At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead bespoke software delivery for UK government clients and manage cross-functional teams.
- Company: Established tech firm specialising in custom software solutions for public sector.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, strong pension, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Opportunities for career growth to Principal/Portfolio-level roles.
- Why this job: Make a real impact with bespoke software that meets unique government needs.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in public sector delivery and eligible for SC clearance.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
At-a-Glance
Senior Delivery Manager roles, UK-wide Hybrid working: home-based with travel to client sites across the UK. Salary competitive, dependent on experience.
Own end-to-end delivery of genuinely bespoke, custom-built software for UK central government, not off-the-shelf platform rollouts. SC clearance eligibility required; healthcare or defence sector experience preferred.
About the Company
Our client is a well-established UK technology business that designs and builds bespoke software solutions for major government departments, with particular strength across defence and healthcare, rather than implementing off-the-shelf products. With a track record spanning decades of sustained public sector delivery, they combine deep domain expertise with modern agile engineering to solve problems that off-the-shelf products can't touch. It's a business built on long-term client trust, technical craft, and delivery leaders who take genuine ownership of custom-built outcomes.
The Role
You'll take end-to-end ownership of complex, custom-built software programmes for central government clients, every one built from the ground up rather than configured from an existing product. You'll sit at the centre of multidisciplinary agile teams, senior client stakeholders and technical architects, shaping how bespoke solutions get delivered into departments that off-the-shelf software can't serve. Prior delivery experience in defence or healthcare is a genuine advantage here, though not a requirement.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end delivery of bespoke, custom-built software programmes for UK government clients.
- Own client relationships at senior stakeholder level, acting as the trusted face of delivery.
- Drive agile ways of working across cross-functional engineering and design teams.
- Manage scope, budget, risk and timeline across concurrent bespoke build workstreams.
- Mentor delivery leads and project managers coming through the business.
- Translate government policy and departmental need into deliverable, custom technical roadmaps.
- Collaborate closely with technical architects to keep bespoke delivery grounded in what's buildable.
- Report progress and risk through formal government governance structures.
- Champion genuine consultancy delivery best practice across engagements.
- Support bid and proposal work where your domain expertise, particularly in defence or healthcare, strengthens the pitch.
What You'll Need
Essential:
- Genuine consultancy background: sustained client-facing delivery, not solely in-house.
- A track record delivering bespoke software into UK public sector/central government departments.
- 3+ years of public sector experience, sustained rather than scattered.
- Proven delivery of genuinely bespoke, custom-built software for public sector clients, not SaaS onboarding or off-the-shelf platform implementation.
- Eligible for SC clearance (no more than 30 days spent outside the UK in the past 5 years).
Desirable / Nice to Have:
- Delivery experience specifically within defence or healthcare.
- Formal delivery certification (Agile, PRINCE2, MSP or equivalent).
Why Apply?
- Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
- Hybrid working model with flexibility on home/site balance.
- Genuinely bespoke, ground-up software delivery work, not repetitive platform rollouts.
- Direct access to senior stakeholders and long-term programmes.
- Strong pension, private healthcare and generous annual leave.
- Clear route to Principal/Portfolio-level delivery roles.
- A business that backs delivery leaders to own their engagements properly.
Service Delivery Manager employer: Ocho
Join a forward-thinking UK technology company that is at the forefront of AI innovation, where you will have the opportunity to develop your skills in a supportive and fast-paced environment. With a strong emphasis on mentorship from senior engineers, flexible working patterns, and the chance to own your projects early on, this role offers a unique pathway for professional growth in AI engineering. The company's commitment to an AI-first culture ensures that you will be working with cutting-edge tools and technologies, making a real impact in complex customer environments.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Delivery Manager
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Ocho or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Ocho.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Ocho.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Ocho that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Service Delivery Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Ocho.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Ocho and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocho
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Ocho uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
