Senior Benefits Lead

Public Sector Resourcing; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department is seeking a Senior Benefits Lead to manage benefits realization for projects. This hybrid role requires effective leadership, strong analytical skills, and experience in a multinational organization. Candidates must hold or be willing to undergo SC Clearance. The contract runs until March 2026 with a possible extension and can only be performed within the UK.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in benefits management, ideally within large organizations.
• Ability to work collaboratively and manage stakeholders effectively.
• Strong analytical skills with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead benefits management and collaboration with project managers.
• Support in preparing and updating business case benefits.
• Own the benefits management strategy and oversee tracking mechanisms.

Skills

Benefits Management experience

Communication and influencing skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving skills

Strong resilient mindset

Education

APMG Benefits Management certification

Job description

On behalf of the MOD, we are looking for a Senior Benefits Lead (Inside IR35) for a contract which runs up to the end of March 2026 with a possible extension. The role is hybrid, requiring occasional visits to either the London or Bristol offices.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is a central government department with a mission to protect our country and provide the ultimate guarantee of its security and independence, as well as helping to protect its values and interests abroad.

As set out in the Association for Project Managers (APM) Project Delivery Control Framework, the role of the Benefits Manager is to proactively identify, quantify, and track the realisation of benefits used to justify investment in the project. The Benefits Manager ensures that a ‘fit for purpose’ approach to benefits measurement and realisation is used to provide assurance that the benefits identified can be achieved.

SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role; a minimum of willingness and eligibility to undergo checks is required. Preference may be given to candidates who meet all essential criteria and hold active security clearance due to the exceptional requirements of this short‑term role.

Responsibilities

• Delivery and leadership – Provide visible and effective leadership, lead benefits management and work with the project manager to deliver the business case benefits and outcomes. Develop clear vision and standards and champion the use of best practice benefits management standards, tools and processes. Build strong networks both internally and externally.
• Business case – Support the CSM Benefits Lead in preparing and updating the benefits elements of the business case, working with specialists as required.
• Benefits management strategy – Own and refine the CSM benefits management strategy taking into account the wider CSM and organisational methodology.
• Benefits realisation plan – Oversee the CSM Portfolio Benefits Realisation Plan including change control. Identify risks to benefits realisation and develop and propose mitigations.
• Tracking and reporting – Establish the mechanism for co‑ordinated and consistent tracking and reporting of benefits throughout the CSM Portfolio lifecycle and into realisation.
• Benefits mapping – Co‑ordinate workshops, map benefits and ensure alignment. Circulate for agreement and approval. Work with a range of stakeholders to validate and test dependencies.
• Stakeholder management and engagement – Work with stakeholders in CSM’s constituent programmes, functional leaders and budget managers across the department and wider benefits management community to build a learning culture, ensuring that benefits are identified, understood, owned and maximised. Brief key stakeholders ahead of benefits reviews and engage with CSM’s constituent programmes to enhance and improve benefits management best practice.

Essential Skills

• Extensive Benefits Management experience, ideally in a large multi‑national organisation that has undergone transformation.
• Strong communication and influencing skills across a large busy department.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with proven ability to work collaboratively.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Problem solving across organisational boundaries, using sound judgement and interpretive skills.
• Strong resilient, automaniac and a strong self‑starter skillset.

Qualifications

APMG Benefits Management would be highly beneficial.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas.

Disability Confident

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, the MOD guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates with a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process, which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

The MOD guarantees to interview veterans or spouses/partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex‑military candidates/military spouses or partners who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process, which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following: “this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.”