Shape decisions. Turn priorities into achievable outcomes. Choosing what to invest in is only part of the challenge. NPL also needs to understand what it can deliver, where priorities compete and whether investment is producing the intended benefits. About the Role Shape decisions. Turn priorities into achievable outcomes. Choosing what to invest in is only part of the challenge. NPL also needs to understand what it can deliver, where priorities compete and whether investment is producing the intended benefits. As Senior Portfolio Manager, you'll manage a portfolio of initiatives, helping NPL make informed choices about priorities, investment and delivery capacity. Your initial focus will be a portfolio of digital and data initiatives supporting NPL's operational and strategic objectives. The role may support other areas of NPL as organisational priorities change. You'll bring together a clear picture of the portfolio, helping sponsors and delivery teams understand progress, dependencies, resource pressures and expected benefits. Looking beyond individual projects, you'll identify pressures early and recommend what should start, stop, be deferred or move forward sooner. Working with sponsors, delivery leads and operational colleagues, you'll bring independent challenge and help resolve competing priorities. You'll also strengthen portfolio practice through coaching, shared learning and practical improvements. Sponsors and business owners remain accountable for realising benefits; your role is to test the evidence and keep decisions focused on value. Key Responsibilities Shape investment and priorities: Provide evidence and scenarios that help leaders balance strategic objectives, value, risk and resources. Improve portfolio performance: Challenge expected and realised benefits, identify duplication and recommend corrective action where outcomes are at risk. Make plans achievable: Assess demand, resources and the organisation's capacity to absorb change, informing annual and longer-term plans. Resolve competing priorities: Bring leaders and delivery teams together to address dependencies and constraints before they undermine outcomes. Enable timely decisions: Maintain effective portfolio reporting and governance, providing forward‑looking insight and proportionate assurance while raising significant risks and investment concerns early. Strengthen portfolio capability: Improve ways of working and support practitioners through coaching, knowledge sharing and lessons from delivery. About You You combine analytical thinking with sound judgement. You're comfortable making recommendations when evidence is incomplete, explaining uncertainty clearly and challenging assumptions constructively. You distinguish between activity and progress towards meaningful outcomes. Your leadership is collaborative and grounded in trust. You listen to different perspectives, remain objective when priorities compete and make complex choices understandable. You take a practical approach and help colleagues develop their own capability. Your Experience We'd like to hear from people with experience in: Managing a portfolio, or coordinating priorities, resources and dependencies across several related programmes or initiatives. Using investment analysis, scenarios and evidence to influence senior decisions. Balancing demand, resources, delivery capacity and organisational readiness for change. Assessing benefits, performance and risk to guide priorities and corrective action. Building agreement across stakeholders with competing objectives and interdependent work. Improving portfolio practices and developing colleagues through coaching or shared learning. You may have developed this experience through portfolio management, programme leadership, investment planning or another relevant route. Experience with digital or data initiatives would be useful for the initial portfolio but is not essential. We welcome transferable experience from other areas and the ability to learn a new organisational context. Why Join NPL This role offers scope to influence choices that reach beyond a single programme. You'll help NPL direct investment where it can make the greatest contribution, while keeping ambitions grounded in what the organisation can achieve. You’ll work across organisational boundaries, contribute to senior decisions and broaden your leadership through complex investment choices and the development of other practitioners. Your contribution will be measured in better decisions, stronger portfolio practice and greater value from investment. At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity
Senior Portfolio Manager employer: National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation thrives. With a strong focus on employee development and collaboration, NPL provides opportunities for growth through multidisciplinary projects in cutting-edge research. Located in the UK, employees benefit from a supportive culture that values scientific excellence and encourages contributions to impactful advancements in Engineering Biology.
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National Physical Laboratory (NPL) Recruitment Team
