Senior Consultant

University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States

Duration: Full Time

The Senior Consultant - Portfolio Management will be responsible for defining, leading, and evolving the organization's portfolio management capabilities across strategy, process, technology, and analytics.

The primary objective of this role is to deliver advanced portfolio analytics that enable data-driven investment decisions and to establish mechanisms that track and measure the value realized from technology implementations, process efficiency initiatives, and change enablement programs.

This role requires deep expertise in project and program management combined with advanced analytical capabilities to translate portfolio data into actionable insights.

The Sr. Consultant will lead the design and implementation of portfolio management processes leveraging ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM), while integrating advanced analytics tools such as Tableau to enable data-driven decision making across demand intake, prioritization, investment planning, and portfolio performance management.

A key responsibility of the role will be to define and operationalize agentic AI capabilities within the portfolio lifecycle, including intelligent demand management, automated portfolio analysis, and AI-driven insight generation to support strategic investment decisions.

The Sr. Consultant will work cross-functionally with business leaders, PMOs, technology teams, and data stakeholders to establish scalable portfolio governance frameworks, modernize portfolio analytics, and implement AI-enabled workflows that enhance transparency, forecasting accuracy, and strategic alignment across the enterprise project and program portfolio.

Senior Consultant - Portfolio Management Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Performance Management

Monitor and manage financial performance across all active projects and programs within the internal consulting portfolio.
Track budget vs. actual performance for each initiative, identify variances, and partner with project managers and program leads to recommend corrective actions.
Maintain accurate and timely financial data within ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) and associated financial tracking systems.

2. Portfolio Cost and Resource Analytics

Analyze portfolio-level spending trends, resource utilization, and forecasted demand to support strategic workforce and investment planning.
Collaborate with HR, Finance, and initiative leads to align FTE allocations, effort tracking, and financial forecasts with portfolio priorities.
Identify early indicators of resource constraints, capacity gaps, or underutilization across the project portfolio.

3. Benefits and Value Realization Management

Partner with initiative owners to define, validate, and track expected and realized benefits across financial and non-financial dimensions.
Maintain and evolve a standardized benefits realization framework, incorporating metrics such as ROI, cost avoidance, operational efficiency, and expanded patient or research access.
Track and report realized value across the portfolio, ensuring alignment with UCSF's strategic priorities including mission impact, quality of care, equity, and access.

4. Strategic Reporting and Data Visualization

Design and maintain executive dashboards and portfolio analytics using Tableau and ServiceNow SPM to provide clear visibility into project health, investment performance, and value delivery.
Prepare monthly and quarterly portfolio reporting packages for executive leadership, summarizing financial performance, benefits realization, risk exposure, and strategic recommendations.
Deliver actionable insights that support prioritization decisions, investment adjustments, and portfolio optimization.

5. Portfolio Data and Tool Stewardship

Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) for ServiceNow SPM portfolio financials and Tableau-based analytics supporting project and portfolio performance.
Partner with IT, Finance, and PMO stakeholders to ensure data integrity, reporting accuracy, and ongoing system enhancements.
Identify opportunities to automate reporting, improve data quality, and streamline portfolio analytics processes.

6. Governance and Strategic Decision Support

Support portfolio governance processes by providing financial, capacity, and value analytics that inform demand intake, triage, and investment decisions.
Maintain transparent documentation and audit trails supporting financial and value realization reporting.
Participate in portfolio review forums, presenting insights and highlighting emerging risks, trade-offs, and strategic opportunities.

7. AI-Enabled Portfolio Intelligence

This would explicitly connect the role to agentic AI and advanced analytics, which you referenced in the custom scope and will make the job description feel much more forward-looking and strategic.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related Organizational Change, Business Administration or related area and/or equivalent experience / training. Advanced degree preferred.
12+ years of experience in project/program/portfolio financial management or strategic financial analysis
Strong understanding of benefits realization and value measurement frameworks
Experience in higher education, healthcare, or mission-driven environments preferred
Advanced knowledge of project, program and portfolio management within the management consulting field, theories, models to assess, design and implement customized, strategic organization interventions.
Advanced knowledge of the consulting process to effectively lead engagements from inception to conclusion. Ability to conceptualize projects, write proposals and draft project plans after consultation with supervisor.
Demonstrates advanced analytical, problem-solving, project planning and implementation skills.
Financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and ROI modeling
Demonstrates skill consulting to managers and groups at all levels. Ability to focus on priorities, strategies, and vision.
Demonstrates ability to learn quickly, reason, synthesize and generalize based on information obtained. Sound judgment, ability to draw unbiased conclusions.
Ability to coach, facilitate and influence people at all levels of the clients teams. Ability to persuade through both logic and appeal to positive motivations. Possesses strong consulting, relationship building, and strategic thinking skills. Strong facilitation and collaboration skills. Demonstrated ability to lead team with minimal input from supervisor.
Ability to apply change management in implementing programs
Ability to establish and manage project governance groups.
Ability to assess needs and design services/programs to meet those needs. Demonstrated capacity to anticipate obstacles and plan for contingencies; demonstrated ability to determine relevance and prioritize tasks.
Applies strong verbal, written communication and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in higher education, healthcare, or mission-driven environments preferred
Financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and ROI modeling
Some knowledge of the organizational environment of higher education and large research universities to understand client issues, motivations and constraints.
Has advanced knowledge of the Systems Development Life Cycle to assess, design and implement new technology systems.
Uses AI to elevate domain expertise, producing higher-quality insights and reusable patterns that raise the standard of work for others

About UCSF

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world's leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

Pride Values

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence - also known as our PRIDE values.

In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity - both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available here.

Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Salary Information

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.

Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related Organizational Change, Business Administration or related area and/or equivalent experience / training. Advanced degree preferred.
12+ years of experience in project/program/portfolio financial management or strategic financial analysis
Strong understanding of benefits realization and value measurement frameworks
Experience in higher education, healthcare, or mission-driven environments preferred
Advanced knowledge of project, program and portfolio management within the management consulting field, theories, models to assess, design and implement customized, strategic organization interventions.
Advanced knowledge of the consulting process to effectively lead engagements from inception to conclusion. Ability to conceptualize projects, write proposals and draft project plans after consultation with supervisor.
Demonstrates advanced analytical, problem-solving, project planning and implementation skills.
Financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and ROI modeling
Demonstrates skill consulting to managers and groups at all levels. Ability to focus on priorities, strategies, and vision.
Demonstrates ability to learn quickly, reason, synthesize and generalize based on information obtained. Sound judgment, ability to draw unbiased conclusions.
Ability to coach, facilitate and influence people at all levels of the clients teams. Ability to persuade through both logic and appeal to positive motivations. Possesses strong consulting, relationship building, and strategic thinking skills. Strong facilitation and collaboration skills. Demonstrated ability to lead team with minimal input from supervisor.
Ability to apply change management in implementing programs
Ability to establish and manage project governance groups.
Ability to assess needs and design services/programs to meet those needs. Demonstrated capacity to anticipate obstacles and plan for contingencies; demonstrated ability to determine relevance and prioritize tasks.
Applies strong verbal, written communication and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in higher education, healthcare, or mission-driven environments preferred
Financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and ROI modeling
Some knowledge of the organizational environment of higher education and large research universities to understand client issues, motivations and constraints.
Has advanced knowledge of the Systems Development Life Cycle to assess, design and implement new technology systems.
Uses AI to elevate domain expertise, producing higher-quality insights and reusable patterns that raise the standard of work for others