation Budget, overseeing all financial aspects from forecasting to governance.
• Balance risks, benefits, and costs to inform strategic decision-making and ensure optimal portfolio performance.
• Cultivate and lead a high-performing team of change professionals, providing them with the support and autonomy to deliver exceptional results.
• Drive continuous improvement by leading strategic workforce planning to address capability gaps and maintain a strategic view of skills across the organisation.
• Serve as the Product Owner for the Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Tool, overseeing its functionality and ensuring it provides strategic insights for the business.
• Champion a culture of excellence in project, portfolio, and change management across the organisation.
• Assume responsibility for portfolio-level change management, proactively assessing and mitigating change impact to ensure successful adoption and benefit realisation.
• Own the CPMO's interfaces into annual and AMP planning cycles, directly influencing the strategic direction of Directorate plans and initiatives.

You'll need:
Skills / Qualifications / Experience

• A professional project management qualification such as Project Management Professional (PMP) or PRINCE2 and a professional programme management qualification, such as Programme Management Professional (PgMP) are essential or an equivalent degree (e.g. Bachelor's / MBA in business administration / organisational development / change management).
• The ability to develop a clear, compelling vision and strategy for the project portfolio, aligning it with overall business goals.
• A strong understanding of business and financial principles, including budgeting, forecasting, and return on investment (ROI) analysis.
• Expertise in benefits realisation management, ensuring all intended outcomes - whether strategic, financial or cultural - are defined, tracked and achieved.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, for articulating complex concepts to diverse audiences, including senior management.
• Expertise in negotiation, conflict resolution, and influencing without direct authority.
• The ability to build, mentor and lead a high-performing team, fostering a culture of accountability and professional growth within the PMO.
• In-depth knowledge of project and programme management methodologies (e.g., Agile, PRINCE2).
• Proficiency in project portfolio management (PPM) tools and technologies.
• A deep understanding of the people-side of change, including overcoming resistance, fostering a culture of adaptability and acting as a catalyst for positive change.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills.
• A proactive approach to identifying, assessing and mitigating risks at both the project and portfolio levels.
• The ability to creatively solve complex problems and navigate unforeseen challenges with composure and resilience.
• Expertise in leading and managing large-scale organisational change and…