Programme Delivery Manager - Data, Digital Planning Programme

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

A government entity in the United Kingdom is seeking an experienced leader to deliver a complex data programme. You will oversee budget management, resolve high-risk issues, and support the growth of a delivery community. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in Agile principles, strong stakeholder management skills, and be familiar with data governance. A competitive salary between £64,679 and £76,608 is offered, alongside a comprehensive Civil Service pension scheme.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Learning and development opportunities

Civil Service pension with high employer contribution

Qualifications

• Experience in leading complex data services.
• Ability to mediate difficult discussions and translate technical concepts.
• Extensive management of large budgets for cloud services.

Responsibilities

• Own the delivery of the Data Programme.
• Lead on resolving complex risks and issues.
• Oversee budget management and high-risk commercial issues.

Skills

Agile coaching

Lean principles

Risk management

Data governance

Stakeholder management

Job description

Responsibilities

• Own the delivery of the Data Programme: Be fully accountable for the successful delivery and strategic outcomes of a major, complex data programme
• Act as the escalation point and lead on resolving the most complicated risks, issues, and cross-service dependencies
• Oversee and manage contract budgets and resolve large or high-risk commercial issues
• Lead continual planning processes, ensuring the immediate delivery aligns with the long-term data strategy and vision defined by the Programme Director and Service owner
• Directly support the Head of Delivery in shaping and implementing the People Strategy for the Delivery function, focusing on skills, retention, and recruitment
• Provide expert coaching to Delivery Managers, Product managers, and teams on applying Agile/Lean principles, particularly within a data context
• Support Head of Delivery in leading and growing the delivery community, fostering best practice and resolving high-level conflicts between teams or departments
• Identify and successfully challenge complex, unnecessary organisational processes that hinder efficient data delivery

Qualifications

• The ability to coach, lead, and tailor Agile/Lean approaches across a programme of multiple, complex data services (e.g., data pipelines, ML/AI, infrastructure)
• Proven ability to mediate difficult discussions, manage high-risk expectations, and translate complex technical data concepts (e.g., MLOps, data quality) for non-technical executive audiences
• Expert knowledge of the full product/service life cycle, specifically its application to data products, including long‑term maintenance, risk management, and governance
• Track record of leading planning beyond product delivery, co‑ordinating dependencies across multiple data services, infrastructure, and governance workstreams
• Proven experience managing programmes that include Data Platform/Infrastructure, Data Science/Analytics, and Data Governance/Quality initiatives
• Extensive experience managing large, complex budgets and commercial agreements for cloud services and specialist data technologies
• Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check
• People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Alongside your salary of £64,679, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £18,737 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme

Salary

£64,679 – £76,608 (National)

EEO Statement

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities, and we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.