Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT) Portfolio Manager

Staffordshire Police is investing heavily in technology and has built a senior leadership team with genuine ambition for what digital and technology can deliver for policing. The force an early adopter of AI into emergency call handling, and its current portfolio spans contact centre modernisation, digital forensics, biometrics and mapping, alongside the infrastructure work that keeps a modern force running.

This is a role with real impact. The Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT) Portfolio Manager leads the delivery of the force’s technology and transformation portfolio, providing strong leadership, governance and assurance across a portfolio of around 90 active projects ranging from multi-million pound programmes through smaller day-to-day upgrades. You will lead a skilled and established team including four senior project managers, a programme manager, mid-level project managers, technical and QA analysts and PMO support.

The focus of the role is on the overall management of delivery, setting the drumbeat and the standards for how projects are run, handling escalations, managing risk and ensuring the right projects are delivered at the right time with clear oversight of benefits and performance. The processes and the people are already in good shape, and the opportunity is to take the team from being a strong one to a genuinely high performing one, motivating people and driving performance while keeping a firm grip on the detail.

You will work closely with the Head of Technology – Strategy and Transformation on the strategic direction of the portfolio, and you will be expected to take personal ownership of one or two medium to large projects so that you stay connected to how delivery feels on the ground. This is a role for someone comfortable operating strategically who is equally happy rolling their sleeves up when it matters.

The work itself directly supports frontline policing and public safety, and much of it is genuinely interesting, including AI in the contact centre, 999 upgrades and self-service portals, state of the art digital forensics infrastructure, and new ANPR and biometric technology, and the right person will bring the rigour to the way we deliver these projects.

We are looking for an experienced project delivery leader with the confidence to operate at senior level, manage complexity and drive results in a demanding environment. You will need enough technical understanding to grasp the foundations of what the team is delivering, and we welcome candidates from the public and private sectors provided you bring a genuine technology footprint.