Senior Delivery Manager - Planning Inspectorate - SEO

Location

Bristol

About the job

Job summary

We’re looking for a Senior Delivery Manager to lead complex digital projects that improve how people experience the planning system. You’ll work with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high‑quality digital products and help us shape modern, user‑centred services across the Planning Inspectorate. 

The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on people’s lives, the communities where they live and the economy. 

We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.   

For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please visit our careers page at Civil Service Careers 

Job description

As a Senior Delivery Manager, you’ll guide the delivery of digital products from initial discovery through to live service. You’ll work with product owners, software engineers, testers and other specialists to understand user needs, plan delivery, and maintain momentum across multiple workstreams.

You’ll build strong relationships with stakeholders, support your team to remove blockers, and ensure delivery remains aligned to technical, security and organisational requirements. You’ll also mentor Delivery Managers and contribute to continuous improvement across the wider Digital & Data function. 

Your responsibilities will include: 

• Leading the end‑to‑end delivery of complex digital projects, ensuring progress against agreed time, cost and quality expectations. 
• Supporting multidisciplinary teams to deliver user‑focused products and enhancements. 
• Managing risks, issues, dependencies and change using appropriate digital delivery tools and processes. 
• Facilitating agile ceremonies, tracking delivery metrics, and resolving blockers. 
• Working with architecture, infrastructure and security teams to ensure designs meet organisational standards. 
• Planning releases into production, including go/no‑go reviews and transition into live service. 
• Monitoring and forecasting budgets, resources and delivery plans. 
• Building effective stakeholder relationships and ensuring clear, accessible communication. 
• Coaching and supporting Delivery Managers to develop their practice. 

Salary 

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. Internal rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest  

This role is being advertised at SEO grade with a starting salary of £46,689  

Working hours:  

Standard working week is 37 hours, flexible working hours policy available.

Office Attendance 

This role is contractually based in Bristol, 10 minute walk from Temple Meads train station. We recognise and value the mutual benefits of hybrid working and have a flexible approach to in person attendance, which can vary dependent on the requirements of individual business units - the details of which can be discussed with candidates if invited to attend an interview. 

Person specification

Essential Criteria  

• In‑depth understanding of the full Software Delivery Lifecycle. 
• Experience delivering digital products using agile and/or Waterfall approaches. 
• Practical experience of agile delivery management (lead sift criteria) 
• Experience managing delivery across a suite of digital products. 
• A proven ability to clearly communicate technical and complex matters to different audiences. 
• Experience using development methodologies such as Agile or RUP. 
• Demonstratable awareness of digital security standards. 

Success Profiles – Behaviours (assessed at sift and Interview) 

• Communicating and Influencing 
• Delivering at Pace 
• Managing a Quality Service 
• Seeing the Big Picture 

Experience (assessed at interview) 

• Evidence of delivering digital products across the full lifecycle. 
• Practical experience of agile delivery management. 
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams to deliver technical solutions. 
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly. 

Technical (assessed at interview) 

• A Jira‑board activity will test your ability to interpret delivery information and discuss priorities, risks and next steps. 

For guidance on how to structure your application please visit:  About the application process , Civil Service Careers