Portfolio Officer

Role overview

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is looking for a Portfolio Officer to support portfolio management and operational coordination within the new Corporate Strategy Office. This team sits at the centre of the Corporate Group, bringing together Private Office and the Portfolio Management Office to help deliver the department’s vision of influencing, enabling, and driving efficiency and transformation across the organisation.

This post plays a key part in translating strategic priorities into action and supporting the Director General and Senior Leadership Team through governance, reporting, and delivery oversight across corporate priorities.

The role is based across Bristol, Darlington, London, Manchester, and Wolverhampton, with remote working noted in the job type.

What the role involves

You will help manage the Group’s portfolio, operations, and wider corporate activity across risk, governance, business issues, and project support. The work is closely linked with Finance and HR Business Partners to provide a joined-up view of the portfolio.

• Provide secretariat support for the monthly Portfolio Board, working with the wider office and PMO lead to shape agendas that use senior leaders’ time effectively and support strategic direction.
• Work with Private Office colleagues to understand current priorities.
• Coordinate quarterly Corporate Stocktakes to monitor progress and strengthen delivery across the group.
• Prepare monthly returns, including delivery updates, and track progress against Objectives and Key Results as well as the risk register.
• Improve capability in reporting systems and support efficient information management.
• Assist with larger exercises such as business planning, spending reviews, and other requests from the Department and HMT/CO.
• Develop and maintain strong networks across the Group and with business partners to respond to wider operational needs.

What we are looking for

The ideal candidate will be able to plan and prioritise effectively, work confidently across competing demands, and deliver to deadlines. You should be comfortable operating in a complex environment, able to see the wider picture, and make sensible judgement calls about priorities and trade-offs.

Strong stakeholder management is essential, along with the ability to build productive relationships with colleagues at different levels. You will also need excellent written and verbal communication skills, sound analytical ability, strong attention to detail, and the ability to turn complex information into clear, concise recommendations.

A proactive approach to learning is important, especially the ability to quickly get to grips with new topics and apply that knowledge in practice. Experience in business management, risk management, or operational work, particularly where deadlines and competing priorities had to be managed, is also required.

Selection process

The recruitment process has two stages and assesses Success Profiles across behaviours, experience, and strengths.

Stage 1: Sift will review:

• Experience: a lead question asking you to explain the relevant experience, skills, and knowledge that make you a strong fit for the role.
• Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Working Together, and Managing a Quality Service.

Each response has a 250-word limit. If a large number of applications are received, an initial sift may be carried out using the lead behaviour.

Stage 2: Interview will assess the behaviours Managing a Quality Service, Working Together, Communicating and Influencing, and Changing and Improving, along with strength-based questions that expect natural answers.

Sifting is expected in the week commencing 29/06, and interviews are expected in the week commencing 13/07. Interviews are currently planned to take place remotely by video call, though this may change.

Application guidance

Applicants are asked to make sure they review the relevant information from the department’s careers site before applying. This includes security clearance requirements, nationality rules, right to work, the Civil Service Code and recruitment principles, CV declaration, sponsorship, salary and grade, existing civil servants, conflict of interest, location and flexible working, fixed-term contracts, internal fraud database information, and appeals and complaints.

Artificial intelligence may be used to support an application, but all examples and statements must be truthful, accurate, and based on the applicant’s own experience. Applications may be withdrawn if plagiarism or misrepresentation is identified, and internal candidates may face disciplinary action.

Security and eligibility

Security clearance varies by office location: the National Office requires BPSS, while the London Office requires BPSS plus CTC. Successful candidates must also complete a criminal record check and meet the required vetting standards before appointment.

This role is open to UK nationals, Irish nationals, Commonwealth citizens with the right to work in the UK, eligible EU/Swiss/Norwegian/Icelandic/Liechtenstein nationals and their family members with settled or pre-settled status or a valid EUSS application, some individuals with limited or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible for EUSS by 31 December 2020, and Turkish nationals and certain family members who have the right to work in the Civil Service.

The Civil Service operates on merit, fair and open competition, and offers support through the Disability Confident Scheme and Redeployment Interview Scheme where criteria are met.

Benefits and additional information

Alongside the salary, the department contributes to the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Other benefits mentioned include tailored career pathways, flexible working, the MyLifestyle Staff Benefits Scheme, Childcare Vouchers, and Cycle to Work schemes.

If candidates need help with the process or additional information to complete their application, they should contact the resourcing team. Candidates may appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been an issue.

Contacts

Job contact: Cat Sisman

Recruitment team email: recruitment@communities.gov.uk

Applicant support email: hello@beapplied.com

Other notes

Feedback is only provided to candidates who attend an interview or assessment. The advert also notes that once the vacancy closes, it will no longer remain available, so saving a copy for records may be helpful.

The department also states its commitment to diversity and inclusion, and references the Civil Service People Plan and Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.