Lead Assurance & Standards Officer

As DT&D continues to evolve, we're looking for someone who can help modernise and improve our assurance approach, making it effective, scalable and proportionate. This is an opportunity to contribute to how assurance is delivered across a large and complex technology function, helping reduce unnecessary bureaucracy while ensuring teams have the support, governance and guidance they need to succeed.

•    Support project and programme assurance activities across DT&D
•    Coordinate assurance reviews, stage gates, expert panels and governance activities
•    Prepare, collate and manage assurance evidence, documentation and reporting
•    Analyse assurance data, findings and trends to identify themes, risks and opportunities for improvement
•    Help maintain consistent, proportionate and effective assurance processes across the delivery portfolio
•    Work with assurance and delivery colleagues to support learning, continuous improvement and good practice
•    Contribute to the ongoing evolution of assurance standards, frameworks and approaches
•    Help communicate assurance outcomes and insights to stakeholders across DT&D

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

•    Experience supporting project, programme or portfolio assurance activities within a delivery environment
•    A good understanding of project delivery frameworks, governance processes and assurance principles
•    Strong planning, organisation and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously
•    Experience working with assurance, project or portfolio data to identify themes, trends and areas for improvement
•    Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across teams
•    A continuous improvement mindset and an interest in modernising assurance practices (such as how we embrace AI)

We know some people may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement. At Co-op, we’re committed to building diverse and inclusive teams, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we still encourage you to apply.

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

•    An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
•    28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays 
•    A pension with up to 10% employer contributions 
•    Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ) 
•    30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands 
•    Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it 
•    Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice 
•    24/7 colleague support service 
•    Training and support for your development and career progression
•    Cycle-to-work scheme

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion.