Portfolio Manager – Defence & Engineering Sector

Location: South West (Hybrid)
Rate: £650–£750 per day (Inside IR35)
Clearance Requirement: Active SC Clearance (Essential)

About the Role

We are supporting a leading organisation within the defence and engineering sector as they continue to grow and transform their delivery capability. They are seeking an experienced Portfolio Manager to strengthen portfolio governance, strategic alignment, and delivery oversight across a number of complex and high-profile programmes.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced portfolio professional to play a key role in improving delivery maturity, enabling effective decision-making, and ensuring successful outcomes across a diverse portfolio of programmes and projects.

Key Responsibilities

As Portfolio Manager, you will be responsible for:

• Providing portfolio-level oversight across multiple complex programmes and projects
• Establishing and maintaining effective portfolio governance, controls, reporting, and assurance processes
• Supporting strategic planning, prioritisation, and resource alignment across delivery areas
• Monitoring portfolio performance, risks, dependencies, and delivery milestones
• Providing senior stakeholders with clear visibility of portfolio health, progress, and key challenges
• Driving improvements in portfolio management maturity, processes, and standards
• Working collaboratively with programme, engineering, operational, and supplier teams
• Supporting informed decision-making through effective analysis, reporting, and recommendations

Essential Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• Proven experience managing complex portfolios/programmes within defence, engineering, manufacturing, or other highly regulated environments
• Strong experience in portfolio governance, controls, assurance, and performance management
• A track record of overseeing multiple concurrent programmes and delivery workstreams
• The ability to produce meaningful reporting, insights, and executive-level updates
• Experience engaging and influencing senior stakeholders across technical and operational functions
• Strong understanding of project and programme management methodologies
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills
• Active SC Clearance (essential)

Desirable Experience

Experience within the following environments would be highly beneficial:

• Defence and security
• Engineering and manufacturing
• Highly regulated industries
• Complex technical delivery environments

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to join a high-profile organisation at an important stage of growth and transformation, contributing to improved portfolio governance, strategic delivery, and operational excellence across critical programmes.

If you are an experienced Portfolio Manager with active SC Clearance and a background in complex delivery environments, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss this role with you.