SC Cleared Policy Lead

Synergize Consulting Ltd; Corsham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Synergize Consulting Ltd in Corsham is recruiting an SC Cleared Policy & Standards Lead to join a major government cloud and platform infrastructure programme supporting Defence and wider UK Government.

This strategic role will ensure policies, standards, governance and guardrails are in place as customers onboard, while providing leadership, direction and stakeholder management across a complex multi‑organisation environment.

Qualifications

• Strong stakeholder management across complex groups.
• Experience in governance, assurance, policy or regulatory environments.
• Ability to influence, negotiate and build consensus across organisations.
• Experience leading autonomously in evolving programmes.
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as Managing Authority lead for policy and standards across the platform.
• Provide direction and oversight to a team of four policy and standards consultants.
• Set priorities ensuring alignment with programme strategy and delivery.
• Lead the Policies & Standards Working Group secretariat.
• Manage relationships with senior stakeholders across government and Defence.
• Support resolution of complex stakeholder issues and build consensus.
• Develop governance and adoption routes within MOD environment.
• Coordinate with PMO and Target Operating Model teams on future governance.
• Provide leadership across a multi-supplier environment.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Governance

Policy & standards

Regulatory environments

Influence & negotiation

Facilitation

Communication

Autonomous working

Multi-supplier coordination

Cloud infrastructure awareness

Job description

****SC Cleared | Hybrid based: Corsham – 2-3 days per week onsite | Oct 26 start

We are currently recruiting for an experienced SC Cleared Policy & Standards Lead to join a major government cloud and platform infrastructure programme supporting organisations across Defence and wider UK Government.

This is a strategic role within a newly established cloud/platform capability, responsible for ensuring the right policies, standards, governance, controls and guardrails are in place as customers begin onboarding.

This is not a policy-writing role. Specialist policy and standards resources are already in place. The successful candidate will provide the leadership, direction and stakeholder management needed to ensure policy and standards activity remains aligned with programme objectives and can be practically implemented across a complex government and Defence environment.

The Role

As the Managing Authority representative for policy and standards, you will provide strategic leadership across the function, working closely with senior stakeholders, governance bodies, suppliers, delivery teams and future service owners.

You will be responsible for:

Acting as the Managing Authority lead for all policy and standards activity across the platform.

Providing direction, challenge and oversight to a team of four specialist policy and standards consultants.

Setting priorities and ensuring policy and standards development remains aligned with wider programme strategy and delivery.

Leading the secretariat function for the Policies & Standards Working Group.

Managing relationships with senior stakeholders across government and Defence, including the future policy and standards service owner.

Supporting the resolution of complex stakeholder issues and negotiating consensus across multiple organisations.

Building an understanding of the MOD governance, policy and assurance landscape to identify appropriate approval, implementation and adoption routes.

Ensuring platform policies and standards are consistent with the wider MOD policy environment.

Working with PMO and Target Operating Model teams to develop the future governance model.

Providing leadership and coordination across a complex multi-supplier environment.

Supporting the development and establishment of a new Data Statement of Work.

Co-leading onboarding rehearsals and trial activities for projects moving into the MOD tenancy.

Contributing to wider programme governance and operational readiness.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who can operate comfortably at a strategic level while navigating complex stakeholder and governance environments.

Essential experience:

Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building experience, particularly with complex or challenging stakeholder groups.

Proven experience within governance, assurance, policy, standards or regulatory environments.

Demonstrable ability to influence, negotiate and build consensus across multiple organisations.

Experience working autonomously within ambiguous, evolving programmes.

Strong facilitation, negotiation and communication skills.

Experience working on large, complex programmes involving multiple suppliers and delivery partners.

A good understanding of cloud infrastructure and platform services.

Experience operating across organisational boundaries and bringing different stakeholder perspectives together.

Desirable:

Understanding of governance controls and guardrails required for secure cloud/platform operation.

Familiarity with Secure by Design principles.

Awareness of Data and AI governance and associated policy considerations.

Understanding of MOD governance structures and assurance processes.

Experience defining operating models, governance frameworks or future-state governance arrangements.

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a critical policy and governance function within a new cloud/platform capability supporting Defence and wider government.

The platform is moving towards customer onboarding, making this a particularly important point in its development. The successful candidate will have genuine influence over how governance, policy and standards are established and adopted across a complex multi‑organisation environment.

The role would suit someone who enjoys strategic stakeholder management, governance and problem‑solving, rather than a role focused primarily on producing policy documents.

Security & Eligibility

Valid SC clearance is essential.

Candidates must hold valid SC clearance and be able to work on UK Defence/government programmes.

An SC/Share transfer can take up to 30 days, subject to successful completion of the required checks.

A standard BPSS check will also be required for the successful candidate.

UK nationals only.