Programme and Portfolio Directors lead complex, multi‑workstream transformation initiatives from planning through delivery. This is a senior delivery leadership role focused on structure, momentum, governance, stakeholder alignment, and measurable progress.
You may work across institution‑wide programmes involving multiple departments, vendors, platforms, internal teams, and executive sponsors. The role requires strong judgement, clear communication, and the ability to bring order, pace, and accountability to complex transformation environments.
This role is particularly suited to experienced leaders who can operate confidently at executive level while remaining close enough to delivery detail to identify risks, unblock issues, and maintain programme control.
What You May Work On:
You may support clients to lead complex digital or operational transformation programmes, establish governance, manage reporting rhythms, coordinate multiple workstreams, develop delivery plans, manage RAID and dependencies, provide executive reporting, and support portfolio prioritisation.
Experience We Commonly Look For:
Common experience includes programme leadership, portfolio governance, large‑scale transformation, vendor coordination, delivery assurance, risk management, executive reporting, stakeholder alignment, and complex programme recovery.
You May Be a Strong Fit If:
You are calm under pressure, structured in your approach, and able to create clarity where programmes have become complex or fragmented.
You can hold both the strategic view and the delivery detail, ensuring leadership has confidence in what is happening, what is at risk, and what decisions are needed.
Expression of Interest:
If your experience aligns with this capability area, we welcome expressions of interest for our talent network. Please share your CV or professional profile, along with a short note outlining your relevant experience and the types of opportunities you would be interested in.
Skills Required
- Programme leadership experience
- Portfolio governance experience
- Large-scale transformation experience
- Vendor coordination experience
- Delivery assurance experience
- Risk management experience
- Executive reporting experience
- Stakeholder alignment experience
- Complex programme recovery experience
- Ability to operate confidently at executive level
- Ability to manage delivery detail, risks, issues and dependencies
What We Do
Higher Digital is a digital transformation services company that provides consulting, software, and data benchmarking tools to significantly reduce the time and cost for higher education executives to assess, plan, and measure their technology strategies. Helping higher education institutions unify strategy & delivery with transformational results






