Senior Portfolio & Governance Manager

Job Title:

Senior Portfolio & Governance Manager

Salary: £60,400 - £80,800 per annum

Location:

Cambridge, UK/Hybrid

Contract:

Permanent

Hours:

Full Time - 35 hours per week however will consider 4 days or condensed hours

Play a pivotal role at the centre of a globally recognised partnership, driving strategy, governance and delivery at the highest level.

We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world leading academic publisher and assessment organisation and a proud part of the University of Cambridge.

We are looking for an exceptional Senior Portfolio & Governance Manager to lead the cross partner PMO for IELTS, operating at the heart of a highly complex, international partnership that spans three independent organisations. This is a unique strategic role where you will influence leadership at the highest levels, drive the successful delivery of the IELTS Strategy, and ensure clarity, alignment, and momentum across the partnership.

As a Senior Portfolio & Governance Manager, you will serve as the central orchestrator of the IELTS strategic and business planning cycle, governance, and risk management across partner organisations. You will:

• Lead and manage the delivery of the IELTS Strategy across three partners, ensuring alignment despite differing priorities and governance models.
• Facilitate Executive Committee and Board engagement, driving strategic planning and operating as a trusted advisor on governance effectiveness.
• Lead scenario planning, identifying interdependencies and anticipating risks to maintain delivery momentum.
• Oversee resource and business planning (financial and people) to enable effective delivery of the Business Plan.
• Implement OKRs and reporting mechanisms to track strategic progress, operational health, and financial performance.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with PMO, finance, marketing, operational and strategic teams across all partners.
• Support investment decisions and maintain oversight of cross partner business cases, benefits realisation, and portfolio reporting.
• Drive continuous improvement of the IELTS operating model to adapt to market and organisational change.

This role plays a highly influential part in ensuring the IELTS partnership operates with clarity, transparency, and shared strategic purpose.

This position has been classified as a hybrid role, requiring the selected candidate to typically spend 40-60% of their time collaborating and connecting face to face at their dedicated location. Aside from our hybrid principles, other flexible working requests will be considered from the first day of employment, including other work arrangements should you require adjustments due to a disability or long term health condition.

You will be an experienced senior PMO or programme leader, energised by complexity, partnership working, and strategic influence. You bring:

• Extensive senior level business management or programme management experience in a complex (ideally international) organisation.
• A strong track record of PMO leadership, organisational change delivery, and cross functional stakeholder management.
• The ability to navigate ambiguity, balance competing priorities, and drive alignment without direct authority.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, influential and relationship building skills.
• High cultural agility and fluency in influencing across diverse organisational norms.
• Confidence using data insights to support decision making and strategic recommendations.
• Experience of managing budgets and understanding financial planning in a portfolio environment.

You will thrive if you enjoy operating in a strategic, high impact role where your work directly shapes the performance and future direction of an international partnership.

If you meet the above minimum requirements, we encourage you to apply. Your application will be even stronger if you can also demonstrate the following desirable criteria:

• Knowledge of the English language proficiency testing market

For a detailed job description, please refer to the link at the bottom of the advert on our careers site.

We are a Disability Confident (DC) employer that is committed to equality and…