At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the management of B&Q's technology portfolio and drive impactful insights.
- Company: Join B&Q, a leading retail organisation committed to innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, generous holiday, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team that values your ideas and promotes personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in how technology shapes customer experiences and business success.
- Qualifications: Experience in portfolio management, financial reporting, and a passion for AI and data.
The predicted salary is between 58500 - 71500 £ per year.
Overview
Permanent Up to 60,000 + Pension + PMI + ShareSave + 6.6 weeks holiday + Hybrid Working (2 days per week in the office) Southampton, Store Support Office. We believe anyone can improve their home to make life better. From our Southampton Store Support office (SSO) we equip our stores, our people, and our whole business with everything it takes to help our millions of customers create a home they’ll love. Join us as a Technology Portfolio & Insights Lead and you’ll be a big part of this.
Role Purpose:
This role leads the day-to-day management of the B&Q Technology portfolio, ensuring investment is effectively managed, governed and reported. It combines strong portfolio and financial management with a curiosity for AI, automation and data, using technology to simplify reporting, connect information across systems and surface meaningful insights for senior leaders and stakeholders.
Working closely with Finance, B&Q and Kingfisher Technology and business stakeholders, the role will manage new demand through governance and into delivery, provide oversight of portfolio investment and performance, and support decisions on priorities and the future roadmap. It tracks portfolio outcomes, investment and benefits to ensure technology spend is delivering against B&Q's strategy.
What’s the job?
- Key Accountabilities / Responsibilities:
- Management of B&Q Technology Portfolio
- Management of the B&Q technology portfolio budget for the current financial year, working with the Finance and Technology teams to review and report monthly expenditure and continuously improve forecast accuracy.
- Use of Copilot, AI and other portfolio tools to bring together portfolio data and automate reporting, reducing manual effort and surfacing timely, actionable insight on performance, trends, risks and dependencies for senior leaders and stakeholders.
- Maintain a centralised view of milestones and OKRs, facilitating regular updates and ensuring stakeholders have full visibility of progress and status.
- Support the annual B&Q budget planning process for the following year, collating costs, understanding cost phasing, validating benefits and keeping portfolio systems up to date.
- Management of Governance Process
- Serve as the primary point of contact for governance requirements related to the portfolio. This includes supporting Technology Directors, Project Managers, and Product Managers in navigating the budget approval process.
- Ensure required governance activities are completed for projects across the portfolio, such as post-completion reviews to assess return on investment and benefits realisation.
- New Demand
- Own and actively manage the end-to-end intake process, ensuring new demand is assessed, prioritised and progressed through governance.
- Maintain clear visibility of the demand pipeline, surfacing progress, blockers, dependencies and decisions required.
- Continuously improve the process, using data, AI and automation to simplify ways of working, reduce manual effort and provide better insight for decision-making.
- Contribute to wider Group Portfolio Team
- Actively participate in the Group Portfolio Chapter, working with other portfolio teams to improve the annual budget planning process and wider portfolio processes and ways of working.
- Organise and facilitate quarterly review and planning sessions, ensuring that past achievements and upcoming deliverables for B&Q are effectively communicated to the broader Technology function.
- Provide accurate and timely B&Q portfolio data and input to Group planning forums throughout the year.
- Additional Reporting and Communication
- Management of the B&Q Technology team SharePoint site, ensuring content is current and accurately maintained.
- Coordinate and manage sharing sessions for the wider B&Q technology team to promote knowledge exchange and awareness of events across the Group.
- Deliver comprehensive onboarding and guidance to new team members on the use of the portfolio tools, ensuring they are proficient in entering and managing forecasts for their respective initiatives.
Key Business Relationships:
- B&Q Finance team
- B&Q Technology team
- B&Q PMO and Kingfisher Portfolio Management
- Kingfisher technology teams
- Technology & Digital Finance
What we need:
Required Skills & Experience:
- Portfolio & Financial Management: Proven experience managing portfolio budgets, forecasts and financial reporting, with good commercial understanding and the analytical skills to support investment decisions.
- AI, Data & Automation: Strong interest in AI and emerging technology, with the curiosity and confidence to explore how Copilot, automation and connected portfolio tools can reduce manual effort, improve data quality and generate better portfolio insight.
- Data Analysis and Reporting: Strong skills in portfolio data management, analysis and reporting to support decision-making.
- Governance and Process Management: Experience managing governance processes.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage with stakeholders at all levels to gather information, resolve issues and maintain progress.
- Collaboration and Teamwork: Able to work effectively across matrix teams and build strong partnerships.
- Technology & Product Understanding: Previous experience working with technology and product teams, with a good high-level understanding of how they plan, prioritise and deliver work.
- Technical Proficiency: Quick to learn and adapt to new systems and technologies. Familiarity with tools such as Projectum, Monday.com, and Jira is advantageous.
- Methodological Awareness: Understanding of different delivery methodologies and their application in technology.
What’s In It For You?
At B&Q, we’re building more than great homes – we’re building great careers. When you join us, you’ll be part of a supportive, inclusive business where your ideas matter, your development is invested in, and your wellbeing is genuinely important. Here’s what you can expect:
- Flexible & Hybrid Working - Work in a way that helps you perform at your best, balancing business needs with personal commitments.
- Career Growth & Development - Access learning, development and career opportunities across one of the UK’s leading retail organisations.
- Competitive Reward Package - A competitive salary, pension and a range of financial benefits.
- Colleague Discounts - Enjoy discounts across B&Q and the wider Kingfisher Group.
- Health & Wellbeing Support - Access wellbeing resources, health support and employee assistance programmes designed to help you thrive.
- Time Away From Work - Generous holiday entitlement and family-friendly policies that support life both inside and outside work.
- A Place Where You Belong - We’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to be themselves.
- Make a Difference - The work you do will have a direct impact on our customers, colleagues and business.
Eligibility To Work:
Please note that B&Q does not currently offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application and throughout their employment.
Accessibility & Disability Confident:
At B&Q, we’re committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience for everyone. If you require any additional support or reasonable adjustments to help you complete your application or throughout the recruitment process, please let us know. If you would like to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please contact us. If you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we’ll consider your application in line with our Disability Confident commitments.
Technology Portfolio & Insights Lead in Eastleigh employer: B&Q
B&Q Peckham is an excellent employer that prioritises a supportive work culture and employee development, offering a range of benefits such as Life Assurance, Employee Assistance, and generous leave. Working here means being part of a friendly team dedicated to creating positive shopping experiences for customers, while also enjoying unique perks like discounts and a cycle to work scheme in a vibrant community setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technology Portfolio & Insights Lead in Eastleigh
✨Get Involved in Tech Transfer Events
Tech transfer is all about networking, so make sure you're attending industry conferences and seminars related to technology commercialization. Events like the AUTM Annual Meeting or local innovation workshops are clutch for meeting key players and learning what's trending—plus, you might just bump into someone from B&Q!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Having a solid portfolio can really make you stand out. Highlight any projects where you successfully brought a technology to market or improved a process. Sharing case studies or insights on platforms like LinkedIn can catch the eye of recruiters at B&Q, showing them you’ve got the chops for the job.
✨Leverage University Connections
Many universities have strong tech transfer offices—connect with them! They often have ties to industry and can help you get your foot in the door. Plus, you might find openings or internship opportunities that lead to this full-time role at places like B&Q.
✨Engage with Online Communities
Join forums or online communities focused on tech transfer and commercialization. Platforms like ResearchGate or industry-specific Slack channels are great for connecting with professionals, discussing trends, and possibly learning about job openings before they hit the mainstream. Remember, your next opportunity could be just a message away!
We think you need these skills to ace Technology Portfolio & Insights Lead in Eastleigh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Tech Transfer Know-How:In the tech transfer and commercialization world, it's crucial to highlight your understanding of intellectual property, patents, and market analysis. Make sure your CV includes relevant projects or experiences where you successfully navigated these areas. Any certifications in commercialisation would also give you a serious edge!
Tailor Your Documents for the Role:Your cover letter should reflect not just your enthusiasm for the position at B&Q, but also your knowledge of current trends in technology-transfer. Discuss specific cases where you've contributed to commercialising innovations or enhancing research outcomes—this will show you’re ready to tackle challenges head-on!
Quantify Your Achievements:In this field, numbers count! Whether it's successful licensing deals, funding acquired for projects, or percentage increases in collaboration outcomes, include these metrics in your CV. They not only make your accomplishments more tangible but also demonstrate your impact in previous roles.
Demonstrate Your Business Acumen:Understanding the business side is just as crucial as the tech side! When writing your application, weave in examples that illustrate your strategic thinking and your role in negotiations or partnerships. This balance of skills is what will set you apart for a full-time role at B&Q.
How to prepare for a job interview at B&Q
✨Demonstrate Your Tech Knowledge
Brush up on key technologies and trends in technology transfer and commercialization. Be ready to showcase your understanding of licensing agreements and the innovation lifecycle, as well as any specific tools or software used in the field.
✨Show Your Business Acumen
This role isn't just about tech; it's also about understanding the market. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach bringing a technology to market, including strategies for assessing commercial viability and potential partnerships.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect case studies or hypothetical scenarios during the interview. Think about how you'd approach real-world challenges in technology transfer, like negotiating a deal or handling stakeholder concerns—this can help us get a sense of your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
✨Highlight Your Teamwork Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Be ready to share examples of how you've worked with cross-functional teams in the past, particularly in scenarios that involved tech developers and business strategists coming together.