Job summary

We are MHCLG

Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives. Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we’re all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda.

Local AI is a new team within MHCLG, working with councils to unlock the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in local public services. We support the responsible adoption of AI across local government, focusing on practical tools that save time, reduce costs and improve services for residents.

Local AI’s goal is not simply to introduce new technology. We work with councils and partners to solve real service challenges where AI can make the biggest difference.

Our work spans product development, service transformation, capability building and shaping the wider adoption of AI across local government. Recent examples include Local Transcribe our work supporting councils to responsibly adopt AI, and looking at how AI can play a role in temporary accommodation.

Joining Local AI offers a rare opportunity to help shape how one of the most significant changes of our time is applied in public services. You will work alongside experts from local and central government, academia and industry to test new ideas, deliver practical solutions and help improve outcomes for millions of people who rely on local services every day.

As a Senior Delivery Manager, you will lead the delivery of some of Local AI’s most important products and services, helping multidisciplinary teams deliver real impact for councils and residents. Alongside leading delivery, you will play a key role in developing delivery capability within the team, coaching and mentoring Delivery Managers while helping shape how Local AI grows and scales as a new organisation.

Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog.  Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment. 

Job description

The Senior Delivery Manager is accountable for the effective performance of teams and delivery of products and services. As a Senior Delivery Manager, you'll:

• Build, lead and optimise the delivery flow of teams ensuring they are motivated, collaborating and working well

• Plan and manage work to help teams deliver high-quality services for users and the department by identifying and challenging processes that are unnecessarily complicated

• Lead a continual planning process, planning beyond product delivery and ensure the teams missions and dependencies are articulated in a delivery plan with objectives detailed in quarterly cycle

• Create a team culture where people feel included, valued, and confident to share ideas and challenge thinking. 

• Lead the work of the team, ensuring close coordination with product managers, UCD leads, and technical leads to deliver complex AI projects in fast-changing environments.

• Support and develop delivery managers and team members through coaching and mentoring.

• Manage budgets, resources, onboarding, and supplier relationships and contribute into business cases, including submissions to (PAB) and can communicate business-value propositions

Person specification

As Senior Delivery Manager, you’ll have: 

• Experience leading and motivating multidisciplinary teams in Agile environments.

• Strong ability to manage risks, issues, blockers, and dependencies.

• A commitment to building inclusive, collaborative teams.

• Experience managing budgets, resources, and supplier relationships.

• Good understanding of Agile and Lean ways of working, with experience planning, tracking and reporting on delivery.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, adapting your approach to different audiences.

• Ability to improve team performance and resolve complex issues, including those involving multiple teams or unclear ownership.

• Experience of planning and managing work in quarterly cycles ensuring accountability through delivery metrics such as OKRs

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,092, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £16,829 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Application and Selection  The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles: 

Behaviours ,  Experience , Technical 

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information. 

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link. 

Stage 1: Sift (CV) 

Experience: Your CV will be assessed against the criteria in the job description and person specification.

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.  

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead sift question listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview. 

Lead sift question (Experience): Tell us about a time you helped lead a team to deliver work, manage blockers and keep things moving. (250 words)

Stage 2: Interview     

• Behaviours: Changing and Improving, Developing Self and Others, and Communicating and Influencing

• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description. 

• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description. 

Sift and Interview Dates 

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 14th September 2026. 

Interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change. 

How We Recruit 

Find out everything you need to know before applying here.. 

• Applying 

• Sifting 

• Interview 

• Interview Results & Feedback 

• Reserve List 

• Near Miss 

• Civil Service Grades 

• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer 

• Reasonable Adjustments 

Human 

How to Apply 

What you need to know before applying. 

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly. 

• Security Clearance Requirements 

• Civil Service Nationality Requirements 

• Right to Work 

• Artificial Intelligence 

• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles 

• CV Declaration 

• Sponsorships 

• Salary and Grade 

• Existing Civil Servants 

• Conflict of Interest 

• Location and Flexible Working 

• Fixed Term Contracts 

• Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register 

• Appeals and Complaints 

• Conflict of Interest 

 Security Clearance Requirements 

National Office: BPSS

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals

• nationals of the Republic of Ireland

• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)

• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).