Head of Portfolio Strategy / Portfolio Director

Location: London, UK

Type: Permanent

We are working with a leading financial markets organisation seeking a Head of Portfolio Strategy / Portfolio Director to lead the enterprise change portfolio and PMO function. This is a strategic yet hands-on leadership role responsible for driving large-scale business and technology transformation, portfolio governance, and delivery excellence.

The successful candidate will translate business strategy into a prioritised portfolio of change initiatives, oversee portfolio delivery, enhance PMO capabilities, and lead a team of programme and project professionals.

1. Work with stakeholders across the organisation to translate the business strategy into a prioritised portfolio of deliverable business and IT change programmes.
2. Lead the transformation and ongoing development of the Enterprise PMO function.
3. Define, prioritise, and manage the organisation's change portfolio and multi-year roadmap.
4. Ensure all programmes align with strategic objectives and deliver measurable business value.
5. Oversee portfolio budgets, resource allocation, risks, dependencies, and governance.
6. Drive delivery across both Agile and Waterfall environments.
7. Provide leadership and oversight to PMO, programme, and project management teams.
8. Engage with senior stakeholders, executives, and boards to ensure successful delivery and decision-making.

1. Extensive experience leading enterprise-wide portfolios and transformation programmes.
2. Strong PMO leadership and portfolio governance experience.
3. Proven success delivering complex, multi-year business change initiatives.
4. Experience across Agile and Waterfall delivery methodologies.
5. Hands-on approach with strong financial and resource management skills.
6. Excellent stakeholder management and leadership capabilities.
7. Financial Services or Capital Markets experience.
8. Drive continuous improvement in delivery practices
9. Exposure to exchanges, market infrastructure, trading, clearing, or other regulated environments.
10. Lead, mentor, and develop the PMO teams
11. Open on experience and sector must understand technology change

1. Degree educated.
2. Relevant portfolio, programme, or project management certifications (P3M, PfMP, MoP, CPM, PPS, QA/QC methods)