Portfolio Manager Jobs
Business change and transformation has to be thoroughly planned, organized and monitored during execution if they are to be successful and efficient. A team needs to be put together, and progress needs to be regularly reported to the board. In many companies the portfolio manager is the person with these responsibilities. They oversee several workstreams or perhaps an entire company’s ongoing programmes, depending on its size.
The portfolio manager is also a line manager of the team putting the programme into action, including its analysts. How or she is in regular contact with these practitioners and acts as the channel of communication between the process staff and the board. Because he or she is in charge of several workstreams, they also need to monitor how they influence and interact with each other. The job carries a good deal of responsibility as the head of process.
The skills required
Portfolio managers are highly experienced business change and transformation professionals, and companies need to see a solid track record of delivery of multiple simultaneous workstreams to qualify for the position. You need a methodical and logical mindset too, as you are overseeing workstreams that could be distant geographically or in terms of physical similarities, where confusion can sink portfolio managers who are not on top of things.
Experience of managing portfolios in the same sector as the job advertised will be a distinct advantage, as differences between sectors can make a huge difference to how a project is managed. While most companies demand experience in a management role, others recognize that managers have to start somewhere and are looking for experienced deputies, senior staff and other such positions so they can absorb them into their own company structures.
Portfolio Manager Jobs in Stourbridge
If you love the Birmingham conurbation and you’re travelling west, you’d better stop when you see signs for Stourbridge, because after the town you’ll be hit quite abruptly by the spread of green Shropshire countryside as far as the eye can see. The Bull ring, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Jasper Carrott will be distant memories.
If you stick around, though, you’ll be treated to a pleasant enough town, part of Birmingham’s commuter belt, with Wolverhampton to the north, Dudley to the north east and the centre of Birmingham 10 miles (16 km) to the east. Kidderminster is the next distinct town, 7 miles (12 km) south west. Stourbridge has a distinct suburban feel about it that somewhat hides the fact that it does have quite a strong industrial past, with a particular emphasis on glassmaking, which has all but shattered to nothing, albeit recently. The town still has a Festival of Glass every two years. Stourbridge does have its own shopping area, but it’s largely for everyday essentials, with a few bars and restaurants dotted around. Serious shoppers are still more likely to head into Birmingham.
Although not particularly industrialised, there are a few trading estates around the outskirts, and the town is well enough connected to the South West (via the M5 and rail links) and the rest of Birmingham for it not to matter. If you’re looking for Portfolio Manager work and you live in Stourbridge, there are occasional related jobs in the town, but looking north and east will probably produce better results.
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Find Portfolio Manager Jobs with Cast UK
Cast UK is a specialist in the field of business change and transformation recruitment, and because we only deal with management and executive level jobs, we have a focus that keeps companies coming back to us when they need experienced portfolio managers.
We were founded in Manchester and now have offices in London and Birmingham, but our reach is much wider – every day we are helping candidates find their perfect jobs in fantastic companies the length and breadth of the UK. If you’re looking to make the change, call us today on 0333 121 3345.
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