Senior Program Manager; Public Sector

As a Principal Delivery Manager, you will be accountable for leading the successful and efficient delivery of digital transformation programmes across Kainos’s Public Sector client group portfolio.

Your focus will be on managing and strengthening delivery across multiple engagements, ensuring clear governance, effective collaboration, and achieving outcomes that meet client needs.

In addition to delivery leadership, you will drive account growth by identifying new opportunities, building relationships with Director and CxO-level stakeholders, and shaping proposals that reflect evolving client priorities.

You will take ownership of the demand for staff across your engagements and work closely with BU Operations to manage delivery capacity and resourcing decisions. Supporting and empowering teams is central to the role — helping individuals perform, learn, and grow in line with company values.

As a senior management role, you may also take on wider management responsibilities within the Public business and our broader Delivery capability as required.

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in programme management within the Public Sector, preferably central government.
• Proven experience planning, coordinating and managing complex programmes across multiple teams and suppliers, circa 50+ staff.
• Experience in leading bespoke software delivery.
• Experience in using agile methodologies.
• Proven track record of delivering complex £10m+ per annum programmes on time and within budget, in fast-moving, complex delivery environments and fixed delivery timescales. Managing multi-disciplinary teams, and achieving measurable outcomes for end users.
• Proven experience in a client‑facing environment, building and managing relationships with senior stakeholders at Director and/or CxO-level.
• Strong experience in managing and leading programme teams including line management responsibility. Proven ability to manage, motivate and empower teams and lead by example.
• Strong experience supporting business development and account growth, including contributing to strategic planning, identifying new opportunities, and helping shape and write compelling bid and tender responses. Confident working closely with account teams to align proposals with client needs and priorities.
• Experience leading or contributing to bid responses for Public Sector procurements, with a solid understanding of effective bid writing.
• Strong commercial awareness and sound understanding of project dynamics, particularly in a multi‑supplier environment.
• Experience of establishing and adhering to robust project governance and technical quality standards.
• Broad technology experience, awareness of current technology trends and a solid understanding of contemporary software engineering practices and behaviours.
• Strong ability to make reasoned decisions under pressure taking a balanced view of client demands, Kainos commercial interests and the impact on the Kainos team.
• Personal attributes: personable, credible and can communicate effectively with clients and colleagues, including formal presentations. Excellent interpersonal skills and strong negotiating prowess. Mature, firm but non‑confrontational style. A positive attitude to overcoming the challenges facing our clients.
• Highly flexible (including a willingness to work away from home base).

• Delivery leadership – own complex programme delivery, ensuring work streams are aligned to strategic goals and deliver measurable value. Focus extends beyond time, budget, and scope to include long‑term impact, client satisfaction, and continuous improvement.
• Assurance and governance – establish and maintain effective governance structures, ensuring clear accountability and robust risk management. Actively manage risks and issues, escalating where needed to protect delivery and maintain client confidence.
• Commercial management – meet or exceed profitability targets, while ensuring accurate, timely forecasting and reporting of key project metrics such as cost, revenue, and margin.
• Account growth – proactively identify and develop new opportunities to expand our footprint within the Public accounts you…