Job summary

We are MHCLG   

Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives. Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we’re all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you’re thinking of joining us, there’s never been a more exciting time.

The Digital Process Improvement (DPI) team delivers a portfolio of digital, data, automation and reporting initiatives that improve internal services, strengthen operational efficiency, and enhance the department’s digital and AI‑readiness.

The Digital Portfolio Manager plays a central coordination role within this environment, ensuring that the range of work delivered by DPI—spanning Microsoft 365 platforms, automation, strategic interventions, and ongoing service maintenance—is aligned to departmental priorities and supported by effective governance, insight, and structured decision‑making. Demand for DPI’s work is increasing, and the team must balance maintaining existing services with taking on more complex, high‑value projects. 

The Digital Portfolio Manager helps keep this work organised and manageable by making sure priorities are clear and realistic. The role brings together information about progress, risks and dependencies so senior leaders can easily see what is happening and what decisions they need to make. It also supports delivery teams by helping them understand expectations, navigate processes, and resolve issues that cut across different parts of the organisation.

Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog.  Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.

Job description

As a Digital Portfolio Manager, you'll:

• Coordinate a portfolio of digital, data, and automation initiatives across DPI

• Maintain a clear view of all work in flight, including dependencies, risks, and delivery confidence

• Support prioritisation across competing demands, ensuring alignment to departmental strategy and efficiency goals

• Enable effective sequencing of work to maximise value and manage constraints

• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, communicating clearly and regularly so they understand performance, risks and upcoming work

• Explain DPI’s work and strategic direction in simple, clear language tailored to different audiences

Person specification

As a Digital Portfolio Manager, you'll have:

• Experience managing or coordinating multiple projects, programmes, or products within a portfolio

• Experience of Digital delivery and service management

• Ability to interpret and communicate delivery performance, risks, and dependencies

• Experience of governance, assurance, and reporting in a complex environment

• Strong stakeholder management skills, including influencing senior leaders

• Ability to operate across organisational boundaries and align diverse stakeholders

• Portfolio management capability, including prioritisation, resource awareness, and balancing competing demands across a pipeline of initiatives

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,092, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £16,829 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Application and Selection

The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Behaviours , Experience , Technical

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.

Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter)

Experience: Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page referencing why you are interested in this role and how you meet the criteria set out in the job description.

 In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead sift question listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

Lead sift question (technical): "Describe a time when you have juggled multiple pieces of work at once. How did you keep track of what was happening and how did you keep senior stakeholders informed?"

Stage 2: Interview  

• Behaviours: "Seeing The Big Picture", "Working Together", "Delivering at Pace", "Communicating and Influencing"

• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 20th April 2026.

Interviews are envisaged to take place the week commencing 4th May 2026 and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

How We Recruit

Find out everything you need to know before applying here..

• Applying

• Sifting

• Interview

• Interview Results & Feedback

• Reserve List

• Near Miss

• Civil Service Grades

• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer

• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

What you need to know before applying.

• Security Clearance Requirements

• Civil Service Nationality Requirements

• Right to Work

• Artificial Intelligence

• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles

• CV Declaration

• Sponsorships

• Salary and Grade

• Existing Civil Servants

• Conflict of Interest

• Location and Flexible Working

• Fixed Term Contracts

• Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register

• Appeals and Complaints

• Conflict of Interest

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: BPSS 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals

• nationals of the Republic of Ireland

• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)

• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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