Senior Manager, Digital & AI Delivery

BDO; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

BDO is a global network connected to local markets, delivering specialist expertise to help businesses grow. The Senior Manager, Digital & AI Delivery, Catalyst, translates priorities into executable plans, coordinates multidisciplinary teams and partners, and ensures governance, security and responsible AI controls are embedded across delivery.

You will drive integrated planning, release readiness and delivery assurance, working with technology, data, architecture and business stakeholders to

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in digital, technology, product, programme or delivery management with leadership responsibility.
• At least three years in a senior management role within programme delivery.
• Proven track record delivering complex digital products or platforms across distributed teams.
• Practical experience delivering AI-enabled solutions, including governance, data, and testing.
• Experience managing suppliers, commercial arrangements and budgets.
• Experience in a professional service, regulated or global environments is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day delivery of digital and AI-enabled capabilities within Catalyst from mobilisation through release.
• Translate priorities into integrated delivery plans with milestones and dependencies.
• Embed governance, controls and reporting; manage risks, issues and decisions.
• Provide delivery assurance across internal teams and third-party partners.
• Coordinate product owners, architects, engineers, data specialists, QA and vendors around shared outcomes.
• Ensure release readiness including hypercare, benefits tracking, and lessons learned.

Skills

Delivery leadership

Programme management

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder management

AI-enabled delivery

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, information technology, business or a related field

Job description

We're BDO, a global network connected to local markets. Our people work together to provide specialist expertise, helping businesses achieve their goals and grow.

We inspire others, to go further. We create together, to reach higher. We build trust, to lead purposefully.

Whether you're building your future or starting your career – with us, you won't do it alone. From creating solutions for our clients to building careers for our people, we shape what matters, and that's where you come in.

Position

Senior Manager, Digital & AI Delivery

Some international travel will be required.

The Senior Manager, Digital and AI Delivery - Catalyst, reporting to the Director, Technical & AI Solutions, provides leadership and delivery assurance for digital and AI-enabled capabilities across the Catalyst programme. The role translates programme priorities into executable delivery plans, coordinates multidisciplinary teams and partners, and ensures solutions are delivered with appropriate governance, quality, security, operational readiness and responsible AI controls.

The role works across technology, data, architecture, quality assurance and business stakeholders to manage dependencies, resolve delivery obstacles and provide clear visibility of progress, risks, costs and decisions. It supports the Director in evolving the Catalyst delivery capability and operating model, while promoting scalable, reusable and sustainable digital and AI services.

Key accountabilities

Delivery Leadership and Governance

• Lead day-to-day delivery of digital and AI-enabled capabilities within Catalyst, from mobilisation through release and transition into support.
• Translate agreed programme, product and technology priorities into integrated delivery plans, milestones, dependencies and decision points.
• Apply and strengthen delivery governance, controls and reporting, ensuring material risks, issues and decisions are visible and escalated promptly.
• Provide delivery assurance across internal teams and third-party partners, challenging plans and evidence constructively where required.
• Embed responsible AI assessment, governance, security, privacy, data and assurance requirements into planning, design, testing and release readiness.

Integrated Planning, Execution and Release Readiness

• Coordinate product owners, business analysts, architects, engineers, data specialists, QA, service management, change and adoption, and vendors around shared outcomes.
• Maintain an integrated view of scope, schedule, funding, capacity, dependencies and readiness across digital and AI workstreams.
• Ensure acceptance criteria, test evidence, operational ownership, support arrangements, training and adoption needs are addressed before release.
• Drive resolution of delivery blockers and cross-team dependencies through clear ownership and governance routes.
• Support disciplined release planning and transition, including hypercare, benefits tracking and lessons learned.

AI and Digital Delivery Assurance

• Ensure AI use cases have a defined business outcome, accountable owner, suitable data, proportionate human oversight and measurable success criteria.
• Coordinate required architecture, cyber security, privacy, legal, risk and responsible AI reviews.
• Ensure model, prompt, workflow and integration testing is proportionate to risk and includes quality, reliability, safety, security and user acceptance considerations.
• Promote reusable digital services, patterns, components and delivery practices that improve scalability and reduce duplication.
• Monitor emerging delivery practices and technologies, translating relevant developments into practical recommendations for Catalyst.

Team Leadership and Capability

• Lead and support multidisciplinary delivery teams, reinforcing accountability, collaboration and high professional standards.
• Maintain visibility of capacity, capability gaps and priority conflicts, and recommend appropriate resource actions.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, objectives and development for assigned team members.
• Address performance or capability concerns through timely, documented and constructive management action.
• Create an inclusive environment that encourages challenge, learning and continuous improvement.

Stakeholder, Commercial and Vendor Management

• Build effective relationships across Catalyst, Global IT, Global Office, service lines, IBAs, member firms and external partners.
• Provide concise, decision-focused reporting on delivery status, risks, dependencies, costs, outcomes and required interventions.
• Support budget planning, forecasting, procurement, statements of work, contract management and vendor performance oversight.
• Ensure commercial commitments, deliverables and acceptance criteria are clear, traceable and actively managed.
• Support senior leadership discussions with evidence-based recommendations and clear decision requests.

Innovation and Strategic Contributions

• Contribute to the identification and integration of innovative technologies and practices to enhance technical delivery capabilities.
• Work closely with delivery leads and procurement to define project and RFP scope, coordinate evaluations, recommend partners and support contract and onboarding activities.
• Stay informed about emerging industry trends and provide strategic recommendations for their adoption.
• Collaborate with the Director to implement initiatives that support long-term organisational growth and scalability.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, information technology, business or a related field; an advanced degree or relevant professional qualification is desirable.
• 10+ years of experience in digital, technology, product, programme or delivery management, including significant leadership responsibility.
• At least three years’ experience in a senior management role within programme delivery.
• Demonstrable experience delivering complex digital products or platforms across multidisciplinary and geographically distributed teams.
• Practical experience of AI-enabled solution delivery, including governance, data, assurance, testing and operational considerations.
• Experience managing suppliers, commercial arrangements, budgets, delivery risks and executive stakeholders.
• Experience within a professional service, regulated or complex global environment is desirable.

Why BDO?

We inspire others, to go further

At BDO, your ideas matter. You're encouraged to think beyond the expected, explore new possibilities, and shape your own path. Here, you can make a meaningful impact, on your career, on your community, and on the future we build together.

We create together, to reach higher

We're a people‑powered organisation, united by our diverse strengths and shared ambition. You'll join a collaborative global team that values your perspective, amplifies your ideas, and supports your growth. Through global connections, shared knowledge, and opportunities for mobility, you'll be part of something bigger: creating solutions that matter.

We build trust, to lead purposefully

Your expertise drives real outcomes at BDO. You'll be part of an organisation that is trusted, recognised, and respected worldwide. With a strong commitment to integrity, sustainability, and positive impact, you'll be empowered to lead with purpose, both in the work you deliver, and in the communities where you live and work.

Privacy Statement

The BDO network is coordinated by Brussels Worldwide Services BV (BWS). By providing personal information during the application process, you consent to BWS processing your personal data for the purpose of treating your application, evaluating your candidacy, and contacting you about the position for which you have applied. We also may process your personal data to:

Evaluate you for any open positions throughout the BDO network.

Inform you of any other job opportunities.

You also agree that we may share such data with BDO firms and service providers, if relevant to this job application.

BWS does not collect 'sensitive' personal information except when voluntarily provided by the candidate as part of the application.

If you voluntarily provide sensitive personal information as part of your application, you consent to the use of that information by BWS for legitimate business purposes and the transfer and storage of such information to and in BWS databases.