At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage Macmillan's transformation portfolio, ensuring effective delivery and governance.
- Company: Join Macmillan, a leading charity dedicated to supporting people living with cancer.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, competitive salary, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Other info: Opportunity to work closely with senior leaders and drive meaningful outcomes.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a role that shapes change for those affected by cancer.
- Qualifications: Experience in portfolio management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
Hybrid - split between home and our London Office
Contract: Permanent
About the role
At Macmillan, we’re here to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer. Delivering on that ambition requires clarity, discipline, and excellence in how we manage and deliver change at scale. We’re looking for a Head of Portfolio Delivery to lead our Portfolio Management Team and provide a single, coherent view of our transformation portfolio. This is a critical leadership role, ensuring strong governance, clear prioritisation, and robust delivery across all change initiatives—so we can maximise impact where it matters most. You’ll sit at the centre of our Strategy & Transformation Directorate, working closely with senior leaders to ensure our portfolio is aligned, transparent, and delivering meaningful outcomes.
What you’ll be doing
- You’ll lead and evolve Macmillan’s Portfolio of Programmes and Projects driving best practice and ensuring the effective delivery of our transformation portfolio.
- Your key responsibilities will include:
- Leading and managing the team, ensuring robust portfolio governance, assurance, and reporting
- Maintaining a clear single source of truth for all change initiatives, budgets, and outcomes aligned to strategy
- Developing and actively managing portfolio-level plans, including dependencies, sequencing, and conflict resolution
- Overseeing assurance processes and ensuring compliance with project, programme, and portfolio frameworks
- Partnering with senior leaders to prioritise investment and optimise delivery of strategic outcomes
- Leading, coaching, and developing Programme and Project Managers, building a high-performing, inclusive team
- Driving continuous improvement in portfolio management tools, processes, and reporting
- Engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, building confidence in delivery and decision-making through our Executive Change Portfolio Panel.
As a senior leader at Macmillan, you’ll also role model our leadership commitments—creating an inclusive environment where people feel supported, empowered, and able to thrive.
Who we’re looking for
You’ll be an experienced portfolio leader, comfortable operating at senior level in a complex organisation, with the ability to balance strategic oversight and operational delivery. We’re particularly interested in candidates with:
- Significant experience in portfolio management and governance within complex environments - particularly if you have experience of leading multi-million pound transformations in a not for profit organisation.
- Strong expertise in programme and project methodologies (e.g. MSP, PRINCE2, Agile)
- Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, including at Executive level
- Strong analytical capability, with the ability to translate data into actionable insight
- A track record of driving continuous improvement and delivery excellence
Who you’ll work with
You’ll operate at the heart of the organisation, working closely with:
- Director of Strategy & Transformation
- Programme and Project Managers
- Executive Team and senior stakeholders
- Strategy Integration and Change & Capability teams
- Finance, Planning, and Insight teams
What success looks like
In this role, you’ll:
- Deliver a streamlined, strategically aligned portfolio that drives measurable outcomes
- Provide transparent governance and reporting that enables confident decision-making
- Build and lead a high-performing team grounded in best practice
- Strengthen organisational confidence in portfolio delivery and prioritisation
This is a rare opportunity to lead and shape how a major organisation delivers change at scale. Your leadership will directly enable us to focus our efforts, resources, and investment where they make the greatest difference for people living with cancer.
We welcome applications from everyone who meet the criteria and strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Macmillan. Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee representation body, ‘Our Voice’ and 8 Employee Network groups help us promote fairness and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.
Head of Portfolio Delivery employer: Macmillan Cancer Support
At Macmillan, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by cancer. Our hybrid work model fosters flexibility and work-life balance, while our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion ensures that every employee feels valued and empowered. With robust opportunities for professional growth and a collaborative culture that prioritises excellence in delivery, joining our team as Head of Portfolio Delivery means being at the forefront of transformative change in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Portfolio Delivery
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those at Macmillan. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to portfolio management. We want you to showcase your experience in leading teams and driving change effectively.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! Be ready to discuss how you've built high-performing teams and engaged stakeholders in past roles. This is your chance to shine!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Portfolio Delivery
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in portfolio management and governance. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Head of Portfolio Delivery, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a senior leader, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to lead and develop high-performing teams. Share examples of how you've successfully managed teams and influenced stakeholders in previous roles. We love seeing those leadership qualities shine through!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and structure your thoughts logically. This will help us quickly grasp your qualifications and understand how you can contribute to our mission at Macmillan.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Macmillan Cancer Support
✨Know Your Portfolio Management Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in portfolio management principles and methodologies like MSP, PRINCE2, and Agile. Brush up on your experience with multi-million pound transformations, especially in not-for-profit settings, as this will be crucial for demonstrating your fit for the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your approach to leading and developing high-performing teams. Think of specific examples where you’ve successfully coached team members or improved team dynamics, as this will highlight your ability to create an inclusive environment.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Be ready to talk about your experience in engaging and influencing senior stakeholders. Have a few anecdotes prepared that illustrate how you’ve built confidence in delivery and decision-making, particularly at the executive level.
✨Demonstrate Analytical Skills
Prepare to showcase your analytical capabilities by discussing how you’ve translated data into actionable insights in previous roles. This could involve sharing examples of how your insights led to improved project outcomes or strategic decisions.
