Portfolio Manager – Maternity Leave Cover
(Research and Standards Directorate)
Location
London
Job Type
Fixed term contract 12-14 months (maternity leave cover)
Salary
Competitive + excellent benefits
About RSSB
A RSSB is an expert body that helps the rail industry collaborate to continuously improve
and meet future challenges. It spans the whole railway, including in its membership
infrastructure companies, train and freight operators, rolling stock owners and suppliers
to the industry. RSSB supports rail in the areas of safety, standards, knowledge,
innovation and a wide range of cross-industry schemes.
RSSB is seeking a talented and enthusiastic individual to join our Standards Projects
Team. You’ll have an opportunity to make the most of you expertise in this fast paced
industry with people who share your passion.
The role
The Portfolio Manager leads a Project Support team of six to seven staff. The role is
effectively the lead of a project management office – supporting best practice, training
and development of the wider projects team, with a lead responsibility for reporting on
the portfolio of projects and directorate wide financial and people resources.
You may also manage rail industry initiated projects and programmes, including the
delivery of research, standards, rules, national publications and other industry support
initiatives as directed by the Head of Projects.
Key responsibilities
Maintain and co-ordinate financial controls; recording, monitoring, forecasting and
budgeting of directorate expenditure, and challenge where appropriate.
Develop and maintain the resource management profile across the Standards
Directorate technical teams to ensure effective utilisation, escalating issues to the
Professional Heads, as appropriate.
Produce information for management review, including portfolio level reporting.
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Lead and engage the Project Support Team to deliver business objectives, ensuring each
direct report maintains their personal competence and is afforded the opportunity to
develop.
Work together with the project leads to define and share best practice across planning,
reporting, forecasting, change control and risk management.
Ensure status reporting produced by Project Managers is of required quality and
delivered on time.
Liaise and communicate at different levels of the organisation, from senior management
to technical staff, building strong partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders across
the business.
Successful applicants will have excellent organisation and communication skills,
attention to detail and experience in leading project support teams.
Requirements

Line management, staff development and mentoring

Demonstrable experience of successfully managing portfolios and budgets

Knowledge of project management principles and practices

A recognised qualification in project management methodology (eg APM, MSP,
Prince2)

Good leadership skills - initiates actions, gives direction and takes responsibility

Excellent data analysis, financial management and problem solving skills.

Good presentation skills with an ability to show factual information to individuals
or groups in a structured, clear, confident and concise way.

Ability to use MS Project and enterprise resource tools to manage project and
resources data and information.
If you meet these requirements and are keen to fulfil your potential in the rail
renaissance by joining us at RSSB, then please email your CV and covering letter to
vacancies@rssb.co.uk by 18 May 2016.
You can find out more about RSSB by visiting our website at www.rssb.co.uk
To find out more about standards and the rail industry see:
http://www.rssb.co.uk/standards-and-the-rail-industry
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Interview information
Those selected for interview may be asked to prepare material in advance of the
interview to demonstrate the requirements above.
The interview will include competency based questions in order to draw out your
achievements and experience.
For further information about the roles please contact:
James Ward – James.Ward@RSSB.co.uk
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