Strategic Portfolio Manager

Job Purpose

The University of Birmingham Estate comprises over 200 buildings, 700+ acres of land and 0.5million m2 of space, a scale, variety and complexity that is unparalleled in the sector. A new Estate Strategy will see a range of accelerated capital projects being delivered, with over £606m (£100m+ per annum) spent by 2021 as part of a new estate investment plan. This new role will be at the heart of shaping and supporting the delivery of this programme, making the best use of our funding, celebrating and protecting some of our most valuable physical assets, and ensuring the academic mission remains paramount.

Person Specification

• Proven ability of working with initiative, taking decisions and thinking creatively and laterally, exercising independent judgement and professional discretion.
• Knowledge and experience of managing complex matters, navigating uncertainty, prioritising workloads, and delivering on time and on budget;
• Experience of building effective, trusting partnerships, working across organisational boundaries to lead and motivate formal and informal teams;
• Credibility and influencing skills to gain commitment and engagement from all types of individuals, including senior leadership;
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) and the ability to represent the University internally and externally with confidence, diplomacy and authority;
• Knowledge and experience of governance and strategic planning, with the ability to synthesise data and outline concepts into clear plans and recommendations;
• Outstanding planning and project management skills, including experience of financial and risk management;
• Proven record of formulating innovative solutions and practical implementations to deliver strategic objectives;
• Client experience in the planning and delivery of major capital projects;
• Understanding of, and empathy with, the vision and mission of the University of Birmingham.