Portfolio Assistant
£32,380 per annum, pro rata (pay award pending) - Grade 5
Leeds / Hybrid
Full time - 37 hours per week
Closing date – Sunday 4 January 2026 at 11:55pm
Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share.
We currently have a vacancy for a professional and enthusiastic Portfolio Assistant to join our Strategic Portfolio Office (SPO).
The SPO oversees the portfolio of programmes and projects. The schemes are delivered directly by the Combined Authority or through one of our partner organisations (in the public and private sector). Whichever the delivery route, the SPO has responsibility for ensuring that schemes meet the strategic aims of the organisation and have a robust business case to give assurance that they will be developed and delivered within the agreed time, cost, and quality framework, in accordance with the Combined Authority’s Assurance Framework.
As a Portfolio Assistant, you will lead on a varied range of tasks including supporting Scheme Appraisal and Project Approval meetings, preparing Key Decision Notices and Decision Point Summaries. You will also organise and prepare agendas for team meetings; manage trackers and systems, and provide updates for the Assurance Framework, organising training and business case workstreams.
This is an ideal career change or development opportunity for someone looking to transfer or develop their skills and experience in high level administration, portfolio management and to gain (further) understanding and experience of the work that the Combined Authority’s Strategic Portfolio Office teams carry out. The Portfolio Assistant role provides the potential for career progression opportunities within the team and wider organisation.
Our Offer
· Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.
· Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.
· Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5).
· Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
· Investing in you – Take advantage of fully funded professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.
· Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.
· Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.
· Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.
· Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.
Reporting into the Portfolio Manager, your key responsibilities will include:
· Supporting successful implementation of controls and processes that support the Assurance Framework and project, programme and portfolio delivery across the Combined Authority and partners.
· Effective assurance, appraisal, monitoring and reporting of the portfolio of funding programmes that the Combined Authority is responsible for, in accordance with the Assurance Framework.
· Building strong relationships with internal and external delivery partners on SPO matters.
Please review the Role Profile for more information about the responsibilities.
About You
You will have the following key skills, attributes, education and experience:
· Practical experience of successfully performing in a similar role within a multi-disciplinary team.
· Experience in forming and developing effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve the best outcomes for the organisation, including experience of negotiating with or influencing others.
· Understanding of programme and project management methodologies and experience of supporting project delivery.
· Experience of prioritisation of own tasks and working to tight deadlines under pressure with an ability to exercise own judgement to solve problems within own sphere of responsibility, or to escalate as appropriate.
· Extensive knowledge and experience of all Microsoft Office applications.
To Apply
If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form on our website and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements within the Role Profile. Please visit our Advice for Candidates webpage and review the guidance on this page for support in completing your application form.
Further Information
The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.
Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met. Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis
