The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

The Delivery Lead leads a team of delivery professionals responsible for ensuring the successful execution of product initiatives across the organisation. This strategic leadership role bridges the gap between product vision and operational execution, providing critical oversight of delivery processes while nurturing a high-performing team of agile practitioners.

As the delivery authority for the product area, this role ensures transparent, risk-managed, and efficient delivery of product plans while championing agile best practices. The Delivery Lead partners closely with the Head of Product and other key stakeholders to maintain alignment between delivery activities and organisational objectives.

In this role, you will have exceptional leadership abilities, deep agile expertise, and strong stakeholder management skills. You will create an environment where delivery managers can thrive, continuously improve, and deliver maximum value to the organisation.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide oversight of the delivery landscape for a product area, supporting the Head of Product with a summary view (and other key stakeholders, as required), in real time, to enable and ensure the successful execution of product delivery plans.

• Identify and manage risks and issues that span across the product area, acting as an escalation point for the delivery team and to support unblocking issues, and escalating to the Head of Product as appropriate.

• Lead an agile delivery team, providing coaching and mentor support to enable and empower the team to success; be a role model of agile delivery best practice, identifying and providing continuous development and training opportunities for the team.

• Drive delivery performance across the team, identifying and implementing process improvements, sharing best practices, and refining agile frameworks across teams and within the Delivery Community of Practice.

• Build an ecosystem for delivery success by creating an environment that empowers Delivery Managers to self-organise and provide coaching to unlock further value 

• Coordinate and manage delivery planning, sprint cycles, and delivery schedules across the product area, driving best practice and working closely with the Portfolio team and other product areas to ensure platform level oversight and consistency. 

• Manage change budget and resources across the portfolio of delivery for a product area.

• Ensure clear and timely progress communications with stakeholders at all levels. managing expectations throughout the delivery cycle; represent delivery at steering groups and other governance boards as required.

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification 

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Further Information

Next steps in the recruitment process

We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within two weeks of the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact it-services-recruitment@sheffield.ac.uk

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date : 09/11/2025 

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.