Head of Governance & Portfolio Management

<p><strong>The Role</strong></p> <p>We are looking for a highly structured, execution-focused Head of Governance &amp; Portfolio Management who brings clarity, discipline and risk-aware leadership to the organisation.</p> <p>This role sits at the centre of the COO perimeter and is responsible for establishing and leading the Governance &amp; Portfolio Management function across Engineering, InfoSec, Platforms and Operations. You will build and lead a globally distributed team across multiple Infovista offices and resume overall responsible for portfolio governance, programme assurance and enterprise risk visibility, while strengthening governance maturity across the organisation.</p> <p>You will work closely with the COO, ELT and cross-functional leaders to ensure that initiatives are prioritised transparently, governed consistently, risk-informed and execution-ready under the Product Governance Framework (“Make Infovista Work”).</p> <p>This role heads the governance capability supporting execution discipline across the COO organisation while developing a high-performing team of governance, PMO and risk professionals. The role acts as the central authority for governance discipline across the COO perimeter.</p> <p>This is not a passive reporting function. It is a role for someone who builds structure where ambiguity exists, elevates execution standards, translating complex cross-functional activity into disciplined decision-making and proven leadership of distributed international teams.</p> <p>If you are energised by governance maturity, operational clarity, programme oversight and embedding strong risk and control practices into day-to-day business rhythm — this role is for you.</p> <p><strong>What Success Looks Like</strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>Portfolio decisions are clearer, faster and based on consistent governance standards.</p> </li> <li> <p>Product Blueprint gating is applied rigorously and improves execution predictability.</p> </li> <li> <p>Governance standards are consistently applied, and deviations are addressed early through structured escalation.</p> </li> <li> <p>Major cross-functional programmes are visible, structured and proactively managed.</p> </li> <li> <p>Executive trade-offs are supported by clean, comparable, decision-ready materials.</p> </li> <li> <p>Risk exposure across the COO perimeter is transparent and systematically reported.</p> </li> <li> <p>Governance forums operate with discipline, clear ownership and documented outcomes.</p> </li> <li> <p>Control frameworks and certification requirements are integrated into operational governance without creating bureaucracy.</p> </li> <li> <p>The PMO capability is elevated into a trusted partner for execution excellence.</p> </li> <li> <p>Cross-functional leaders feel supported, aligned and can work seamlessly accountable.</p> </li> <li> <p>A high-performing governance team is established, developed and trusted across the organisation.</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Leadership &amp; Department Management</strong></p> <p>You will lead and develop the Governance &amp; Portfolio Management function as a core capability within the COO organisation.</p> <ul> <li> <p>Build and lead the Governance &amp; Portfolio Management department, including governance, PMO and risk management capabilities across the COO organisation.</p> </li> <li> <p>Define the organisational structure, roles and responsibilities of the function to support scalable governance maturity.</p> </li> <li> <p>Coach, develop and mentor team members while fostering a culture of accountability, clarity and execution discipline.</p> </li> <li> <p>Set clear objectives, priorities and performance expectations across the team.</p> </li> <li> <p>Promote strong collaboration and trusted partnership with other cross-functional teams.</p> </li> <li> <p>Continuously evolve governance capability to support organisational growth and complexity.</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></p> <p><strong><em>Enterprise Governance &amp; Portfolio Discipline</em></strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>Own and evolve the integrated governance model aligned to Vista One Portfolio.</p> </li> <li> <p>Consolidate L2 product, technology and RTB initiatives into a coherent portfolio view.</p> </li> <li> <p>Govern Product Blueprint gating readiness and enforce governance compliance standards.</p> </li> <li> <p>Structure ELT trade-off forums and ensure decision documentation is consistent and auditable.</p> </li> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>Define governance standards and decision logs; act as the governance authority for portfolio adherence, escalating deviations where necessary.</p> </li> <li> <p>Leading a high-performing global Governance team working seamlessly across multiple time zones and offices to ensure governance compliance across change and run initiatives within the COO perimeter.</p> </li> <li> <p>Ensure technical feasibility, architectural alignment and information security considerations are embedded into governance decisions.</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong><em>Programme &amp; Delivery Assurance (PMO Leadership)</em></strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>Establish, lead and scale a structured PMO capability supporting cross-functional programme governance.</p> </li> <li> <p>Build and manage a team responsible for programme oversight, delivery assurance and cross-functional coordination.</p> </li> <li> <p>Provide governance oversight of major cross-functional programmes, escalating material delivery risks to the COO and ELT where required.</p> </li> <li> <p>Standardise milestone tracking, reporting cadence and dependency management.</p> </li> <li> <p>Ensure early identification and structured management of delivery risks.</p> </li> <li> <p>Drive improvements in execution maturity, predictability and cross-functional coordination across the COO organisation.</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong><em>Risk &amp; Control Framework Integration</em></strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>Embed structured risk management practices into portfolio intake and gating processes.</p> </li> <li> <p>Ensure initiatives consider operational, technology and information security implications.</p> </li> <li> <p>Own executive-level visibility of cross-functional risk exposure and escalate material risks appropriately.</p> </li> <li> <p>Ensure portfolio governance aligns with relevant control and security frameworks, including certification requirements, ISO-aligned practices and cybersecurity governance standards.</p> </li> <li> <p>Ensure ongoing governance maturity and audit readiness across the COO organisation.</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong><em>Outcome &amp; Execution Governance</em></strong></p> <p>· Ensure initiatives entering the portfolio have clear scope, accountability and measurable outcomes.</p> <p>· Strengthen consistency and comparability of business cases to support executive decision-making.</p> <p>· Track delivery commitments to ensure tangible operational impact.</p> <p>· Govern structured in-year prioritisation and trade-off processes.</p> <p>· Promote disciplined execution and accountability across cross-functional initiatives.</p> <p><strong><em>Governance Infrastructure &amp; Operating Rhythm</em></strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>Define governance cadence, executive reporting standards and board material preparation processes.</p> </li> <li> <p>Maintain LT governance portal structure and transparency.</p> </li> <li> <p>Develop and manage an end-to-end governance calendar.</p> </li> <li> <p>Strengthen communication clarity across the COO organisation.</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong><em>Function Management &amp; Budget Responsibility</em></strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>Define and manage the Governance &amp; Portfolio Management department budget.</p> </li> <li> <p>Ensure efficient allocation of resources across governance, PMO and risk management activities.</p> </li> <li> <p>Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and governance effectiveness.</p> </li> <li> <p>Ensure the function operates with strong cost discipline and within agreed budget and resource plans while delivering measurable organisational value.</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong>The Person We’re Looking For:</strong></p> <p><strong>Mindset &amp; Approach</strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>You think in systems — you see how governance, risk, delivery and strategy connect.</p> </li> <li> <p>You enjoy building structure, frameworks and clarity in complex environments.</p> </li> <li> <p>You are comfortable operating at executive level while staying grounded in operational reality.</p> </li> <li> <p>You bring calm, rigour and credibility to cross-functional discussions.</p> </li> <li> <p>You elevate standards without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.</p> </li> <li> <p>You influence through partnership, not hierarchy.</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Skills &amp; Experience</strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>8–15 years’ experience in IT, technology, programme leadership, governance or operational excellence roles.</p> </li> <li> <p>Comfortable leading and aligning distributed teams across geographies and cultures.</p> </li> <li> <p>Experience managing distributed international teams and operating across multiple offices or regions.</p> </li> <li> <p>Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional programmes or portfolio oversight.</p> </li> <li> <p>Experience designing and implementing governance frameworks.</p> </li> <li> <p>Demonstrated experience leading teams or organisational capabilities in governance, PMO, programme leadership or operational excellence functions.</p> </li> <li> <p>Strong understanding of risk management and structured control environments (e.g., ISO-aligned practices).</p> </li> <li> <p>Exposure to audit, certification lifecycle or structured management systems is highly valued.</p> </li> <li> <p>Ability to prepare executive-ready materials and facilitate high-level governance forums.</p> </li> <li> <p>Strong stakeholder management across technical and operational functions.</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Personal Attributes</strong></p> <p>· Structured thinker with strong judgement and intellectual curiosity.</p> <p>· Highly collaborative relationship builder with strong interpersonal awareness and the ability to align diverse stakeholders.</p> <p>· Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams while fostering strong collaboration across the organisation.</p> <p>· Pragmatic, resilient and composed under pressure.</p> <p>· Detail-oriented with commitment to execution excellence.</p> <p>· Clear communicator with strong executive presence and credibility across technical and operational teams.</p> <p>· Confident in challenging assumptions and constructively holding senior stakeholders accountable where governance standards are at risk.</p> <p><strong>Why This Role Is Different</strong></p> <p>This role sits at the centre of execution discipline and governance maturity within the COO organisation.</p> <p>You will shape how cross-functional decisions are structured, how major initiatives are governed and how risk and control practices are embedded into operational rhythm.</p> <p>In addition to shaping governance maturity across the organisation, you will lead and develop the Governance &amp; Portfolio Management function, building and scaling a high-performing team that supports disciplined execution across the COO perimeter.</p> <p>It offers visibility across Engineering, Platforms, InfoSec and Operations while enabling you to elevate standards without losing connection to technical and delivery reality.</p> <p>If you are motivated by building clarity, strengthening accountability and improving organisational execution through disciplined governance — this role provides the platform to do so.</p>