Tech Portfolio Delivery Lead (Senior Pod Lead)

Company:

Description:

What can you expect:

Our scaled Agile Delivery Methodology is transforming our IT teams in cohorts of Pods and Squads.  If a Squad is defined as the smallest number of people required to deliver product functionality to market, then a Pod is the smallest number of Squads required to deliver a complex product or collection of integrated products to market.  Pods exist to create Products and services that deliver on business focused Missions. Some portfolios of product have multiple Pods, which are overseen by a Tech Portfolio Delivery Lead (internally known as a Senior Pod Lead). This role will be based in Dublin, Ireland. This is a hybrid role that has a requirement of working at least three days a week in the office.

We in Product Delivery Engineering are on a mission: to transform the way our Mercer business and IT teams work together to unlock the benefits of rapid delivery of quality, secure software to market by empowered teams.  We will do this by rolling out our Agile@Scale Delivery model.  You will lead several Pods in the MMB portfolio and will be responsible for their delivery of working software through to production. Three Pod Leads, responsible for multiple teams and products) will report to you.

Mercer Marsh Benefits (MMB, part of Marsh McLennan) is a world leader in workplace health and benefits. We provide broking, consulting and technology support to build the right benefits strategy for business and employees, from large multinational firms down to SMEs. MMB was born out of the unification of Mercer and Marsh, the world’s best HR consultancy, the global leader in people risk advisory and the number one disruptive benefits technology firm to form one unique business. Together, we have shaped some of the world’s most loved employee benefit experiences for small companies, growing enterprises and global firms.

MMB is 7,000 strong, on the ground in 73 countries, and servicing clients in more than 150 countries with annual revenues of circa $1.1bn and is continuing to bring local expertise to more places and work side-by-side with our clients, and our Mercer and Marsh colleagues around the world.

We will rely on you to:

• Run the software delivery Pods ensuring there are smooth and efficient processes for getting software through from requirements to working in production.
• Focus on value creation, growth and serving customers.
• Responsible for ensuring your pods are resourced with skilled individuals working with our internal resource provider teams e2e Delivery of a group of software Products.
• Be a leader for between 2-5 pods: around 30 – 150 people.
• You will have an Enterprise mind-set able to foster collaboration, break down silos, identify and work to remove blockers.
• You will be a recognised Agile Expert intimately familiar with the processes and practices required for successful and sustainable delivery.
• Solid understanding of Software Development, Architecture, Test Engineering and Security best practice in an Agile environment.
• Responsible for the holistic costs of the pods; its resources, infrastructure and licensing.
• Pods support the full lifecycle of products and we operate on the philosophy that the work comes to the team.
• Ensure our Agile at scale governance and ceremonies are in place and effective across all Pods.
• You will provide coaching and support to your pods and squads, and be responsible for line management of Pod Leads.
• You will manage or execute Value Stream Identification and Mapping in your portfolio, and implement any change to improve the organization of teams as a result.
• You will co-ordinate the reception and industrialisation of AI initiatives into the Portfolio.

What you need to have:

• Significant organisational Agile transformation experience and be able to demonstrate proven strategies. 
• Previous experience of senior Agile Programme management eg (Solutions Train Engineer, Senior Tribe Lead or Lean Portfolio Manager role).
• You will be expected to have a broad technical understanding to support your Agile credentials from software architecture through test, DevOps practices, security and operational run.
• A metrics driven approach to delivery analysis and drive out systems and processes that help define and report on the metrics we believe to be important.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills.  As we work to transform the Mercer IT and Business into a truly Agile organisation you will need to influence and coach senior executives, many of whom will be new to Agile.

What makes you stand out:

• Pods and squads are distributed globally and utilise a mix of permanent and partner staff who work largely remotely so experience of working with and motivating distributed teams is vital.
• Financially astute you will instil Financial Management Disciplines into your team and be accountable for Engineering Delivery spend reporting and tracking.
• Experience of a wide range of Technology roles is desirable, ideally with some form of development engineering or senior Agile Programme management background.
• Rounded and holistic understanding of Agile Methodologies such as SAFe, Spotify or Scrum@Scale, plus ICP-ACC Certifications or their equivalent.
• Experience of Value Stream Identification and Mapping.
• Experience of managing the industrialisation and implementation of AI models into existing applications.

Why join our team:

• We help you be your best through professional development opportunities, interesting work and supportive leaders.
• We foster a vibrant and inclusive culture where you can collaborate with talented colleagues to create new solutions and have impact for colleagues, clients and communities.
• Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities. 

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