Portfolio Management Office (PfMO) Manager
c.£75,000 per annum
Bedford
Permanent
Hybrid Working
Are you ready to become our new Portfolio Management Office (PfMO) Manager? Do you want to work for a purpose-driven organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of citizens across the UK?
Money and Pensions Service has created a single Change Portfolio with a view to improve maturity in this key department. In this new role of Portfolio Management Office (PMO) Manager you will be instrumental in defining and maintaining the standards for programme and project management within MaPS. This includes the implementation and sharing of best practice as well as the development and application of procedures, tools and techniques to standardise methodologies and realise economies. You will provide expert guidance and support to the Change Portfolio. The MaPS Change Portfolio has a wider range of programme and project types with different levels of complexity.
Role Overview
The Portfolio Management Office (PfMO) Manager will report directly to Corporate Director of Change/Senior Programme Manager. In this role, you will be responsible for:
Key Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Corporate Director of Change, this role will provide;
· Delivery and Leadership: Support programmes and projects in the delivery of business case benefits and outcomes. Champion the use of best practice project management standards and processes.
· Governance and Assurance: Ensure appropriate documentation and governance review, at appropriate points in the project lifecycle are in place across the Change Portfolio project and programme lifecycle. Monitor the effectiveness of controls and ensure that recommendations are acted upon. Provide assurance to Corporate Director and via onward reporting.
· Portfolio level reporting for the Change Board and ExCo: ensuring they have sufficient information from reporting to be able to challenge progress and make decisions confidently.
· Benefits: Ensure they are appropriately identifiedwith processes in place enabling their tracking and reporting.
· Business Case: Support programmes and projects in the development of business case.
· Budget: Provide a Change Portfolio view of projects and programmes budgets, and forecast actual costs against them, working with Financial colleagues.
· Resources: Provide a Change Portfolio view of projects and programmes resources. Support projects and programmes in the identification, recruitment, development, deployment and assignment of resources throughout the lifecycle.
· Stakeholder management: Advise the project team on appropriate tools and techniques for managing stakeholder relationships. Provide assurance to PM's on the effectiveness of stakeholder management arrangements.
· Risks, Issues Dependencies: work with Risk Team and provide assurance to Change Portfolio on the effectiveness of Risk and Issue management and provide a change portfolio view.
· Change Management: Monitor and enforce protocols to change the scope of projects and/or programmes and update documents as required.
· Project performance and controls: Ensuring robust and achievable plans are in place to achieve objectives, with clearly assigned roles and responsibilities. Work with PM's to establish and operate project controls, reporting on project progress and status to appropriate bodies. Identify common capabilities and opportunities for linking up, re-using and sharing of methods and resources between projects and programmes. Ensure learning from experience is disseminated across the organisation.
· Guidance and support: Identify, develop and share best practice project management processes, tools and templates and benchmarks against industry standard. Provides direction and guidance to the project team Ensure training and support is available to staff involved in the Change Portfolio of programmes and projects
You will need to demonstrate the following skills and experience.
The role requires you to have strong leadership and management skills coupled with strong programme management skills to ensure the integrity of the change portfolio. You will need to develop and maintain robust relationships with all parts of the business as well as with the project and projects, to ensure that all initiatives meet the requirements of the Change Portfolio and can identify any gaps. Experience of implementation or working in a scalable Agile framework.
You will need to have credibility within the environment and be able to influence others. You must be able to develop and maintain effective working relationships with senior managers, the project and programme teams.
Visible Leadership – the ability to effectively lead people through cultural change/transformation. Collaboratively establishing a strong shared vision for change and engaging with people with integrity.
Effective Planning and Organisation - showing the ability to define and prioritise the fundamental components of the Change Portfolio in terms of its scope, deliverables, time scale, resource requirements and budget to develop and manage the programme plan. It also includes the production of broader plans incorporating risk and quality to provide a consolidated overview of a project.
Risk and Issue Management – showing the ability to identify and monitor Change Portfolio risks & issues, planning how to mitigate / respond to those risks and issues and implement identified actions.
Dependency mapping - creating visual representation that illustrate the relationships and dependencies between projects and programmes across the Change Portfolio.
Benefits management - showing the ability to identify, quantify, map and track transformation benefits to evidence the investment in projects/programmes and across the portfolio and to provide assurance that the benefits identified can be realised.
Critical thinker and problem-solver – develop strategies to address and resolveissues andchallenges that may arise in the planning, execution of delivery of project and programmes across the Change portfolio.
Data driven – Leading with data can influence the Programme Board and stakeholders, encouraging them to value the recommendations and information that PMO leaders provide. Data and KPIs form the basis of efficient and effective programme reporting to support quality decision making and instil confidence across the Board.
Can work with ambiguity – Coping effectively with change, shift gears comfortably, make decision and act without having the total picture, and handle risk and uncertainty.
About Us
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is based in Bedford, in a recently renovated modern office. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to become an integral part of a dynamic organisation, working to help people across the UK.
At the heart of the Money and Pensions Service are our values – caring, connecting, and transforming, which are the foundation of our success. They permeate every area of our work and define all our business relationships and the way we work with each other. We're not only looking for the best people to come and work for us, but we need people who align themselves with our values:
* Caring
We care about our colleagues and the people whose lives we are here to transform.
* Connecting
We will transform lives through our ability to make positive connections.
* Transforming
We are committed to transforming lives and making a positive societal impact.
Our Inclusive Working Environment
By fostering our values, we are immensely proud of the inclusive working environment that we have created. The diversity of our people is a strength that we embrace and wish to build upon, so we are committed to attracting people of all backgrounds. We work hard to ensure that we have a progressive approach to inclusion, equity, and belonging. We really do want our colleagues to "bring their whole selves to work."
Our colleague and ally networks encompass LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, women's health, men's health, ethnicity, and diversity.
What We Offer
· Generous Annual Leave – 30 days plus Bank Holidays
· Pension scheme – contributions matched 2 to 1 (up to 10% of your salary)
· Interest-free loan for season tickets for buses and trains
· Cycle to work Scheme
· Subsidised eye tests & flu jabs
· Life assurance scheme
· Give as you earn scheme
· Employee assistance programme (EAP)
· PAM Assist and PAM Life scheme (Wellbeing)
· Enhanced family and sick pay
· Paid volunteering (2 days a year)
· Recognition Scheme
· Discounts portal to numerous retailers
Flexible Working
At MaPS, we take pride in our flexible approach to work. As standard, we work on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 2 days in the office per week. Hybrid working is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and our headquarters in Bedford will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business needs, but personal and other relevant circumstances will also be considered. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Career Development
In MaPS, we take career development seriously. We actively encourage and support applications from our existing MaPS colleagues. However, we do follow the Civil Service Commissioner recruitment principles, which means that you will be required to participate in a full, open, and fair process.
Reserve List
If you are successful at interview, we operate a reserve list where your details will be held for up to 6 months. Should a vacancy come available in that time with the same essential criteria, reserve list candidates will be offered that position with no further assessment required.
Application Process
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the Money and Pensions Service via email: If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.
Step 1: Submit Your Application
Open: 30th September 2025 | Deadline: 14th October 2025
Please submit an up-to-date CV that clearly outlines your recent experience and demonstrates how you meet the criteria for this role.
Step 2: Telephone Interview
Between: 30th September – 15th October 2025
Candidates who meet the initial criteria will be invited to a friendly, informal telephone interview with the Reed team. This is an opportunity to discuss your experience and gain further insight into the role.
Step 3: Final Stage Interview
Week commencing: 27th October
Successful candidates will attend a 2 stage formal interview with the MaPS team.
* Duration: Approximately 1 hour
* Format: Competency-based questions and a presentation.
Job Reference: MaPS00992
Close Date: 14/10/2025
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £75,000.00 per year
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bedford, MK40 1SU