Head of Portfolio

Collinson Group is a global leader in driving loyalty and engagement for many of the worlds largest companies. Predominantly through the provision of travel related benefits within a market leading digital travel ecosystem. The group offers a unique blend of industry and sector specialists who together provide marketleading experience in delivering products and services across four core capabilities: Loyalty Lifestyle Benefits and Insurance.

The group provides unrivalled insight and expertise around affluent consumers and frequent travellers creating and delivering products and services now accessible to over 400m end consumers.

We have more than 25 years experience with 28 global locations servicing over 800 clients in 170 countries employing 1800 people.

We have been bringing innovation to the market since inception from launching the first independent global VIP lounge access Programme Priority Pass to being the first to sell direct travel insurance in the UK through Columbus Direct and creating the first loyalty agency of its kind in the travel sector with ICLP. Today we still invest heavily in innovation to ensure that we continue to deliver superior customer experiences.

Key clients include: Visa Mastercard American Express Cathay Pacific British Airways LATAM Flying Blue Accor EasyJet HSBC Chase HDFC.

Our mission is focused on doing good beyond profit which for us means we seek out opportunities for our people to share in our success and that we give back to the communities and people within which we work.

Never short of ambition the success of our business is delivered through the diverse and talented team of over 1800 colleagues globally.

Purpose of the job

The Portfolio team ensures that P&I initiatives are executed effectively and efficiently assuring delivery on time and within budget. The Head of Portfolio works with the Director of Customer Portfolio to develop and maintain high standards to represent P&I to key stakeholders by establishing best in class portfolio and project methodologies standards and tools. You will communicate to Executive Management on all projects within the program portfolio.

The Head of Portfolio has oversight of project management process including governance team leadership tracking and monitoring prioritization communication and quality controls. The Head of Portfolio should have a proven track record of successfully setting up a portfolio function project delivery an ability to improve project management practices and substantial team leadership experience with a focus on team development.

Key Responsibilities

Governance:
Establishing an effective governance structure supporting P&I leadership and SLT to drive effective decisionmaking.

Ensure that good quality materials and artefacts which present a clear and accurate view of the status of the Portfolio including risks (both operational and key delivery risks)
Consistency of governance forums within P&I
Clear communications to the SLT on the status of the portfolio ensuring that stakeholders are kept informed of developments.

Demonstrate best practice and continuous improvement of the portfolio:
Establish and embed new/improved processes which support effective delivery of projects and programmes within the portfolio.
Direct management of Portfolio reporting resources who will continue to embed standards within the centre of delivery.
Continual assessment and reviews of processes refining where necessary.

Prioritization:
Provide P&I leadership and stakeholders with the information needed to assess and decide which proposals have the highest potential value impact and strategic alignment.
Interface with P&I leadership to define project priorities implementation opportunities challenges and communicate project risks and opportunities.

Supporting the Director of Customer portfolio and delivery strategy in promoting the function through active engagement of key stakeholders and the wider business
Supporting the business in shaping propositions by working directly with Sponsors and change requesters providing advice and reasonable challenge where necessary.
Ensuring developments within the portfolio are communicated effectively within P&I and across Collinson and externally to the wider business through regular publishing of key artefacts to indicate progress
Work closely with internal comms to ensure that key successes are highlighted via internal tools.

Knowledge skills and experience required:

Experience dealing with a multimillion digital technology transformation programmes
Have leadership experience within an Agile / Iterative delivery environment
Good knowledge of techniques for planning monitoring and controlling programmes
Expertlevel knowledge of project and change management methodologies techniques processes (e.g. Project and Portfolio Management Methodology PPM).
Budget cost and profitability management skills. Knowledge of resource management tools.

Proven experience of portfolio delivery including providing portfolio assurance and governance.
Professional qualification in project management is desirable.
Proven ability to:
oLead and shape.
oManage ambiguity and take people with you.
oFind ways of solving or preempting problems
oTo motivate and to create a sense of community and urgency.

Collinson is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes differences in all their forms including: colour race ethnicity gender identity sexual orientation neurodivergence family status age individuals with disabilities and people from all backgrounds cultures and experiences as we strongly believe this contributes to our ongoing success.

We are focused on continually evolving our purpose driven high performing culture providing an environment where our people have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and do interesting and meaningful work. Our company values are: Act smarter Do the right thing One team and Be insight led. These help guide everything we do internally in terms of how we think act and interact right through to how we deliver value to our customers and clients.

In your application please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example she/her/hers he/him/his they/them/theirs etc).

If you need any extra support throughout the interview process then please email us at

We also have our very own Beacons (Domestic Abuse Advisors) supporting within each of our global offices. Our Beacons will be your point of contact if you or someone you know needs support.