IT Portfolio Manager in Luton

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
The IT Department manages information systems and technology across the business, with teams responsible for IT Operations & Service Delivery, IT Infrastructure, Cyber & Information Security, Data Science, and Project & Portfolio Management.

JOB PURPOSE SUMMARY
Reporting to the Head of IT, the IT Portfolio Manager will lead a small team responsible for turning business requirements into successful projects. It's a people‑centred role that requires a track‑record of delivering projects, strong stakeholder relationship skills, and the ability to coach and develop other project managers. The IT Portfolio Manager is a trusted business partner for our internal and external customers, understanding their needs and requirements, and is accountable for delivery of agreed initiatives. You'll lead your own team of IT project professionals (currently two project managers and one PMO manager) with contract management responsibility for several external partners who provide additional project delivery resources when required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Business partnering: Building trusted relationships across all departments and external partners to understand their current and future technology needs.
• Shaping the portfolio: Turning new demand into a prioritised, deliverable roadmap of IT projects.
• Leading and developing the team: Managing and developing our IT Project Managers and IT PMO to deliver consistent, high‑quality outcomes.
• Overseeing delivery: Ensuring projects are governed effectively, delivered to time and budget, and that risks are well managed.
• Be hands‑on when needed: As a small team, you'll be comfortable running your own projects or undertaking assurance reviews when needed.
• Driving improvement: Continually evolving our project management framework, reporting and demand management approaches to strengthen delivery maturity across the IT department.
• Proactively and positively promote: The initiatives and projects with all employees and the wider airport community.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Essential

• Demonstrable experience of managing a portfolio of technology projects.
• Recent experience of managing, coaching and developing IT Project Managers or PMO professionals.
• Excellent communication, planning and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong understanding of project governance, budgeting and portfolio reporting.
• Commercial and financial acumen with experience of building business cases.
• Experience working with or managing third‑party suppliers and consultancy partners.
• A project, programme or portfolio management qualification.
• Willing to work from our offices in Luton for at least 3 days a week typically as you'll need to be visible to your stakeholders, customers and delivery teams.

• Demonstrable CPD and self‑development throughout your career.
• Exposure to Cyber Security or Information Security projects or frameworks - our portfolio has a growing number of initiatives in this space.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Power Apps and Power BI to help us reduce administrative and reporting tasks that don't add value.
• An understanding of business change principles.

This job description is intended to give an appreciation of the role and the range of duties and responsibilities to be undertaken. It does not attempt to detail every activity. Specific task and objectives will be agreed on an ongoing basis. The post holder will be required at all times to perform any other reasonable tasks, as requested by the Line Manager in order to meet the operational needs of the business.