Delivery Lead

Who we are

We are an organisation that exists to drive progress. That's the “red thread” that connects everyone at The Economist Group (TEG). Our businesses share a devotion to innovation, independence and rigour in their fields of expertise. We empower people to understand and tackle the critical challenges and changes facing the world. Our analytical rigour, global expertise and evidence-based insights enable individuals and organisations to make sense of these shifts and chart a course through them.

We deliver analysis and insights in many formats to subscribers and clients in 170 countries through our four businesses, The Economist, Economist Impact, Economist Intelligence and Economist Education, which uphold our global reputation for excellence and integrity. 

Introduction to the role

We are seeking a Delivery Lead to join The Economist Group’s Technology team. The role will help plan, manage and deliver the roadmaps across two of our EIU teams within Economist Enterprise. These teams develop the platforms that provide EIU’s world-class economic analysis, forecasts, and data to help businesses, financial institutions, and governments understand economic developments and make informed decisions.

You will work closely with your product managers and engineering managers across multiple teams to ensure end-to-end delivery and continuous improvement of the Agile ecosystem. It is important you have experience working with scaled agile frameworks. 

The Economist’s Technology and Product teams are a passionate group of digital professionals who manage various internal and customer-facing products and services. We are a multi-disciplinary group working in a fast-paced and collaborative environment. We value honest opinion and open debate. We’re in the business of building modern, state-of-the-art products, and delivering a first-rate user experience. 

In this role you will be expected to:

• Lead and manage multiple squads. Perform the role of Delivery Lead and Scrum Master.
• Use delivery metrics to optimise team planning, estimation and ways of working.
• Deliver complex “end-to-end” initiatives that touch upon multiple teams.
• Review end-to-end delivery and agile ways of working to ensure the teams are working optimally across product, design, engineering and QA.
• Manage detailed, predictable monthly roadmap plans (Jira Plan aka Advanced Roadmaps), quarterly roadmaps (e.g. Jira Product Discovery), and team capacity plans (Google <> Jira integrated worksheets).
• Ensure the overall integrity, predictability and visibility of the roadmap.
• Identify, eliminate and proactively manage dependencies between teams.
• Proactively monitor progress, so that you then take responsibility to take corrective action (e.g. to monitor fragmentation to resolve poorly managed dependencies).
• Liaise and coordinate third party suppliers and dependencies to deadlines.
• Report delivery progress at regular intervals through status reporting, and comms to exec stakeholders.
• Contribute and get buy-in to the Delivery function’s strategic goals of Visibility, Predictability and Collaboration.
• Willingness to grow, as we scale the organisation.
• Although this remit requires specific data platform domain experience, the role itself is not domain specific. Product pillars (in any mature organisation) don’t remain static, and so as the organisation evolves you may move from domain to domain depending on demand.

Essential skills and knowledge 

• Significant experience within B2C or B2B product development.
• Experience coordinating and managing dependencies across multiple (including external) teams.
• Simultaneous management of multiple software development teams.
• Strong understanding of a variety of Agile approaches e.g. Scrum, Kanban, scaled Agile. Willing to not be prescriptive, and instead adapt ways of working.
• Use agile metrics (cycle time, throughput, Monte Carlo) to optimise team planning, estimation and ways of working.
• Advanced user of Google Suite (including Jira integrations), Miro for workshop facilitation, Jira and Confluence.
• Excellent coaching and mentoring skills - leading in Communities of Practices.
• Significant experience of successfully managing and delivering complex projects.
• Experience managing multiple software development teams. 
• Experience coordinating and managing dependencies across multiple (including external) teams.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and able to challenge and influence decisions.
• Established leadership, time management, facilitation, and organisational skills.
• Ability to understand and articulate technical ideas clearly.
• Pragmatic and flexible, with a willingness to take on different roles and responsibilities in order to successfully deliver business initiatives.

Good to have

• Delivery experience working with data platforms, forecasting, modelling and data products would be beneficial
• Vendor and contract management.
• Understanding of product management methodology and practices.

#LI-Hybrid 

Working Arrangements

The majority of our roles operate on a hybrid working pattern, with 3+ days office attendance required. 

AI usage for your application

We are an innovative organisation that encourages the use of technology. We recognise that candidates may utilise AI tools to support with their job application process. However, it is essential that all information you provide truthfully and accurately reflects your own experience, skills, and qualifications.

What we offer

Our benefits package is designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance. It includes a highly competitive pension or 401(k) plan, private health insurance, and 24/7 access to counselling and wellbeing resources through our Employee Assistance Program.

We also offer a range of lifestyle benefits, including our Work From Anywhere program, which allows you to work from any location where you have the legal right to do so for up to 25 days per year. In addition, we provide generous annual and parental leave, as well as dedicated days off for volunteering and even for moving home.

You will also be given free access to all The Economist content, including an online subscription, our range of apps, podcasts and more.