Senior Delivery Manager x3

Introduction: We are seeking an experienced Senior Delivery Manager to lead the delivery of strategic change projects within Arts Council England. This is a pivotal role focused on delivering complex service redesign and transformation initiatives. You will work at the centre of multidisciplinary teams, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to a high standard, while supporting our ambition to become a more user-centred organisation.

Arts Council England invests in creativity and culture so that everyone in England can experience and benefit from it. Joining us means contributing to meaningful, values-led work that supports communities across the country.

Role Details: As Senior Delivery Manager, you will lead the planning and delivery of complex change projects, working collaboratively across the organisation and with external partners. You will define delivery approaches, establish Agile and Lean ways of working, and ensure projects are effectively structured to achieve their intended outcomes. You will oversee timelines, manage risks, and proactively remove blockers to maintain momentum and support teams in delivering high-quality work. A key part of the role involves building and leading multidisciplinary teams. You will create a collaborative, motivated environment where teams are focused on priorities and able to deliver effectively. You will also support continuous improvement by encouraging experimentation, evaluating outcomes, and adapting ways of working where needed. You will play a central role in identifying and simplifying complex organisational processes, supporting teams to implement improved approaches. You will act as a bridge between technical and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring clear communication, managing expectations, and maintaining alignment across projects. The role also includes responsibility for engaging and managing external suppliers where specialist expertise is required. This includes procurement, contract management, and ensuring value for money. You will contribute to programme communications, ensuring stakeholders are informed and engaged throughout delivery. You will work closely with colleagues across IT, Finance, HR, Data, Procurement and Digital Transformation. Occasional travel, including overnight stays, may be required.

About You: You will bring significant experience of delivering complex projects in medium to large organisations, ideally within a service design or transformation context. You will have a strong understanding of Agile and Lean methodologies, with the ability to apply them flexibly depending on project needs. You are comfortable working in complex environments, navigating ambiguity and competing priorities with confidence. You are an effective leader and collaborator, able to influence and motivate others without necessarily having direct line management responsibility. You build strong relationships, communicate clearly, and create an environment where teams can perform at their best. You will have experience of managing budgets and working with external suppliers, including procurement and contract management. Strong problem-solving and risk management skills are essential, along with the ability to anticipate challenges and respond proactively. You are committed to continuous improvement and learning, both for yourself and the teams you work with, and bring resilience and adaptability to your work. A relevant project management qualification or Agile certification (such as ScrumMaster) would be beneficial. Experience in the public sector or similarly complex, values-led organisations would be advantageous. Delivery experience in an IT setting would be beneficial.