Agile Delivery Manager (Public Sector)

Description

The company is hiring a senior agile delivery manager for its Application Development unit to strengthen delivery capability and deliver the right solutions for clients. You will work across a range of projects.

The role is based in London or Leeds.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end delivery of complex digital services, keeping outcomes on track against scope, budget, timescale and quality.
• Lead agile delivery across one or more multidisciplinary teams, adapting the way of working to each context. Where needed, act as Scrum Master, running planning, stand-ups, reviews, retrospectives and backlog refinement.
• Clear blockers, manage dependencies and help teams improve how they work on an ongoing basis.
• Work with Product Managers to turn product strategy and priorities into realistic delivery plans that weigh user needs, business goals and technical limits.
• Lead teams spanning delivery, product, engineering, architecture, QA, business analysis, data and user-centred design. Build their capability and help each person grow.
• Make sure user research, service design, interaction design and content design run through the whole delivery.
• Guide services through the GDS delivery lifecycle, from Discovery and Alpha through Beta to Live, in line with the Government Service Standard and Technology Code of Practice.
• Plan and run GDS service assessments: get teams ready, gather evidence, prepare people and act on recommendations.
• Keep delivery controls in place: plans, RAID logs, dependency tracking, resource forecasts, governance reports and stakeholder updates.
• Work hands-on in Jira and Confluence so backlogs, workflows, dashboards, documentation, decisions and reporting stay accurate and current.
• Deliver across complex technology estates that include system integration, legacy platforms, cloud services and third-party suppliers.
• Report clearly on progress, risks, dependencies, finances and outcomes to senior management, clients and governance boards.
• Build trust with clients, stakeholders, suppliers and team members, and challenge decisions constructively when delivery needs protecting.
• Share knowledge across the delivery community and coach and mentor less experienced colleagues.

Requirements

• Extensive experience leading complex digital or technology delivery in government or the wider public sector.
• Solid practical knowledge of agile methods, plus experience with traditional and hybrid approaches, and the judgement to pick and adapt the right one. You have worked as both Delivery Manager and Scrum Master.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary digital teams that include Product Management, engineering, QA, business analysis and user-centred design.
• A clear grasp of how Delivery Managers and Product Managers differ in accountability, and a record of working together on priorities, roadmaps and outcomes.
• Hands-on experience moving work through the GDS delivery lifecycle and applying the Government Service Standard.
• Experience preparing teams and services for GDS service assessments, acting on assessor feedback and implementing recommendations.
• Advanced, hands-on skill in Jira and Confluence, or other project management tools, covering backlogs, workflows, dashboards, reporting and documentation.
• Strong understanding of the software delivery lifecycle from Discovery through Alpha, Beta and Live to ongoing improvement.
• Experience with delivery planning, dependency and risk management, issue management, resource forecasting and governance reporting.
• Experience running system integration work across several technologies, delivery teams and third-party suppliers.
• A track record of clearing blockers, balancing competing priorities and creating conditions where teams deliver well.
• Excellent facilitation, coaching and servant-leadership skills, with the ability to embed agile behaviours and drive improvement.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication. You can build trust, explain complex delivery issues simply and challenge senior stakeholders constructively.
• Experience contributing to a professional community through knowledge sharing, coaching and mentoring.
• A recognised agile delivery or Scrum Master qualification, or equivalent proven professional experience.
• Willingness to work in a hybrid model and to travel occasionally to client or delivery sites.

Conditions

Hybrid working, with some flexibility.

Occasional travel to client or delivery locations is required.

The company is an equal opportunities employer.

Benefits

• 25 days of holiday.
• Private medical healthcare through Vitality.
• Pension contribution and life assurance.
• Support for professional certifications as part of learning and development.
• Retail discounts covering restaurants, supermarkets, travel, leisure and health and well-being.
• Access to Employee Resource Groups, which bring together colleagues from diverse backgrounds to connect, learn and support one another.