Public Sector Resourcing
Head of Delivery
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On behalf of the MOD, we are looking for a Head of Delivery (Inside IR35) for a 6 Month hybrid contract based up to 3 days per week in Bristol. (some flexibility)
An active SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. (Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance.)
Role purpose
The Head of Delivery is accountable to the Programme Director for the end-to-end delivery of the Def HRS technical and functional solution - bringing design, build, test, data, cutover and release into a single, credible, evidence-based delivery plan, and holding the supplier / CSM / functional ecosystem to it. This role works closely with the Grade 6 Head of Programme Management.
This is a hands-on senior delivery role. The successful candidate will have personally led delivery on a large-scale ERP implementation and will be able to challenge a system integrator's plan, estimates, test evidence and cutover readiness on technical merit — not simply on RAG status.
Key accountabilities
Delivery leadership
- Own the integrated delivery plan across design, build, configuration, data migration, testing, cutover and hypercare, including critical path, dependencies and transition to the future operating model.
- Drive delivery to agreed schedule, scope and quality baselines; own forecasting, re-planning and options analysis when variance emerges.
- Lead release and cutover planning, including dress rehearsals, go / no-go criteria, contingency and rollback to any work that is required to be revisited.
Supplier and commercial delivery management
- Act as senior delivery counterpart to the system integrator and transformation delivery partner; hold suppliers to contracted deliverables/milestones in partnership with Commercial.
- Manage supplier mobilisation and transition between contract phases without loss of delivery momentum.
- Scrutinise change requests and resourcing profiles; challenge scope creep and unpriced assumptions.
Technical delivery assurance
- Assure the quality of Oracle Fusion HCM and payroll configuration and design decisions, working with Enterprise Architect Technical Design team and CSM Solution Architect and design authority to control extensions, customisations and technical debt.
- Own the test strategy and its execution
- Own data migration delivery — cleansing, mapping, load cycles, reconciliation and sign-off — recognising payroll accuracy as a non-negotiable outcome.
- Assure all activity to deliver Defence HRS recorded and delivered using programmatic controls e.g. RACI matrix
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Governance, risk and reporting
- Provide clear, honest delivery reporting to the Programme Board, SRO and Ministerial-level stakeholders; escalate early and with options.
- Own delivery risks and issues, including those associated with pausing, resequencing or compressing detailed design.
- Prepare the programme for, and respond to, IPA, Gate and internal assurance reviews.
Leadership
- Lead a matrixed delivery function of Civil Service, military and supplier staff; set standards, build capability and manage performance.
- Work in close partnership with the Head of Programme Management, Head of Change, Head of Product and CSM.
- Prepare the delivery organisation for transition into a continuous improvement operating state.
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable, personal experience of delivering at least one large-scale ERP implementation to go-live (Oracle Fusion) in an organisation of significant scale and complexity. Candidates must be able to describe their specific accountabilities, the decisions they made and the outcome.
- HCM and payroll domain depth — experience of payroll implementation including parallel running, gross-to-net validation, statutory reporting and the operational consequences of payroll failure.
- Cloud ERP delivery expertise — working knowledge of Oracle Fusion HCM including quarterly release management, configuration versus customisation trade-offs, and the discipline required to stay close to standard.
- Data migration leadership at scale, including reconciliation and sign-off of employee and payroll data from complex legacy estates.
- System integrator management — proven experience holding a major SI to account on a fixed-price or outcome-based contract, including managing contract change and disputed delivery.
- Integrated planning and critical path management across multi-supplier delivery, with credible estimation and re-planning under pressure.
- Senior stakeholder credibility — able to brief, influence and withstand challenge at board, 3-star and Ministerial level, and to translate technical delivery risk into business consequence.
- Leadership of large matrixed teams, including supplier resources, across dispersed locations.
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Desirable criteria
- Experience delivering ERP in a highly regulated, security-sensitive environment.
- Familiarity with the Project Delivery Functional Standard, IPA assurance and Green Book / business case disciplines.
- Experience of transitioning a major programme from implementation into continuous improvement or a product operating model.
- Project delivery or Agile certification (MSP, APM, PRINCE2, SAFe or equivalent experience)
Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.
Disability Confident
As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, the MOD guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.
This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.
Armed Forces Covenant
The MOD guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.
In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different."
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