Delivery Principal

The Delivery Principal is a key leadership role responsible for the successful delivery of projects and driving growth within a client account. This role will oversee the delivery of complex solutions and services, including application modernisation and digital transformation initiatives, leveraging cloud technologies (Azure, AWS). The Delivery Principal will work closely with cross-functional teams and clients to ensure the highest standards of governance, quality, and client satisfaction are maintained throughout the lifecycle of large and complex projects. Additionally, you will play a critical role in revenue forecasting, ensuring accurate financial tracking, and implementing contingency plans when actual results deviate from forecasted targets. The role also includes line management responsibilities, ensuring that team members are well supported and developed. A deep understanding of both Agile and Waterfall project management methodologies is essential to drive continuous delivery and improve project outcomes, adapting to the needs of each specific project.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Successful Delivery Management:
   • Lead and oversee the end-to-end delivery of complex projects within the Private Sector.
   • Ensure the effective application of governance, quality standards, and metrics to ensure the successful outcome of all projects.
   • Drive the delivery of digital transformation solutions, focusing on application modernisation, cloud adoption, and service/product/platform delivery.
2. Account Growth and Development:
   • Partner with clients to drive account growth through successful project delivery and by identifying new opportunities within the account.
   • Drive business development activities, including presales, written bid responses, and formal client presentations.
   • Develop and nurture client relationships, ensuring long-term partnerships and repeat business.
3. Revenue Forecasting and Financial Management:
   • Own the revenue forecasting process for your accounts, ensuring accurate and timely projections based on project milestones, client spend, and resource allocation.
   • Continuously track actual project performance against forecasted revenue and proactively identify and address discrepancies.
   • In instances where actuals fall behind forecast, develop and implement a Plan B to close the gap, including strategies for accelerating delivery, identifying additional business opportunities, or re-aligning resources.
4. Cross-functional Collaboration:
   • Work as part of a cross-functional team, ensuring effective collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
   • Manage multi-supplier engagements, ensuring coordination and alignment across diverse teams to meet client expectations and project goals.
5. Team Leadership and Development:
   • Lead, motivate, and empower large delivery teams to perform at their best, fostering a positive and inclusive culture aligned with the company’s core values.
   • Ensure the teams are well-equipped to deliver high-quality solutions, while supporting their development through coaching, mentoring, and feedback.
6. Client Communication and Negotiation:
   • Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, providing strategic guidance and ensuring project alignment with business objectives.
   • Negotiate effectively with clients, vendors, and internal stakeholders to drive project success and manage expectations.
7. Solution Delivery Excellence:
   • Apply user research and design thinking disciplines within solution delivery to ensure the solutions meet user needs and deliver measurable business outcomes.
   • Continuously monitor project performance and identify areas for improvement, driving continuous delivery excellence.
8. Agile and Waterfall Delivery approach:
   • Leverage your knowledge of both Agile and Waterfall approaches to guide teams in selecting the best approach for each project, ensuring flexibility and adaptability.
   • For projects that benefit from flexibility and iterative progress, lead with Agile practices such as sprints, stand-ups, retrospectives, and continuous delivery.
   • For projects requiring structured, sequential delivery, utilize the Waterfall methodology to ensure clear phases, timelines, and milestones are met.
   • Ensure that appropriate Agile and Waterfall practices are applied at the right stages of each project, balancing the needs of the client with the delivery approach best suited to project complexity and scope.

Core Competencies:

• Leadership: Ability to lead large, diverse teams, fostering collaboration, and creating an inclusive, high-performance culture.
• Client-Centric: Focused on understanding and meeting client needs, building long-term relationships.
• Strategic Thinking: Strong ability to manage and deliver complex projects while identifying opportunities for growth and innovation.
• Financial Acumen: Ability to drive accurate forecasting, manage budgets, and take corrective action when actuals deviate from forecasts.
• Delivery Excellence: Committed to maintaining high standards of delivery, governance, and quality throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Challenges:

• Navigating the complexities of multi-supplier engagements and ensuring alignment across diverse teams.
• Balancing the demands of client satisfaction and business development while maintaining operational efficiency.
• Ensuring continuous improvement in delivery processes, particularly within the context of cloud adoption and digital transformation.
• Managing financial performance and maintaining accurate revenue forecasts. In cases where actuals are behind forecast, you will need to develop and execute a Plan B to bring the project back on track.
• Effectively applying Agile and Waterfall methodologies in different project contexts, adapting to each project's specific needs.
• Line management responsibilities, ensuring team members receive the support and development needed to succeed in complex projects.

Key Qualifications:

• Experience:
  • Significant experience in managing successful outcomes and driving delivery in the Private or Public Sector.
  • Ideally have some experience with Pharma & Life Sciences or Manufacturing 
  • Proven track record in application modernisation and digital transformation, with hands-on experience using cloud technologies (Azure, AWS).
  • Experience in delivering applications, services, products, or platforms—at least 3 out of these 4 categories.
  • Strong background in managing large, complex delivery teams and multi-supplier engagements.
• Skills:
  • Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage credibly and effectively with clients at all levels.
  • Strong commercial awareness and a deep understanding of the challenges involved in multi-supplier, large-scale projects.
  • Experience in presales and business development, including the creation of bid responses and formal client presentations.
  • Ability to apply user research and design thinking methodologies to enhance solution delivery and client outcomes.
  • Strong financial acumen with the ability to forecast revenue accurately and manage project budgets to ensure profitability.
  • Deep experience with both Agile and Waterfall methodologies, including the ability to select and apply the appropriate approach depending on project requirements.
  • Experience with line management, including team development, mentoring, and performance management.