Agile Delivery Manager

Duration : 12 months

Clearance : SC Eligible

We are looking for an outstanding Delivery Manager, who can make a positive impact, and who wants to contribute to the most demanding and exciting new digital service for the UK Government. Let’s be clear about the impact of your work - better digital services in government will change the face of public services and have the potential to dramatically transform the future of millions of people.

You will have outstanding skills and be ready to quickly get to work as part of an agile multi-disciplinary team of Developers, Designers, Analysts and IT specialists focused on the Department for Work and Pensions’ flagship welfare reform programme.

You’ll be the kind of person who is unconcerned with titles and hierarchy; what really excites you is problem-solving and the opportunity to deliver innovative technology that carries real value for users. You will draw value from collaboration with others, actively seeking input from colleagues and valuing a multidisciplinary team over hierarchy.

Day-to-day you will be using your experience and technical skills to support the team in designing, creating and improving new and existing products, platforms and transactions across government.

You’ll be the linkage between teams, ensuring good lines of communication, and effective reporting in an agile environment

You’ll be working with both experienced agile practitioners, and relative newcomers to agile delivery

You’ll be approachable, and act to unblock team issues wherever possible.

Main responsibilities

• Work within a multi-disciplinary team, helping to ensure that products are delivered in a manner that is aligned with wider business service development activities.
• Work with the Product Owner and a genuinely co-located multi-disciplinary team of approximately 30 people; policy experts, interaction designers, business analysts, technical and security staff to design, build and iterate our services.
• Remove blockers that relate to our service delivery activities.
• Create an environment conducive to self-organising people and teams, and be ready to step in with advice where needed.
• Get the best out of both Agile and non-Agile team members with guidance and support in understanding requirements.
• Maintain discipline in an environment with conflicting priorities and demands.
• Help to bridge the different disciplines in the team in order to enable effective delivery from everyone.

You will (essential):

• Have experience of Agile and Waterfall delivery methods, learning and iterating frequently throughout the entire project lifecycle (build, test, release).
• Have experience in working in a multi-team portfolio delivery structure.
• Have the ability to work closely with the Product Owner to define the roadmap for any given service and translate this into user stories / requirements.
• oversee the collaborative, dynamic planning process; helping prioritise the work that needs to be done against the capacity and capability of the team.
• Have experience of Digital Services and a working understanding of the DWP.
• Ensure that our services and products are built to an appropriate level of quality.
• Actively participate in the Delivery Manager community, sharing and re-applying skills, knowledge and bringing in best practice.
• Demonstrate the ability to keep the long-term solution in focus and plan for risk.
• Understand the differences between Agile and Waterfall methods and how they can be applied together for success.
• Facilitate planning meetings, reviews and retrospectives
• Thrive in a fast-moving, changing environment.
• Have an understanding of the challenges and tensions inherent in working in an agile environment, within an organisation more used to waterfall project management

You will (desirable):

• Have experience working with secure systems, both for development and production environments.
• Have strong knowledge and passion for practical delivery, using the most appropriate tools available, including Agile principles and practices where appropriate.

Person specification- the ideal candidate:

• Flexible/adaptable. Adjusts quickly to changing priorities and conditions. Copes effectively with complexity and change.
• Takes responsibility/ownership. Proactively removes blockers to ensure that work is delivered. Is able to produce significant output with minimal wasted effort.
• High standards. Is committed to quality and is therefore willing to challenge colleagues and to constantly question their own approach.
• Openness to criticism and ideas. Draws value from collaboration with others. Actively seeks input from colleagues and values a multidisciplinary team over hierarchy.
• Strategic thinking and visioning. Able to understand and communicate the big picture and use it to prioritise and judge impact of smaller tasks and objectives.
• Creativity/innovation. Generates new and innovative approaches to problems. Isn’t bound by the status quo.
• Enthusiasm. Exhibits passion and excitement over work. Has a can-do attitude, even under pressure.
• Considerate. Enjoys working with and is sensitive to the needs of others. Values a positive working environment.

If you feel you have the skills and experience needed for this role; please do apply now.