Job summary
We are looking for someone passionate and enthusiastic to lead the development of standards, embedding and driving continuous improvement of strategic delivery management practices across complex portfolios within NHSBSA.
We would love for you to refine and champion the organisation's approach to Agile delivery, ensuring alignment with national standards (GDS, CDDO, Service Manual), and act as the senior authority on delivery excellence.
Building and leading an already thriving professional delivery community, setting standards, frameworks, and career pathways that support capability growth, recruitment, and professional development. You will also lead delivery assurance activities, including service assessments and supplier governance, ensuring consistent, high-quality delivery across internal teams and third-party partners.
Working collaboratively with key senior stakeholders promoting a multidisciplinary approach to delivery, ensuring that teams are equipped with the right skills, tools, and support to deliver effectively. You will foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement across professions.
Through collaboration, coaching, and strategic innovation horizon scanning, you will shape delivery culture across DDaT to support the NHSBSAs strategic ambition to be the delivery partner of choice for the health and care system.
Main duties of the job
As Head of Profession for (Agile) Delivery Management, you will be:
- Setting the strategic direction for Delivery Management
- Leading the development and implementation of Agile Delivery practices, frameworks and policies
- Defining and maintaining delivery assurance processes
- Building and leading a high performing professional community of Delivery Managers
- Collaborating with other Heads of Profession to promote a multidisciplinary approach to delivery
- Designing and implementing structured career pathways and competency frameworks
- Leading the recruitment strategy for Delivery Management
- Coaching and mentoring delivery professionals and teams, embedding Agile mindsets
- Driving innovation through horizon scanning
- Contributing to the overall DDaT delivery Strategy
- Leading the NHSBSA Delivery Assessment Community
- Managing the delivery management budget in line with financial planning and commercial oversight
For a more detailed breakdown of the role and responsibilities please take a look at the job description attached to the advert. We welcome conversations about this opportunity, so please don't hesitate to reach out if you want to find out more.
About us
Here at the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), what we do matters.
We manage the NHS Pension scheme, process prescription payments and much more. Our services are used by NHS organisations, contractors and the public: we're proud to be part of something meaningful, that touches millions of lives.
We design our services around customer needs and place people at the heart of our organisation. That's why when you join us, you'll be empowered and supported to help your career grow.
As one of the UK's Best Big Companies to work for, we're connected to our values: Collaborative, Adventurous, Reliable and Energetic. We care about our people, our purpose, and your progress.
We strive to offer a fantastic colleague experience, where every colleague is heard, supported and respected. Wellbeing, diversity and inclusion is at the centre of this, and you can join our Lived Experience Networks who help us bring our authentic selves to work.
We're committed to being a flexible employer and we try to offer a working pattern that suits you where possible, through hybrid working, flexible hours and more.
Alongside a competitive salary with pay progression, we offer a people-centric benefits package, connecting you to the rewards and benefits you value most!
Ready to join us in delivering business service excellence to the NHS, helping people live longer, healthier lives? Apply today and see where the NHSBSA can take you.
We are people connected to care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In this role you are accountable for:
- Setting the strategic direction for Delivery Management across DDaT, ensuring alignment with national standards and organisational priorities and inputting into the direction of delivery in bids/new SoWs.
- Leading the development and implementation of Agile delivery practices, frameworks, policies and standards that support consistent, high-quality delivery across multidisciplinary teams and third-party suppliers
- Defining and maintaining delivery assurance processes, including service assessments, supplier performance reviews, and governance compliance across the DDaT Directorate engaging with wider multi disciplinary teams.
- Building and leading a high-performing professional community of Delivery Managers, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Collaborating with other Heads of Profession to promote a multidisciplinary approach to delivery, ensuring integrated ways of working across DDaT and beyond.
- Designing and implementing structured career pathways, competency frameworks, and training programmes to support professional development and talent progression.
- Leading the recruitment strategy for the Delivery Management profession, working with HR and DDaT Capability leads. Engaging with Talent Acquisition to foster new and innovative ways of recruiting and retaining talent
- Coaching and mentoring delivery professionals and teams, embedding Agile mindsets and supporting transformation initiatives.
- Driving innovation through horizon scanning and external engagement, identifying emerging delivery trends and translating them into actionable improvements.
- Acting as a senior advisor on delivery strategy, contributing to working groups, panels, and cross-government communities to influence national delivery standards.
- Contributing to the overall DDaT Delivery Strategy as well as providing evidence of service and performance improvements across services.
- Leading the NHSBSA Delivery Assessment Community, ensuring consistent application of service assessment standards and readiness assurance.
- Managing the delivery management budget, ensuring strategic financial planning and commercial oversight. Monitoring, and reporting in line with NHSBSA policies and strategic goals.
- Monitoring and reporting on delivery performance using relevant metrics and KPIs to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
- Empowering delivery managers to proactively measure the productivity of their teams, providing a framework and tools to enable this.
- Representing NHSBSA and the Delivery Management profession internally and externally, including senior stakeholder forums and strategic advisory panels, enhancing the organisations reputation and influence.
- Deputising for the Head of DDaT Capability and Operations and/or Heads of DDaT Delivery and Consultancy as required.
- Use and explore complex data sets to support strategic decision making.
- Work closely with the data teams to align delivery measurement with enterprise data standards, ensuring reproducibility of delivery metrics.
- Ensure that clear metrics, KPIs are in place and aligned to the reporting standards. This will provide stakeholders with clear, accessible, and regular reporting on value, pace quality, and outcomes from delivery.
- Demonstrating emotional resilience and strategic decision-making under pressure, particularly in high-stakes delivery environments and complex stakeholder
In addition to the above accountabilities, you will be expected to:
- Undertake additional duties and responsibilities in line with the purpose of your role and as agreed by your line manager.
- Demonstrate NHSBSA values and core capabilities in all aspects of your work.
- Encourage an environment where your own and colleagues safety and well-being is promoted.
- Contribute to a culture which values diversity and inclusion.
- Follow NHSBSA policies, procedures, and protocols as they apply to your role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In this role you are accountable for:
- Setting the strategic direction for Delivery Management across DDaT, ensuring alignment with national standards and organisational priorities and inputting into the direction of delivery in bids/new SoWs.
- Leading the development and implementation of Agile delivery practices, frameworks, policies and standards that support consistent, high-quality delivery across multidisciplinary teams and third-party suppliers
- Defining and maintaining delivery assurance processes, including service assessments, supplier performance reviews, and governance compliance across the DDaT Directorate engaging with wider multi disciplinary teams.
- Building and leading a high-performing professional community of Delivery Managers, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Collaborating with other Heads of Profession to promote a multidisciplinary approach to delivery, ensuring integrated ways of working across DDaT and beyond.
- Designing and implementing structured career pathways, competency frameworks, and training programmes to support professional development and talent progression.
- Leading the recruitment strategy for the Delivery Management profession, working with HR and DDaT Capability leads. Engaging with Talent Acquisition to foster new and innovative ways of recruiting and retaining talent
- Coaching and mentoring delivery professionals and teams, embedding Agile mindsets and supporting transformation initiatives.
- Driving innovation through horizon scanning and external engagement, identifying emerging delivery trends and translating them into actionable improvements.
- Acting as a senior advisor on delivery strategy, contributing to working groups, panels, and cross-government communities to influence national delivery standards.
- Contributing to the overall DDaT Delivery Strategy as well as providing evidence of service and performance improvements across services.
- Leading the NHSBSA Delivery Assessment Community, ensuring consistent application of service assessment standards and readiness assurance.
- Managing the delivery management budget, ensuring strategic financial planning and commercial oversight. Monitoring, and reporting in line with NHSBSA policies and strategic goals.
- Monitoring and reporting on delivery performance using relevant metrics and KPIs to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
- Empowering delivery managers to proactively measure the productivity of their teams, providing a framework and tools to enable this.
- Representing NHSBSA and the Delivery Management profession internally and externally, including senior stakeholder forums and strategic advisory panels, enhancing the organisations reputation and influence.
- Deputising for the Head of DDaT Capability and Operations and/or Heads of DDaT Delivery and Consultancy as required.
- Use and explore complex data sets to support strategic decision making.
- Work closely with the data teams to align delivery measurement with enterprise data standards, ensuring reproducibility of delivery metrics.
- Ensure that clear metrics, KPIs are in place and aligned to the reporting standards. This will provide stakeholders with clear, accessible, and regular reporting on value, pace quality, and outcomes from delivery.
- Demonstrating emotional resilience and strategic decision-making under pressure, particularly in high-stakes delivery environments and complex stakeholder
In addition to the above accountabilities, you will be expected to:
- Undertake additional duties and responsibilities in line with the purpose of your role and as agreed by your line manager.
- Demonstrate NHSBSA values and core capabilities in all aspects of your work.
- Encourage an environment where your own and colleagues safety and well-being is promoted.
- Contribute to a culture which values diversity and inclusion.
- Follow NHSBSA policies, procedures, and protocols as they apply to your role.
Person Specification
Personal Qualities, Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Proven expertise in Agile delivery methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) and Lean practices, with the ability to coach and embed these across multidisciplinary teams.
- Demonstrated experience in defining and implementing delivery standards, frameworks, and assurance models for internal teams and external suppliers.
- Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with a track record of developing professional communities and career pathways.
- Ability to design and deliver training programmes and onboarding materials tailored to delivery management roles.
- Strategic thinking across complex portfolios
- Advanced innovation and horizon scanning to identify emerging delivery trends with transformation capability and actionable improvements.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills across senior levels, including cross-government and industry networks.
- Commercial acumen with experience in managing budgets, contracts, and supplier relationships.
- Ability to lead complex delivery initiatives and resolve high-risk issues across organisational boundaries.
Desirable
- Working knowledge of the CDDO Service Manual and service assessment process.
- Familiarity with the DDaT /GDaD Capability Framework and its application in career development.
- Understanding of public sector governance and procurement processes.
- Experience in developing playbooks and toolkits for delivery management standards.
- Knowledge of delivery assurance frameworks for third-party suppliers.
- Experience advising on delivery strategy within cross-functional working groups or panels.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in leading Agile delivery in large-scale, complex environments.
- Experience in establishing, leading, and sustaining Communities of Practice to support professional development and knowledge and best practice sharing
- Proven track record in recruitment, talent development, and succession planning within delivery professions.
- Experience in leading delivery assurance activities, including service assessments and supplier performance reviews.
- Experience in coaching teams and individuals through Agile transformation and continuous improvement.
- Experience in aligning delivery practices with national standards such as GDS and CDDO
- Demonstrating emotional resilience and strategic decision making under pressure, particularly in high stakes delivery environments and complex stakeholder landscapes.
Desirable
- Experience in supporting or leading procurement activities related to delivery services.
- Experience in creating and implementing structured career pathways and competency frameworks.
- Experience in cross-functional delivery leadership and Agile coaching at an organisational level.
Qualifications
Essential
- Agile delivery certification (e.g., Certified Scrum Master, SAFe Agilist, ICAgile).
- Substantial delivery experience and/or degree-level qualification in a relevant field.
Desirable
- Master's degree in relevant subject and/or equivalent delivery experience.
Person Specification
Personal Qualities, Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Proven expertise in Agile delivery methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) and Lean practices, with the ability to coach and embed these across multidisciplinary teams.
- Demonstrated experience in defining and implementing delivery standards, frameworks, and assurance models for internal teams and external suppliers.
- Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with a track record of developing professional communities and career pathways.
- Ability to design and deliver training programmes and onboarding materials tailored to delivery management roles.
- Strategic thinking across complex portfolios
- Advanced innovation and horizon scanning to identify emerging delivery trends with transformation capability and actionable improvements.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills across senior levels, including cross-government and industry networks.
- Commercial acumen with experience in managing budgets, contracts, and supplier relationships.
- Ability to lead complex delivery initiatives and resolve high-risk issues across organisational boundaries.
Desirable
- Working knowledge of the CDDO Service Manual and service assessment process.
- Familiarity with the DDaT /GDaD Capability Framework and its application in career development.
- Understanding of public sector governance and procurement processes.
- Experience in developing playbooks and toolkits for delivery management standards.
- Knowledge of delivery assurance frameworks for third-party suppliers.
- Experience advising on delivery strategy within cross-functional working groups or panels.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in leading Agile delivery in large-scale, complex environments.
- Experience in establishing, leading, and sustaining Communities of Practice to support professional development and knowledge and best practice sharing
- Proven track record in recruitment, talent development, and succession planning within delivery professions.
- Experience in leading delivery assurance activities, including service assessments and supplier performance reviews.
- Experience in coaching teams and individuals through Agile transformation and continuous improvement.
- Experience in aligning delivery practices with national standards such as GDS and CDDO
- Demonstrating emotional resilience and strategic decision making under pressure, particularly in high stakes delivery environments and complex stakeholder landscapes.
Desirable
- Experience in supporting or leading procurement activities related to delivery services.
- Experience in creating and implementing structured career pathways and competency frameworks.
- Experience in cross-functional delivery leadership and Agile coaching at an organisational level.
Qualifications
Essential
- Agile delivery certification (e.g., Certified Scrum Master, SAFe Agilist, ICAgile).
- Substantial delivery experience and/or degree-level qualification in a relevant field.
Desirable
- Master's degree in relevant subject and/or equivalent delivery experience.
