Portfolio Manager

Job Details: Job Reference: HCC624662 Salary Range: £65,895 - £73,902 per annum Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working) Hours per week: 37 Contract Type: Temporary until 31 March 2028 Closing Date: 12 August 2026 Interview Date: w/c 24 August and w/c 31 August 2026 An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Portfolio Manager to join the Area-Wide Local Government Reorganisation Programme team. Are you looking for a challenging and diverse role working as part of a collaborative, high-profile programme, with an opportunity to make a real difference for residents and communities across Hampshire and the Solent? Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is a major government-led programme that is reshaping how local councils are structured and how public services are delivered. Across Hampshire and the Solent, 15 councils are working together to create new unitary authorities that will take responsibility for delivering local government services in the future. The aim of LGR is to simplify local government structures, improve outcomes for residents, strengthen public services and create organisations that are financially sustainable for the future. By bringing services together within new unitary authorities, the programme seeks to improve efficiency, increase accountability and enable more integrated service delivery. This is one of the largest and most complex transformation programmes ever undertaken in local government. It involves the redesign of services, governance arrangements, technology, finance, assets, people processes and organisational structures, whilst ensuring that critical services continue to operate safely and effectively throughout the transition. The programme brings together colleagues from multiple councils and service areas to design and deliver the future operating arrangements needed for the new authorities. This includes planning for "Day 1" readiness, when the new organisations formally come into existence, as well as supporting longer-term transformation and service improvement. Joining the LGR programme provides a unique opportunity to contribute to a once-in-a-generation change programme that will shape the future of local government across Hampshire and the Solent. Colleagues involved in the programme gain experience of complex transformation, large-scale programme delivery, organisational design, governance, stakeholder engagement and public sector reform, whilst helping to create the foundations of the new authorities. The Role: You will provide leadership and coordination across a collection of themes or service portfolios, ensuring integrated planning, coherent prioritisation and effective management of interdependencies, risks and delivery confidence across a broad area of the LGR programme. What you’ll do: Lead an assigned portfolio of themes or service areas, ensuring activity is aligned to programme priorities, governance and readiness outcomes. Provide strategic oversight across multiple programmes, identifying cross-cutting dependencies, capacity pressures and delivery risks. Set expectations for programme managers and ensure portfolio plans are coherent, realistic and integrated with the central programme. Support sponsors and senior leaders with prioritisation, choices, escalation and resolution of barriers. Maintain portfolio-level grip on delivery confidence, readiness and critical path implications. Ensure portfolio reporting, risks and resource requirements are presented clearly to senior programme leadership, PMO and governance forums. What we’re looking for: Substantial experience leading complex portfolios, programmes or broad delivery areas. Strong ability to manage interdependencies, competing priorities and senior stakeholders. Experience leading managers or senior professionals through matrix or direct management arrangements. Ability to interpret strategy and translate it into coherent, practical delivery expectations. Strong governance, reporting and risk management capability. Excellent judgement and credibility with senior leaders, with a calm and decisive approach in complex environments. Why join us? Play a key role in shaping the future of local government across Hampshire and the Solent. Gain experience working on a large-scale, high-profile transformation programme. Work alongside senior leaders and subject matter experts from multiple authorities. Develop expertise in programme management, organisational change, governance and implementation. Build relationships and networks across the wider local government sector. Make a positive, lasting impact on how services are delivered to residents and communities. Our benefits package includes details of holiday entitlement, pension scheme, flexi-time scheme, family friendly policies, interest free travel loans and discounts. We offer a flexible, motivating and inclusive workplace where people can grow and develop in their roles. If you are interested in helping deliver one of the most ambitious transformation programmes in local government, and have the skills and experience we are looking for, we would love to hear from you. Travel Requirements: You may be required to visit other locations within Hampshire and therefore need to have the ability to travel, as necessary. Additional Information: Portfolio Manager Candidate Pack Contact Details for an Informal Discussion: Please email and we will arrange for a callback. Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies. We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.