Portfolio Planning & Assurance Manager, Delivery Assurance in Leeds

As a Portfolio Planning & Assurance Manager, you will play a pivotal role in delivering strategic, data-informed and independent portfolio assurance services. You will be a trusted partner, enabling the Bank to achieve its strategic priorities by supporting projects and programmes setting up for success. You will ensure the Portfolio Planning & Assurance team delivers effective portfolio management, ensuring all changes are traceable, accountable and deliver measurable benefits.

The Bank values diversity and inclusion - we want to reflect the society we serve better; we want the best people to work for us and we want our workplace to be inclusive. We value all forms of diversity, including but not limited to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion and sexual orientation.

Role Purpose

You will be responsible for providing independent oversight, challenge and assurance by monitoring projects throughout their lifecycle to ensure adherence to governance standards and strategic objectives. This role involves conducting a range of delivery assurance reviews to assess alignment to strategic objectives, delivery health, governance standards and risk management effectiveness. This activity is a key enabler within the Bank's change agenda to strengthen delivery confidence, identify systemic risk and support continuous improvement across the portfolio.

Primary Outcomes and Accountabilities

• Delivery Assurance: Lead independent assurance reviews across major projects and programmes, providing objective oversight, identifying risks, and ensuring alignment with governance and delivery standards. Evaluate project documentation, business cases, delivery plans and financials to ensure alignment to the Bank's change management framework. Monitor project health indicators (scope, schedule, cost, risk and benefits) to identify early warning signs of delivery risk. Track and validate remediation of assurance findings and ensure appropriate escalation of risks present.
• Governance and Reporting: Prepare clear, evidence-based assurance reports and dashboards for governance fora. Provide regular updates on portfolio delivery health, emerging risks and thematic trends.
• Facilitate Learning and Continuous Improvement: Contribute to the ongoing development of the Delivery Assurance Framework. Identify and document lessons learned and systemic improvement opportunities. Promote capability building in delivery standards through mentoring, training and advisory support to project teams.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with project managers, sponsors and senior leaders to foster a culture of delivery excellence and accountability. Act as a trusted advisor - balancing challenge with collaboration.
• Support Transparency: Ensure leadership has a clear view of the portfolio health and progress. Identify any portfolio-wide challenges through consistent reporting.
• Maintain Accountability: Act as an impartial body to uphold accountability across all project and programme activities.
• Support Strategy & Business Planning: Ensure that activities are aligned with the overall strategic goals of the organisation.

Being a role model and ambassador for the Division, committed to the purpose of the Bank and providing a supportive, diverse and inclusive team environment.

Role Requirements

Minimum Criteria:

• Proven demonstrable experience in project management, preferably within the banking or financial services sector, with the ability to think ahead, proactively managing situations and to be innovative in meeting business needs.
• Proven understanding of project and programme methodologies (agile, waterfall, hybrid) and familiarity with project management software and tools.
• Proven experience working in assurance roles and/or developing assurance frameworks with a strong grasp of change governance, risk management and programme governance frameworks.

Essential Criteria:

• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to analyse complex delivery data and translate findings into actionable insights.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex and technical information effectively in written and oral form with a style that is moderated according to the audience.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, with the ability to think holistically and work collaboratively across a range of stakeholders to address identified risks.
• Ability to demonstrate resilience when delivering difficult messages or when they are met with resistance to ideas or messages.

Inclusion and Our Approach

The Bank values diversity, equity and inclusion. We play a key role in maintaining monetary and financial stability, and to do that effectively, we believe we need a workforce that reflects the society we serve. We celebrate all forms of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status.

We welcome applications from individuals who work flexibly, including job shares and part time working patterns. We’ve also partnered with external organisations to support us in making adjustments for candidates and employees in the recruitment process where they’re needed.

For most roles where work can be carried out at home, we aim for colleagues to spend half of their time in the office, with a minimum of 40% per month. Subject to that minimum requirement, individuals and managers should work together to find what works best for them, their team and stakeholders.

Finally, we’re proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme. If you wish to apply under this scheme, you should check the box in the 'Candidate Personal Information' under the 'Disability Confident Scheme' section of the application.

Salary and Benefits Information

We encourage flexible working, part time working and job share arrangements. Part time salary and benefits will be on a pro-rated basis as appropriate.

Salary details:

• Leeds circa £62,480 - £70,000
• London circa £69,440 - £78,000

In addition, we also offer a comprehensive benefits package as detailed below:

• Currently a non-contributory, career average pension giving you a guaranteed retirement benefit of 1/80th of your annual salary for every year worked. There is the option to increase your pension (to 1/65th) or decrease (to 1/105th) in exchange for salary through our flexible benefits programme each year.
• A discretionary performance award based on a current award pool.
• An 8% benefits allowance with the option to take as salary or purchase a wide range of flexible benefits.
• 26 days’ annual leave with option to buy up to 12 additional days through flexible benefits.
• Private medical insurance and income protection.

National Security Vetting Process

Employment in this role will be subject to the National Security Vetting clearance process (and typically can take between 6 to 12 weeks post offer) and the passing of additional Bank security checks in accordance with the Bank policy. Further information regarding the vetting and security clearance requirements for the role will be provided to the successful applicant, and information about how the Bank processes personal data for these purposes, is set out in the Bank's Privacy Notice.

The Bank of England welcomes applications from all candidates, but as a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approved sponsor, we have a responsibility to comply with the Immigration Rules and guidance. As such, our ability to employ individuals who require sponsorship for immigration purposes is limited. The Bank cannot guarantee that you and / or the role you are applying for will be eligible for sponsorship and that any application made to UKVI will be successful. Eligibility will therefore be considered on a case by case basis.

The Application Process

Important: Please ensure that you complete the 'work history' section and answer ALL the application questions fully. All candidate applications are anonymised to ensure that our hiring managers will not be able to see your personal information, including your CV, when reviewing your application details at the screening stage. It’s therefore really important that you fill out the work history and application form questions, as your answers will form a critical part of the initial selection process.

The assessment process will comprise of two interview stages. This role closes on 5th Feb 2026. Please apply online, ensuring that you complete your work history and answer ALL the application questions fully and in detail as your application will not be considered if all mandatory questions are not fully completed.