About The Role
HomeServe are recruiting for a Portfolio Demand & Planning Manager to join our Technology & Change team in Walsall. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a strong grounding in forecasting, demand planning, portfolio analysis or PMO, whos ready to step into a role with real visibility and influence.
Youll thrive here if you enjoy turning data into meaningful insight, building strong relationships across a fast-moving business, and using your initiative to shape how work is planned and delivered. With solid analytical skills, experience using tools such as Power BI, and a background in a small-to-mid-sized organisation (not a huge corporate machine), youll bring both structure and curiosity to how we prioritise and manage demand.
If you're looking for greater autonomy, the chance to improve forecasting capability, and the opportunity to support a growing change portfolio, this role offers that next step in your career.
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.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:
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 reportsensuring 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
About The Candidate
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following knowledge, skills and attributes:
Essential: 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.
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