At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead enterprise-wide portfolio management and drive strategic investment decisions.
- Company: Join Pacific Life Re, a dynamic leader in the insurance and financial services sector.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, comprehensive healthcare, and wellness initiatives.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of diversity, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping business change and driving innovation.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in portfolio management with strong leadership and strategic thinking skills.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 80000 £ per year.
Role Overview
The Portfolio Lead is accountable for establishing and running a mature, enterprise-wide portfolio management capability within the Pacific Life Re’s Business Change function, understanding how initiatives align to strategic priorities and ensuring they are delivered effectively.
Within the Pacific Life Re’s Business Change function this role will enable the Executive Committee and senior leadership, to make data driven, prioritised, and strategically aligned investment decisions.
- Job Title
- Portfolio Lead (Business Change)
Job Description
Reporting to the VP, Business Change, the role leads the development of the Project Portfolio pipeline for one or more Lines of Business or DBS (Divisional Business Services) Functions, delivering integrated portfolio insight, governance, evaluation and prioritisation of projects based on business value, organizational capacity, and risk.
This role is critical in the evolution of the Business Change function within PL Re to a fully integrated, insight-led portfolio model.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnering
- Act as a trusted advisor to various divisional leadership and senior stakeholders and Committees
- Drive alignment across often competing priorities (Lo Bs, DBS Functions, Technology)
- Build strong relationships across Change, Finance, Strategy, Risk, and Technology
- Provide clear, concise updates to leadership teams
- Planning & Capacity Management
- Implement integrated planning processes across strategy, budgets, and delivery, ensuring pipeline demand is clearly communicated and agreed
- Challenge and shape demand to ensure alignment with business priorities
- Manage the intake, assessment, and prioritisation of change demand
- Portfolio Strategy & Operating Model
- Translate business strategy into a coherent and prioritised change pipelines, ensuring all initiatives are clearly linked to strategic objectives and value outcomes
- Establish a clear portfolio taxonomy, definitions (e. g. BAU vs strategic change), and consistent lifecycle framework
- Support investment planning, business case development, and funding decisions
- Align portfolio processes with Finance, Strategy, Technology, Risk and other enabling functions
- Enterprise Portfolio Oversight & Insight
- Manage and prioritise a portfolio of change initiatives aligned to business strategy
- Create and maintain a single integrated view of the change portfolio (strategic initiatives, regulatory, BAU change)
• Portfolio Governance
- Help redefine the governance framework(s) for prioritizing, sequencing, and occasionally pausing change initiatives based on capacity and combined business impact – with clear alignment with other Executive Committees.
- Strengthen governance to ensure transparency, auditability and alignment to strategy
- Ensure clear visibility of delivery status, risks, issues, and interdependencies
• Deliver forward-looking portfolio insights including
- Delivery health and performance
- Strategic alignment
- Capacity and resource constraints
- Interdependencies and risk hotspots
- Drive consistency in delivery standards, methodologies, and documentation
- Shift leadership conversations from project reporting → portfolio decision-making
- Build Organisational Capability
- Upskill the Business Change function and Business areas in portfolio thinking and disciplines
- Embed consistent standards, tools, and ways of working
- Continuous improvement: find ways to make Change more effective
Skills & Experience
- 10+ years of hands‑on experience in portfolio / transformation / change leadership within;
- Insurance (Life, Reinsurance preferred), or
- Financial Services (Banking, Asset Management)
- Proven track record of establishing or maturing Portfolio / Transformation Offices (PMO++, EPMO, Portfolio Office)
• Deep expertise and qualifications in
- Portfolio management frameworks (e. g. Mo P, P3O, enterprise PMO models)
- Investment prioritisation and business case evaluation
- Portfolio analytics, reporting, and tools (e. g. Planview, Clarity, Power BI)
- Strong understanding of delivery methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid)
- Competencies And Behaviours
• Strong Leadership Skills Including
- Strong strategic thinking with ability to connect portfolio to business outcomes
- Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing at Ex Co level
- Ability to challenge constructively and facilitate difficult trade‑off decisions
- High credibility, resilience, and enterprise leadership presence
- Data‑driven mindset with ability to translate analysis into insight
- Commercial awareness and value focus, with the ability to understand how change initiatives drive the right commercial outcomes and returns on investment
- Working For Pacific Life Re
Every person in our global team is valued for the unique qualities they bring to our business and we seek to build their expertise and support their individual ambitions at every step.
Of course, we take our work seriously and we know our team can operate under great pressure.
We work hard and thrive on achievement, but we also know how to have fun and relax too.
We regularly host a range of team building days to strengthen our team’s connection with each other and reflect on their successes.
Providing employees with a healthy work‑life balance is very important to our culture.
We have a wide range of employee benefits and we host regular social activities and well‑being initiatives.
We are also committed to supporting our employee’s involvement in their communities, by actively fundraising, hosting charity events and overseeing volunteering opportunities.
Benefits (Only For Permanent And Fixed Term Employees)
- Leave
- 25 days of annual leave with option to buy/sell more days
- Adoption and fertility leave
- Generous enhanced parental leave
- Healthcare
- Comprehensive private insurance coverage for employee and dependents
- Group Life Insurance coverage of 9x basic annual salary and Group Income Protection up to 75% of basic annual salary
- Optical benefits
- Savings & Retirement
- 15% combined employee/employer contributions
- Wellness
- Subsidized gym membership
- Access to Employee Assistance Program
- Cycle to Work and Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
- Time off for volunteering
- Charitable matching of employee donations
- You Can Be Who You Are
We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces the authenticity of all employees, partners and communities.
We support all employees to thrive and achieve their fullest potential.
As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we will provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to ensure equal access to applicants with disabilities.
Please contact us about your needs so that we can discuss these with you to make sure that suitable adjustments are made, where possible.
- Pacific Life Re Values
- Please click here to view our company values
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Portfolio Lead (Business Change) employer: Pacific Life Re
As a global life reinsurer, we offer an exceptional work environment that fosters innovation and excellence. Our collaborative culture encourages employees to challenge the status quo, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Located in Europe, we pride ourselves on our commitment to employee well-being and a supportive atmosphere that values diverse perspectives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Portfolio Lead (Business Change)
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Portfolio Lead (Business Change) at Pacific Life Re!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Pacific Life Re or be willing to refer you for that Portfolio Lead (Business Change) position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Pacific Life Re who’s on the lookout for their next Portfolio Lead (Business Change) star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Portfolio Lead (Business Change) role at Pacific Life Re!
We think you need these skills to ace Portfolio Lead (Business Change)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Pacific Life Re. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pacific Life Re
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Pacific Life Re. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
