Head of Delivery

Red Ember Recruitment is seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Delivery on behalf of our client. This leadership role is responsible for the end-to-end delivery of programmes, projects, products, and services across both commercial and funded programme environments. The successful candidate will drive operational excellence, lead high-performing delivery teams, and ensure all initiatives are delivered on time, within budget, and to agreed quality standards. Delivery Leadership & Governance Develop and implement delivery strategies across portfolios, programmes, and projects. Align delivery execution with organisational objectives and client expectations. Establish governance frameworks, standards, reporting structures, and performance measures. Provide regular delivery updates and insights to executive leadership. Operational Excellence Lead day-to-day delivery operations, ensuring quality, consistency, and efficiency. Drive continuous improvement through process optimisation and automation initiatives. Pro-actively manage delivery risks, dependencies, and escalations. Ensure compliance with internal policies, service-level agreements, and regulatory requirements. Programme & Project Management Oversee the full project lifecycle from initiation through to closure. Prioritise projects based on business value, capacity, and risk. Manage resource planning and utilisation across multiple delivery teams. Resolve cross-functional delivery challenges and remove operational blockers. Leadership & Team Development Lead, mentor, and develop Delivery Managers, Project Managers, and delivery teams. Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, and high performance. Identify capability gaps and implement succession planning and development initiatives. Foster effective collaboration between business, technology, and support functions. Stakeholder & Client Engagement Act as the senior escalation point for clients and key stakeholders. Manage stakeholder expectations and communicate delivery progress effectively. Build trusted long-term partnerships that enhance service delivery and client satisfaction. Financial & Commercial Management Manage delivery budgets and cost controls. Ensure programmes and projects achieve commercial objectives and return on investment. Support forecasting, billing accuracy, and financial reporting. Funded Programme Delivery Support and oversee the implementation of funded programmes, including SETA and discretionary grant initiatives. Ensure compliance with SETA, QCTO, learnership, skills programme, and occupational qualification requirements. Build and maintain relationships with SETAs, QCTO, and funding partners. Ensure funded programmes are delivered effectively within established frameworks and timelines. Requirements Relevant qualification in Project Management, Operations Management, Business Management, Technology, or a related field. Professional certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, or equivalent are advantageous. 5–8+ years' experience within SETA, QCTO, funded programme delivery, operations, or programme leadership environments. Proven experience managing large and complex delivery portfolios. Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams. Strong understanding of funded programme environments, learnerships, and skills development initiatives. Experience with project management and delivery platforms such as Smartsheet or similar tools. Ability to develop dashboards, trackers, governance reports, and executive-level management reporting. Strong operational planning and resource management capabilities. Strategic thinker with a strong execution focus. Results-driven leadership style. Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills. Strong commercial and operational acumen. High levels of accountability and ownership. Ability to influence, lead change, and drive delivery excellence. Sound knowledge of SETA, QCTO, and funded programme frameworks.