Role Purpose
The Delivery Lead is responsible for driving high‑quality, predictable, and disciplined delivery across Agile squads. The role leads planning, estimation, reporting, and continuous improvement to ensure products and initiatives are delivered effectively, transparently, and with strong alignment between Product, Technology, and the business.
Contract – 6 months (with possibility to extentd)
Location – Waterside (UB7 0GB)
Hybrid – 3 days on site
Rate – attractive daily rate (inside IR35)
Key Responsibilities
Delivery Planning & Estimation
* Lead estimation at Product Release and Discovery/Stage levels using agile techniques.
* Ensure estimates are provided by the team and balance competing pressures from Product and Technology.
* Maintain an always‑up‑to‑date delivery plan, incorporating assumptions, historical velocity, and non‑build activity.
* Build and manage detailed Discovery plans with estimated activities, hypotheses, risks, and acceptance criteria.
* Ensure a visible and accurate release burndown for each build phase.
* Recalibrate plans continuously based on real delivery data.
Delivery Discipline, Culture & Ways of Working
* Champion a disciplined delivery culture where commitments are upheld and transparency is standard.
* Drive strong JIRA practices including daily updates, accurate due dates, and consistent ticket hygiene.
* Design and use JIRA queries to highlight delivery risks and issues.
* Promote a positive, fun, and accountable team environment.
* Monitor team performance and stakeholder sentiment to identify and address systemic issues early.
Risk, Issue & Dependency Management
* Own the RAID log and ensure proactive management of all risks and dependencies.
* Escalate blockers unresolved within 24 hours with clear ownership and documented actions.
* Ensure de‑risking is completed early through hypotheses, spikes, or technical investigations.
* Actively pursue and resolve dependencies.
Reporting & Governance
* Ensure timely and accurate delivery reporting aligned to senior leadership expectations.
* Use source‑generated data to minimise manual reporting.
* Provide clear delivery commentary including progress, risks, and implications.
Continuous Improvement
* Track and improve squad estimation accuracy and velocity.
* Identify and lead improvements across the idea‑to‑value value stream.
* Collaborate with Tech Leads to remove manual effort in build, testing, and deployment.
* Ensure technical debt is documented, sized, and planned.
* Improve delivery cost‑effectiveness.
Audit, Documentation & Information Management
* Ensure the squad remains audit‑ready with minimal manual effort.
* Drive automation of documentation such as release notes and test reports.
* Maintain organised, tagged, and accessible artefacts.
Resourcing & People Leadership
* Own squad resourcing within constraints.
* Set performance expectations and development plans.
* Manage underperformance promptly.
* Create conditions for building domain and business expertise.
Stakeholder & Relationship Management
* Build strong relationships with business stakeholders and customers.
* Regularly engage with stakeholders to understand context and needs.
* Partner with Product and Technology leads on scope and value delivery.
Partnership with Scrum Master
* Work with the Scrum Master to embed effective Scrum practices.
* Sign off sprint goals with the Product Lead.
* Ensure work is split into small, manageable increments.
Skills & Experience
Essential
* Experience leading Agile delivery.
* Strong agile estimation and planning capability.
* Advanced JIRA knowledge.
* Skilled at influencing across functions.
* Data‑driven decision making.
* Proven track record of improving delivery predictability.
* Strong risk and issue management.
Desirable
* Experience in complex transformation environments.
* Understanding of CI/CD and automation.
* Background in product‑centric delivery organisations.
Key Behaviours
* Ownership and accountability
* Disciplined and detail‑driven
* Transparent communicator
* Outcome‑focused
* Pragmatic under pressure
* Influences without authority
* Creates a high‑performance delivery culture