Job Title
Senior Technology Portfolio Specialist
Job Description
The Technology function comprises multiple globally distributed teams (Global Technology Solutions; Global Service & Infrastructure Management; Risk; Enterprise Architecture & Data; Information Security; and regional support hubs). Together, they are responsible for the design, delivery, management and security of PL Re’s global application and infrastructure landscape.
The team delivers a mixture of bespoke, business‑critical solutions (e.g., Underwriting, Claims, Pricing and Actuarial applications) and enterprise systems, while maintaining a high standard of service and security across our UK/Europe, Asia, North America and Australia offices.
The Role
We have recently expanded as a Technology function and are implementing a Portfolio Management capability to govern the selection, prioritisation and control of our Technology programmes and projects in line with our Strategic objectives and capacity to deliver. To balance the implementation of an increasing volume of change initiatives delivered across our teams and to ensure the maintenance of business-as-usual, we need an experienced Portfolio Analyst to join the existing team to support the management and growth of this capability.
This role will champion the embedding, adherence and enhancement of Portfolio governance and process within Technology and wider teams, identify new technology initiative requests, facilitate triage and prioritisation, evaluating risk, value and alignment to technology and business strategy.
A key focus of this role will be supporting our Technology Portfolio Manager in working with our PMs to ensure PPM data accuracy and quality; and the PMO Team to develop and establish Portfolio reporting views, MI and multi-year Roadmaps that align with the organisation’s goals.
We will be looking for the holder of this role to also pick up and manage a number of smaller projects themselves, growing their experience, with the outlook of progressing into a project manager position in the future.
You will work alongside our broad and multi-location Business and Technology delivery teams including Platforms, Infrastructure, Data, Enterprise Architecture and E-ISO and where appropriate Actuarial Systems, Finance, Operations, Pricing, and other teams to support the management and maintenance of the Technology Portfolio backlog.
This role is ideally suited to someone who has been working as either a Junior Project Manager or a Senior PMO Analyst and is looking to step up.
Key Responsibilities
The Portfolio Support Analyst will need to cover the following activities:
- Support in defining, refining and implementation of Technology Portfolio Management, IT Project Governance and processes to support ongoing maintenance of the Technology Initiative backlog.
- Continuously improve the Technology governance, backlog and roadmaps by identifying optimal ways of planning and organizing, implementing, supporting and monitoring initiative delivery performance.
- Support in pre planning and facilitation of quarterly planning along with identifying improvements as PL Re looks to mature throughout 2026 and beyond.
- Lead in providing improvements for quarterly plans and tower lead reports, transforming complex data into clear, actionable insights.
- Build trusted and effective relationships working with project managers to ensure they are equipped to deliver on plan, to budget and agreed quality through effective use of PPM tools and Project Management.
- Identify ongoing leadership requirements for reporting and monitoring views, MI and roadmaps and liaise with PMO teams to deliver.
- Proactively work with Technology tower platform teams, wider teams and management to identify pipeline initiatives from strategies and roadmaps.
- Facilitate initiative request demand, triage and prioritisation processes to support decision making forums and portfolio planning.
- Understand, evaluate and manage risks to the portfolio and dependencies across the portfolio.
- Apply knowledge of Project and Programme Management to solve problems within the portfolio.
- Provide ad‑hoc support and analysis to leadership teams to inform technology strategy, prioritisation or investment decisions.
- Work closely with the Technology PM community and central PMO to ensure all projects are accurately reporting plan progress, status, risks, issues & dependencies.
- Take ownership of delivering a number of smaller technology projects end‑to‑end, applying best‑practice delivery disciplines and structured governance.
Qualifications, Expertise and Attributes
- Must have a background and recent experience of working within a structured technology portfolio management function or project and programme delivery environment and possess strong knowledge of various project delivery methodologies.
- Experience in supporting and operating Technology Portfolio Management frameworks, including initiative intake, prioritisation, dependency mapping and portfolio risk management.
- Demonstrable experience in applying structured governance, assurance and control processes across projects and portfolios, ideally in a regulated or risk‑aware environment.
- Must demonstrate strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex project, financial and capacity data, identify trends, and provide clear, insight‑driven recommendations.
- Experience creating dashboards, MI reports or roadmaps using tools such as Power BI, Excel (advanced), or PPM reporting modules.
- Good understanding of delivery disciplines including RAID management, dependency management, resource forecasting and change control.
- Broad understanding of Technology change landscapes (infrastructure, data, platforms, security) and ability to engage meaningfully with technical stakeholders.
- Highly organised, detail‑oriented and comfortable managing ambiguity in fast‑moving environments, with well-honed reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to set priorities and adapt to changes in a quick and professional manner.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical, financial and delivery information into succinct executive‑ready content.
- Proven ability to navigate and influence within a matrix organisation, working effectively with cross‑functional stakeholders including Architecture, Infrastructure, Data, Security, Finance and senior leadership.
- Demonstrable previous experience in project coordination, portfolio management or in a project delivery accountability role.
- Working knowledge of frameworks such as Agile, Waterfall, SAFe or hybrid delivery models.
- Knowledge and experience of using structured PPM solutions, Jira / Atlassian, MS365, and equivalent would be an advantage, but not mandatory.
- Ideally educated to degree level, but applications from individuals with demonstrable relevant experience are also actively sought.
- An appropriate PM/PMO qualification would be desirable, but individuals with relevant experience and a willingness to pursue a professional qualification are also actively sought.
Working For Pacific Life Re
Every person in our global team is valued for the unique qualities they bring to our business and we seek to build their expertise and support their individual ambitions at every step. Of course, we take our work seriously and we know our team can operate under great pressure. We work hard and thrive on achievement, but we also know how to have fun and relax too. We regularly host a range of team building days to strengthen our team's connection with each other and reflect on their successes.
Providing employees with a healthy work-life balance is very important to our culture. We have a wide range of employee benefits and we host regular social activities and well being initiatives. We are also committed to supporting our employee's involvement in their communities, by actively fundraising, hosting charity events and overseeing volunteering opportunities.
Benefits (Only for Permanent and Fixed Term Employees)
Leave
25 days of annual leave with option to buy/sell more days
Adoption and fertility leave
Generous enhanced parental leave
Healthcare
Savings & Retirement
Wellness
Subsidized gym membership
Access to Employee Assistance Program
Cycle to Work and Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
Time off for volunteering
Charitable matching of employee donations
As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we will provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to ensure equal access to applicants with disabilities. Please contact us about your needs so that we can discuss these with you to make sure that suitable adjustments are made, where possible.
Pacific Life Re Values
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