Manager Portfolio Management and Operations

We're looking for an experienced and insightful professional who is passionate about making a real difference across a complex change portfolio.

In this role, you'll use your specialist knowledge, analytical capability and sound judgement to provide insight and assurance that helps us understand portfolio performance, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and make informed decisions that improve delivery outcomes.

We are happy to consider flexible working approaches to help you perform at your best.

This is a 9 month secondment opportunity.

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this role, you'll be based at your nearest regional office or hub. We value time spent together to connect with colleagues for collaboration so there will be a regular requirement to attend our Swindon site approximately once per quarter. If you are based at an office location, you'll be expected to meet our hybrid working requirement of at least two days a week, or 40% of your working time if part-time, in the office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works.

Nationwide is committed to the redeployment of our employees impacted by change, as such applications for redeployment candidates will be prioritised in this recruitment process.

If you’re a colleague on long-term absence (for example, on parental leave) or a temporary worker, please use your personal email address to submit an application.

What you’ll be doing

Working closely with colleagues and senior stakeholders from across the business, you'll lead and deliver analysis, reviews and assurance activity, turning complex data, observations and insights into clear conclusions and practical recommendations. You'll identify and assess areas of portfolio risk, provide constructive and evidence-based challenge, and produce management information that gives decision-makers a clear view of portfolio performance and the areas requiring attention or action.

This is a varied role spanning portfolio assurance and insight, benefits realisation, governance frameworks, policies, guardrails and key controls. You'll take ownership of activity across these areas, helping to ensure change is effectively governed and aligned to organisational expectations, while identifying opportunities to strengthen portfolio performance and oversight.

Working with colleagues across the first, second and third lines of defence, you'll build effective relationships, bring an independent and informed perspective, and influence stakeholders to strengthen governance, controls and delivery outcomes.

We're looking for someone who combines strong analytical capability with curiosity, sound judgement and a collaborative approach. You'll be comfortable working with complex or ambiguous information, forming evidence-based conclusions, constructively challenging established thinking and communicating your recommendations clearly and credibly to senior stakeholders.

Through your expertise and commitment to continuous improvement, you'll play an important role in strengthening portfolio performance and supporting the successful delivery of strategic outcomes.

About you

As a minimum requirement, you’ll have

Significant experience in portfolio governance, assurance, PMO and/or risk management within a complex change environment

Proven experience of independently leading or delivering reviews, assessments or control evaluations, and translating findings into clear conclusions and practical recommendations

Analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to interpret complex information, identify trends and emerging risks, and form sound, evidence-based judgements

Experience of producing and interpreting high-quality portfolio reporting, key performance indicators, risk indicators and management information that supports effective senior-level decision-making

Knowledge of governance frameworks, risk management principles, key controls and Three Lines of Defence operating models, with experience applying these within a change or portfolio environment

Stakeholder management and communication skills, with the confidence to build effective relationships, influence outcomes and provide credible, constructive challenge to senior stakeholders

Demonstrable experience of identifying and delivering improvements to governance, controls, reporting or portfolio practices that have resulted in better outcomes

Ability to work effectively with ambiguity, exercise sound judgement and take ownership of work through to a clear outcome

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind

Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand

Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development

Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.

The extras you’ll get

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

25 days holiday, pro rata

Private medical insurance

A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement

Access to an annual performance-related bonus

Training and development to help you progress your career

A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme

Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death

Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness

Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.

What to do next

• If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us.
• We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application.
• Keeping your data and personal information confidential is important to us. To find out more about how we use and process your data, please read our Privacy policy.
• If you want to find out more about using AI in our recruitment process, please read more here.

Disability Confident

We’re not just guided by data, we’re driven by the real experiences of our people. We’re a Disability Confident Level 3 Leader, the highest level.

That’s why we’re constantly evolving our policies and practices to make sure everyone feels genuinely supported, valued, and empowered to champion inclusion. Whatever your needs, we’re here to support you. If you need any additional support throughout your application journey, email our team at Recruitment Support.

Apply safely with Nationwide

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The hiring manager for this role is Chris Grubb, and the main recruitment contact is Anoop Gosai.