Agile Delivery Manager, GDS, Software, Government

Agile Delivery Manager, GDS, Software, Government

Job Title: Agile Delivery Manager - GDS Software Delivery

Location: Bristol 2 days on site and 3 days remote

Salary: up to £580/day Inside IR35

Contract Type: 6-12 months initial duration

About Us:
We are a forward-thinking organization, focused on delivering high-quality, user-centric software solutions for the public sector. As part of our ongoing commitment to innovation and transformation, we are seeking an experienced Agile Delivery Manager to lead the delivery of GDS (Government Digital Service) projects and manage relationships with offshore third-party support teams.

Role Overview:
As the Agile Delivery Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of software projects under the Government Digital Service (GDS) framework. You will lead cross-functional agile teams and work closely with offshore third-party vendors to manage the end-to-end delivery process. This includes coordinating with developers, business analysts, stakeholders, and technical leads to ensure timely and quality delivery.

You will play a pivotal role in fostering collaboration between onshore and offshore teams, ensuring transparency, managing risks, and driving continuous improvement in delivery practices.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Lead and manage agile delivery teams to deliver high-quality, GDS-compliant software products on time and within budget.
2. Facilitate agile ceremonies (e.g., daily stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives, reviews) to ensure efficient team collaboration.
3. Coordinate with offshore third-party support teams to ensure seamless delivery and support of software solutions.
4. Collaborate with Product Owners, Business Analysts, and key stakeholders to prioritize and manage the product backlog.
5. Ensure GDS compliance and governance frameworks are adhered to across the delivery lifecycle.
6. Identify risks and issues early, working with stakeholders to mitigate and resolve them effectively.
7. Promote continuous improvement in delivery processes, focusing on quality, speed, and value.
8. Monitor project progress, track key performance metrics, and report to senior stakeholders.
9. Foster a positive and inclusive team culture, ensuring strong communication and collaboration between all team members, both onshore and offshore.
10. Support and mentor team members in agile practices, helping them to grow professionally.

Required Skills & Experience:

1. Proven experience as an Agile Delivery Manager, with a strong track record of delivering software projects using Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, etc.).
2. In-depth knowledge of the Government Digital Service (GDS) guidelines and frameworks.
3. Experience managing offshore 3rd party support teams and vendors, with a strong ability to coordinate between diverse, remote teams.
4. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders effectively.
5. Strong understanding of software development processes, from design and development through to delivery and support.
6. Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
7. Experience with agile tools such as Jira, Confluence, and other project management tools.
8. A collaborative leadership style, with a focus on coaching teams and facilitating problem-solving.
9. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on delivering value to the end user.

Desirable Skills:

1. Experience working within public sector digital transformations and delivering GDS-compliant services.
2. Familiarity with cloud technologies (e.g., AWS, Azure).
3. Experience with DevOps or continuous integration/delivery (CI/CD) practices.
4. Knowledge of ITIL, Service Management, or IT Operations best practices.