Programme & Portfolio Lead - Portfolio Review & TOM Design

Programme & Portfolio Lead – Portfolio Review & Target Operating Model Design

• Public Sector / Government body
• 6-month initial contract (scope for 8-9 months of work)
• £550-£650 per day (Outside IR35)
• Hybrid working – Circa 1 2 days per week in either York or Edinburgh. Potential for adhoc travel to other UK sites as needed
• Start – ASAP (can wait up to 4 weeks for the right candidate)

Sanderson are delighted to be partnering exclusively with one of the UK’s leading research and innovation organisations who are seeking a Programme & Portfolio Lead to drive two strategic initiatives that will shape the future of its operations and delivery capability.

The organisation is funded primarily by a major UK government innovation body and operates at the intersection of science, technology, and innovation. With a portfolio of 60-125 active research projects at any given time, they are now looking to strengthen their internal delivery frameworks and future-proof their operating model.

Initiative 1 – Portfolio & Programme Governance Review

This initiative focuses on reviewing how projects are currently run, governed, and reported. These projects are delivered by a diverse mix of professionals including scientists, researchers, innovators/ inventors.

Key objectives:

• Improve governance and delivery structures
• Enhance benefit tracking and realisation
• Review and optimise project methodologies
• Strengthen reporting to external funders
• Assess and implement improved tooling and systems

This is a Portfolio optimisation and assurance role rather than hands-on delivery. The aim is to build a more robust framework for managing and reporting on research projects.

Initiative 2 – Target Operating Model & Organisational Design

This strategic piece of work will define how the organisation delivers programmes and projects in the future.

Key objectives:

• Design a future-state operating model
• Review and align organisational structure
• Build delivery capability and readiness for scale
• Support strategic planning and transformation

This is a Senior PM / Programme Lead type role requiring experience in delivering organisational design and transformation.

Key Experience Required:

• Strong background in portfolio / PMO management, programme assurance, and project delivery
• Proven experience in organisational design and target operating model development
• Exposure to both public sector and private sector environments
• Comfortable working in small, evolving organisations with limited internal delivery capability
• Able to work independently and shape direction with minimal oversight
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills – managing diverse internal and external stakeholders with varying priorities
• Personable, credible, and able to bridge the gap between strategy, governance and delivery

Any candidates who are not able to clearly demonstrate all of the required experience above within their CV, will not be considered for this role.

To apply for this role, please send a copy of your CV in the first instance. Suitable candidates will be contacted in due course. If you have not heard back within 7 days following CV submission, your application in this instance will have been unsuccessful.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.