The Delivery Portfolio Lead is responsible for overseeing the successful delivery and operational performance of a portfolio of client programmes and projects, ensuring alignment with client expectations, commercial objectives, and delivery commitments. The role provides strategic delivery leadership, governance, risk oversight, and delivery assurance while supporting account growth through delivery expertise and advisory support.

Job Description:

About Merkle
Merkle, a dentsu company, powers the experience economy. For more than 35 years, the company has put people at the heart of its approach to digital business transformation. As the only integrated experience consultancy in the world with a heritage in data science and business performance, Merkle delivers holistic, end-to-end experiences that drive growth, engagement, and loyalty. Merkle’s expertise has earned recognition as a “Leader” by top industry analyst firms, in categories such as digital transformation and commerce, experience design, engineering and technology integration, digital marketing, data science, CRM and loyalty, and customer data management. With more than 16,000 employees, Merkle operates in 30+ countries throughout the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. For more information, visit www.merkle.com.

Role Overview

The Delivery Portfolio Lead is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of a portfolio of client programmes and projects. The role ensures delivery outcomes are achieved while maintaining strong alignment with client expectations and commercial objectives at the account level.

Working alongside Client Leadership, the Delivery Portfolio Lead supports account growth by providing delivery expertise, validating feasibility, and ensuring that commitments are realistic and set up for success. This role combines strategic oversight with delivery assurance.

This role requires a highly experienced programme delivery professional from a consultancy or vendor background, capable of operating across both strategic oversight and operational delivery assurance.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Delivery Oversight

• Own the successful delivery of programmes and projects across a defined portfolio of client accounts.

• Ensure delivery outcomes are achieved in line with agreed timelines, scope, quality, and financial expectations.

• Provide oversight of programme execution through Programme Managers and Delivery Leads, ensuring appropriate delegation and accountability.

• Monitor programme health through defined indicators, reporting, and engagement with delivery teams.

• Provide clear, evidence-based assessments on whether delivery will succeed based on performance, risks, and dependencies.

• Intervene where required to resolve critical issues, unblock delivery, or reset direction.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Build strong, trusted relationships with clients and internal stakeholders at all levels.

• Act as a senior escalation point for delivery-related issues and risks.

• Work in close partnership with Client Leadership to align delivery execution with client expectations.

• Provide confidence and transparency through clear communication on delivery status and outlook.

Pipeline, Demand & Risk Management

• Proactively manage delivery pipeline, including demand forecasting, resource planning, and capacity management at account level.

• Identify and mitigate risks driven by client changes, resourcing challenges, or external factors.

• Balance proactive planning with reactive issue resolution in a fast-paced environment.

• Ensure appropriate mitigation strategies are in place for risks impacting delivery outcomes

Commercial & Financial Management

• Oversee financial performance at the account level, including budget tracking, forecasting, cost management, and margin awareness.

• Work with Programme Managers to ensure financial discipline across delivery.

• Support Client Leadership in maintaining account profitability through informed delivery decisions.

Delivery Excellence & Process Improvements

• Drive continuous improvement across delivery practices, governance, and ways of working.

• Ensure consistent application of delivery methodologies and standards

• Identify opportunities to optimise efficiency, reduce cost, and improve delivery predictability

• Promote best practices across delivery teams and programmes

Sales Support & Delivery Advisory

• Support sales and growth efforts as a delivery advisor, not an account owner.

• Validate feasibility, timelines, effort, capacity, and budget for new and existing opportunities.

• Contribute to proposals and Statements of Work (SOWs) to ensure deliverability.

• Attend client pitches where required, representing delivery and building confidence in capability.

**Key Skills & Experience **

• Minimum 10 years’ experience delivering complex programmes in consultancy, systems integrator, or agency environments.

• Strong programme management background with experience moving into portfolio oversight.

• Experience in marketing, digital, or technology delivery environments.

• Demonstrable experience in process improvement and cost management.

• Strong commercial acumen at account level.

• Experience leading delivery teams and managing programme managers.

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

• Experience supporting pre-sales and client growth initiatives in a delivery advisory capacity

Personal Attributes

• Highly credible, confident communicator with strong executive presence

• Pragmatic and outcome-focused, with strong judgement

• Proactive and forward-looking, balanced with the ability to react quickly to issues

• Resilient and calm under pressure

• Able to build trust and credibility quickly across clients and internal teams

• Strong sense of ownership and accountability for delivery outcomes

** What we offer**

• This is a permanent role.

• This is a hybrid working role with the expectation that you will be in 2 times a week

• As well as a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy a benefits package that you can tailor to your needs.

Inclusion and Diversity

At Dentsu, we embrace diversity and inclusion, valuing the unique perspectives and contributions of every individual. We believe that diversity fuels creativity and innovation, benefiting our employees, partners, and communities.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic. Beyond recruitment, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.

We recognise the importance of work-life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements for all roles. If you need reasonable adjustments due to a disability or medical condition during our recruitment process, please contact us at accommodations@dentsu.com, quoting the reference number of the role that you are applying for. Your needs will be handled with respect and confidentiality to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience.

LI-Hybrid #LI-MERKLE

Location:

London

Brand:

Merkle

Time Type:

Full time

Contract Type:

Fixed Term Contract (Fixed Term)