Policy & Standards Lead - Defence / Secure Cloud Platform

SR2 REC LTD; Corsham; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

SR2 is seeking a Policy & Standards Lead for a Defence/ Secure Cloud Platform project. You will provide strategic governance across policy and standards in a complex MOD/government environment, influencing senior stakeholders and turning governance requirements into practical controls.

The role requires experience in cross-government settings, solid cloud understanding, and the ability to operate autonomously in evolving environments. External collaboration with MOD and suppliers is key.

Qualifications

• Strong governance, assurance, policy or regulatory experience.
• Excellent senior stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to influence and build consensus across organisations.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Managing Authority lead for policy and standards activity across the programme.
• Set direction and oversee a specialist policy and standards team.
• Lead stakeholder engagement across MOD, government departments, suppliers and delivery teams.
• Coordinate the Policies & Standards Working Group and build consensus on policies and governance.
• Ensure policy development aligns with platform strategy and delivery priorities.
• Navigate MOD governance, policy and assurance routes and align with MOD policy.

Skills

Governance

Policy development

Stakeholder management

Cloud governance

Communication

Job description

Policy & Standards Lead - Defence / Secure Cloud Platform

£540 per day | SC Cleared | Corsham - 2-3 days onsite | Contract to 31 March 2027 | ASAP start

SR2 is partnering with an exciting client delivering a major new secure cloud and platform infrastructure capability across UK Government and Defence. We're looking for an experienced Policy & Standards Lead to provide strategic leadership across governance, policy and standards as the platform moves towards customer onboarding.

This is a senior, highly autonomous role requiring someone who can navigate MOD and cross-government environments, influence senior stakeholders and turn complex governance requirements into practical policies, standards and controls.

What you'll be doing:

• Act as the Managing Authority lead for policy and standards activity across the programme.
• Set direction and provide oversight to a specialist policy and standards team.
• Lead stakeholder engagement across MOD, government departments, suppliers, delivery teams and future service owners.
• Run and coordinate the Policies & Standards Working Group.
• Build consensus around policies, standards, governance and implementation.
• Ensure policy development aligns with platform strategy, delivery priorities and emerging requirements.
• Navigate MOD governance, policy and assurance routes.
• Ensure new policies align with the wider MOD policy environment.
• Work with PMO and Target Operating Model teams to define the future platform governance model.
• Coordinate policy and governance activity across a complex multi-supplier programme.
• Support development of a new Data Statement of Work.
• Co-lead onboarding rehearsals and trials for projects entering the MOD tenancy.
• Contribute to programme governance and operational readiness.

What we're looking for:

• Strong experience in governance, assurance, policy, standards or regulatory environments.
• Excellent senior stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Proven ability to influence and build consensus across multiple organisations.
• Experience working within large, complex, multi-supplier programmes.
• Strong facilitation, negotiation and communication skills.
• Confidence operating autonomously in ambiguous and evolving environments.
• Understanding of cloud infrastructure and platform services.

Highly desirable:

• MOD / Defence governance and assurance experience.
• Secure platform governance, controls and guardrails.
• Secure by Design knowledge.
• Data and AI governance/policy exposure.
• Experience developing operating models or governance frameworks.
• Previous cross-government experience.

Contract details:

• Rate: £540 per day. Inside IR35
• Location: Corsham, 2-3 days per week onsite.
• Start: ASAP, ideally by 5 October 2026.
• End: 31 March 2027.
• Clearance: You must hold valid SC clearance.
• Nationality: Sole UK nationality required.
• PUID/MODNet is advantageous but can be arranged.
• Successful candidates require a standard BPSS check (£100 + VAT).

SR2 is supporting our client throughout this search and welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates of all genders and backgrounds.