Head of Portfolio Governance and Assurance

We are delighted to be partnering with a central government organisation on their new Head of Portfolio Governance and Assurance position within the Finance, Portfolio and Performance (FPP) team.

The FPP Team plays a critical role in delivering the organisational strategy through effective financial planning, performance monitoring, and project and programme support. Within this team, the Enterprise Portfolio Management Office (EPMO) oversees £1.3bn of capital investment and provides portfolio management and assurance for key projects, including those led by Strategic Estates, the Parliamentary Digital Service, and the Strategic Portfolio.

The FPP team are seeking an experienced Head of Portfolio Governance and Assurance to lead and enhance Parliament’s governance and assurance framework for major projects and programmes. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and safeguard Parliament’s ambitious change agenda in a complex and historic organisation.

The successful candidate will lead the strategic oversight of Parliament’s project and programme portfolio, ensuring robust governance and assurance structures are in place. Reporting to the Director of EPMO, the role involves close collaboration with senior stakeholders, including the Director General of the House of Commons, Chief Operating Officer of the House of Lords, Finance Directors, and Strategic Estates Portfolio Directors.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and continuously improve governance and assurance frameworks for major projects and programmes.
• Provide strategic direction to the Governance and Assurance team within the EPMO, including direct line management of 2-3 staff members.
• Oversee the Setup for Success process for new projects, ensuring robust initiation with appropriate governance structures.
• Commission and coordinate assurance and Gateway Reviews, ensuring follow-through on recommendations. Support and advise Senior Responsible Owners (SROs) and programme teams on governance best practices.
• Monitor governance and assurance effectiveness, identifying areas for improvement. Fulfil compliance obligations, including audit and assurance reporting.
• Champion best practices in governance, supporting the wider project and programme community.

Person Specification:

• Experience of providing governance and integrated assurance advice, Risk Potential Assessments, Gateway Reviews and services for a large and diverse portfolio of projects and programmes.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to establish positive working relationships and influence people at all levels within the organisation including a challenging customer base, with a track record of building a wide network of relationships across organisational boundaries to support collaborative working and achieve effective outcomes.
• Proven ability to provide leadership, set strategic objectives, develop and motivate teams to deliver results across formal reporting lines. Promotes a culture of diversity and inclusion and supports others in the delivery of their roles with the ability to think strategically, anticipating and managing high-level risks and uncertainties.
• Makes decisions or gives objective advice based on best available evidence and analysis. Considers the wider impacts of activities and decisions with highly developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to facilitate senior- level group discussions and experience developing Board papers and internal communication material.
• Explains, and presents, complex issues so that they are easy to understand and ensures key project and programme issues are understood by stakeholders. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the success of Parliament’s critical projects while working in a dynamic and historic environment.

At UK Parliament, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive working environment. We provide ongoing training, development, and career progression opportunities. As the Head of Portfolio Governance and Assurance, you will play a vital role in shaping project strategy within one of the most prestigious institutions in the UK.