Delivery Lead

About Softwire

Softwire is a leading UK technology and strategy consultancy. From enterprise to government, we help visionary organisations turn strategic ambitions into results at scale. Our practices cover AI transformation, data platforms, systems engineering and experience design.

Softwire was founded on one simple idea: be the outstanding place to work for smart, passionate technologists who want to make an impact. Attract the best, create a culture where people thrive, and offer our customers access to capabilities that are truly market leading.

And it seems to be working - We were recently voted number 1 company to work for in the UK at the Best Company awards; we employ outstanding people across all capabilities (typical destinations after Softwire include Google, DeepMind, start-up founder, algorithmic trading, and AI research roles); and we have helped our clients deliver some of the hardest, most interesting tech programmes, across private and public sectors.

A big part of this is our culture and values and we are looking for people who share our core beliefs about what makes a great place to work:

• That if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing properly
• That work should be fulfilling but can also be fun
• That kindness matters and should be extended to employees and clients alike
• That by being trusting and trustworthy as an organisation and as individuals we can dispense with tedious bureaucracy and rules

The role

Delivery Leads are responsible for the successful delivery of our clients’ projects across the full lifecycle, from inception to launch and beyond. Typical project sizes range from 50 to 1,000 days, spanning financial services and insurance, energy and utilities, and healthcare. In a given year you might:

• Lead a team of eight rebuilding the purchase and claims journey for a large insurer, taking increasing conversions, with compliance and the operations floor bought into every change
• Take a smart metering data platform for an energy supplier from a two page brief to a live service, coordinating three delivery teams and a hardware partner, and helping the client work out which of their legacy reports are worth migrating
• Pick up a programme that has lost its sponsor’s confidence, find out what has actually gone wrong, and rebuild trust with a plan the client believes and reporting they can check.

You own the outcome. That means the project achieves what the client set out to achieve, and their experience of working with us is as good as the result. You keep the team motivated, supported and well briefed, deliver on time and within budget, give the client honest value for their money, and protect Softwire’s commercial position. Where those pull against each other, you raise it early rather than absorbing it.

You will often be involved from inception, working alongside service designers or on your own to understand what the client is really trying to achieve, then shaping the work around their business outcomes so delivery runs well for them and for the team.

You will also meet clients as part of the sales process and contribute to proposals, shaping how we would scope, structure and deliver the work.

Your Experience

• Have delivered projects within at least one of the following: Financial Services and Insurance, Energy and Utilities, or Healthcare; including working with senior stakeholders
• Have led projects for external clients in a consultancy or professional services setting, holding the client relationship alongside the delivery and working within the commercial and contractual terms of an engagement
• Have led projects that span the full business change lifecycle, not just the technology build, but the people, process, and organisational change needed to make it stick
• Have experience in process analysis and optimisation including techniques such as Value Stream Mapping to identify waste and drive meaningful improvements
• Have worked across programmes involving multiple teams, using scaled agile approaches such as SAFe, LeSS, or Scrum at Scale. Are familiar with lean/agile techniques tools and principles
• Have a history of solving problems, managing risks and overcoming challenges
• Have worked in multidisciplinary teams, including directly with developers and designers
• Are familiar with how AI tools are changing the way software teams work, and can factor this into planning, estimation, and ways of working
• Show evidence of a dedication to continuous improvement - both supporting/coaching a team and in your own ways of working

Your Approach

• Are comfortable taking the initiative and working with ambiguity
• Can communicate clearly including an ability to explain technical concepts to people with diverse backgrounds in a way that is meaningful to them
• Are interested in and familiar with how software is built and delivered, including knowing when things are technically easy or difficult. Have an equal interest in how business change is run to ensure technology projects are successful and vice versa.
• Are curious about emerging technologies, particularly AI, and bring a considered, practical view on how they can improve delivery outcomes
• Understand the commercial dynamics of client engagements and can balance client outcomes with Softwire's business interests

You may also

• Have experience in understanding clients needs and prioritising them into user stories
• Have worked in other delivery roles such as product ownership, business analysis or technical roles
• Have contributed to proposals or pre-sales activity, including scoping, estimating, or shaping how a project would be structured and delivered

Package

Softwire operates transparent pay scales and a profit share scheme based on role and overall company performance

• Base salary is based on experience in role and ranges from £58,100 - £65,600.
• You can expect to receive an average of between £5,750 and £7,500 in profit share depending on your experience and company performance.
• Pension: Additional 5% of salary

Additional benefits

• 25 days annual leave (with the option to buy 10 and sell 5)
• 3.5 days additional days off for company-wide morale activities
• AIG income protection
• Travel card loan scheme
• Zero emission car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity/paternity pay
• Time off for charitable activities
• Sabbatical available on request
• Payroll charity donations
• Headspace plus
• Free annual eye test
• Long service awards
• Flexible working options and patterns
• (Hybrid Working: Generally able to work at least 2dpw from home)