Application Deadline: 26 September 2025

Department: IT Services

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Newquay, Cornwall, UK

Description

The Senior Delivery Manager (SDM) is responsible for successfully delivering IT based change in a large complex environment, leading a diverse multi-skilled team. The SDM will have expertise in either - or both - Agile and Waterfall delivery methods, and manage change initiatives from start to finish, including Procurement, and Finance and Budget Management. In addition to delivery framework expertise, the post holder will be required to build positive working relationships across a wide stakeholder community including external partner organisations, to ensure that the expected outputs and outcomes of change initiatives are delivered effectively and efficiently.

Accountabilities

• Successfully deliver complex IT change in line with the King’s change delivery standards.
• Manage IT procurement activities in conjunction with Procurement, Supplier Management, and IT Solutions colleagues
• Authoritative knowledge of the work practices, processes and procedures relevant to the role and specialist work practices and/or professional guidelines relevant to the work area
• Drive the creation of benefits realisation plans
• Demonstrate managerial skills such as coaching, motivation, managing performance

For Waterfall specialists

• Define, document, and successfully deliver IT projects in line with the King’s project delivery standards.
• Plan, identify, and secure resources to support a successful outcome of work packages of the project
• Monitor resource utilisation and expenditure against budget
• Produce plan and budget reports to assist in the approval and management of projects as well as briefings and other related project governance communications
• Manage IT procurement activities in conjunction with Procurement, Supplier Management, and IT Solutions colleagues. This can include tender development, evaluation, shortlisting, supplier selection and contract negotiation
• Provide mentoring advice and guidance to less experienced colleagues as required
• Matrix manage staff, contractors and vendors where necessary
• Ensure that project, quality, change control and risk management processes are maintained
• Contribute to the creation of benefits realisation plans as part of each project

For Agile specialists

• Act as a servant leader and coach for an Agile team, facilitating team events and processes as well as supporting teams and Agile Release Trains (ART)s in delivering value.
• Educate the team in Scrum, Built-in-Quality, Kanban and SAFe, ensuring that the agreed Agile processes are followed.
• Improve flow by removing impediments and foster an environment for high-performing team dynamics, continuous flow and relentless improvement
• Assist decision makers with the review, prioritisation and optimisation of the portfolio
• Build high-performing teams by coaching, fostering collaboration, resolving conflicts and developing team skillsets

Knowledge, Experience & Skills

• Experience of managing the activities of self and/or others.
• Change delivery skills that may have been gained/be identifiable through previous experience.
• A direct managerial track record.
• Authoritative knowledge of the work practices, processes and procedures relevant to the role and specialist work practices and/or professional guidelines relevant to the work area.
• Sector/commercial awareness.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of systems/services in own area and their varied applications.
• Managerial skills such as coaching, motivation, managing performance.
• Financial training relevant to the management and control of budgets, or experience of managing budgets.

For Waterfall

• Prince2 Practitioner, APMP PMQ, PMI PMP
• Excellent project planning and dependency management skills
• Knowledge of contract lifecycles, vendor management and procurement

For Agile

• SAFe Scrum Master or SAFe Advanced Scrum Master certification

Communication & Networking

• Communicate information clearly and precisely.
• Comprehend and communicate highly complicated or abstract information understandable only to specialists.
• Deliver outcomes, influence events, or establish long-term relationships for the benefit of oneself and others.

Decision Making, Planning & Problem Solving

• Manage work resources and plan projects, ensuring efficient resource utilization
• Responsible for planning and leading significant streams of work, possibly influencing the strategic direction of the domain.
• Resolve predictable problems and find solutions to complex, infrequent issues using judgment

Teamwork, & Development

• Team Development is a crucial part of the role, including assessing training needs and facilitating interventions.
• Train or coach others, ensuring learning has occurred and providing feedback as needed.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Key Skills & Experience Required

There are a number of duties and responsibilities that we ask all employees to be familiar with and adhere to.

We ask that the successful candidate:

• Positively contributes to an environment at King’s that truly represents Our Principles in Action and where every individual feels safe, secure and supported.
• Always complies with the requirements of health and safety regulations to ensure their own wellbeing and that of their colleagues.
• Has an understanding of sustainability, including its impact on the University and the work we do, and engages in sustainable practices in the workplace.
• Ensures they are working in a safe environment, where they comply with our Health and Safety regulations and ensure confidentiality, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity.
• Complies with King’s protocols on the appropriate use of telephone, email and internet facilities.

Essential

• Education to degree standard and/or equivalent qualifications / experience
• Recognised Project Management Certification or Agile Delivery certification e.g., Prince2 Practitioner, APMP PMQ, SAFe Certified Scrum Master
• Experienced at providing expertise managing delivering value with a diverse team
• Significant experience of managing, inspiring, engaging and motivating a team, using interpersonal skills to achieve excellent results
• Ability to identify and manage priorities, whilst considering the needs of a diverse range of stakeholders
• Excellent presentation skills and the ability to communicate confidently, articulating ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Significant experience of working with third parties to deliver IT Solutions

Desirable

• ITIL Foundation qualifications
• Line management of other Project Managers
• Additional desirable domain experience as listed in the role advertisement, likely to be immediately relevant to the role

Employee Benefits

• Hybrid Working - Minimum of 5 days per month in the office
• 10% Performance related bonus
• 30 Days holiday and maximum of 8 public holidays (pro-rata)
• Sick pay
• 4 Discretionary Christmas Closure Days
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life Assurance cover
• Service time - 3 Volunteer days per year
• Free onsite parking & Bike racks
• Annual leave purchase scheme - up to a maximum of 10 days (subject to national minimum wage requirements)
• Student Discount (access to Totum, Unidays & Student Beans)
• CycleScheme
• TechScheme
• Opportunities for formal training and professional certification
• Free access to Linkedin Learning
• Free access to Future Learn short courses
• Potential for internal promotion and advancement

Equality, diversity & inclusion

We are an inclusive and welcoming employer that encourages a wide range of applicants. We embrace diversity and want everyone to be able to bring their whole selves to work and succeed.

This is in line with King\u2019s College London (KCL).