Senior Delivery Manager

Role Summary

We are seeking an accomplished Senior Delivery Manager with a proven track record in leading complex, cross-functional digital delivery programmes within the UK public sector. This role is critical in ensuring the successful end-to-end delivery of user-centred, high-impact services that align with GOV.UK standards, policy intent, and organisational priorities.

As a senior leader, you will drive strategic delivery, remove blockers, manage dependencies, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration. You will be expected to work closely with product managers, service designers, technical leads, policy stakeholders, and delivery teams to ensure timely and effective outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the Delivery: Lead the planning and execution of complex digital service delivery, ensuring alignment with the GDS service life cycle (Discovery to Live).

• Agile Leadership: Guide multiple agile teams, enabling iterative delivery using Scrum, Kanban or SAFe methodologies while ensuring adherence to delivery governance.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Manage relationships with senior government stakeholders, suppliers, policy teams, and delivery partners to align on goals and communicate delivery progress and risks.

• Risk & Issue Management: Proactively identify and mitigate risks, issues, and dependencies across multiple programmes and teams.

• Governance & Reporting: Prepare and present delivery updates to senior stakeholders and boards (eg, Digital Assurance, Programme Boards).

• Commercial Oversight: Support procurement, contract and vendor management in line with public sector policies.

• Coaching & Culture: Develop and mentor delivery managers and team members, supporting capability building and embedding a strong agile culture.

• Quality & Compliance: Ensure delivery meets accessibility, security, performance, and legal standards as set by GOV.UK service assessment
  

Essential Skills & Experience

• Extensive Delivery Leadership: Strong experience leading large-scale, multi-team public sector delivery initiatives using agile and lean practices.

• Public Sector Experience: Deep understanding of government processes, policy/delivery interfaces, and managing projects within politically sensitive contexts.

• GOV.UK Standards: Strong working knowledge of GDS Service Manual, GOV.UK standards, and agile delivery phases (Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live).

• Multi-Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to align delivery across diverse stakeholder groups, including senior policy makers, CTOs, and operational leads.

• Financial & Commercial Acumen: Experience overseeing programme budgets, supplier relationships, and working with commercial/procurement teams.

• Resilient Leadership: Strong facilitation, negotiation and conflict-resolution skills, with experience leading in high-pressure delivery environments.
  

Desirable Experience

• Delivery of services integrated with One Login, Notify, Pay, or other cross-government platforms

• Experience working in departments like DWP, HMRC, DEFRA, MoJ, NHS Digital or Local Government

• Coaching or training others in agile practices, or contributing to internal delivery communities