Embedded delivery and leadership
Hands-on delivery support, when you need it most
Embedded delivery leadership works alongside teams as a senior or lead Delivery Manager, Head of Delivery, or Delivery Director, taking ownership of day-to-day delivery while building confidence and capability.
Whether starting something new, scaling up, or regaining control of a complex initiative, this approach provides practical, people-centred delivery leadership shaped by real-world experience across public and private sectors.
“Jon is a star and one of the finest delivery people I’ve worked with.
He is incredibly warm and people focused. He is also very strong in terms of planning, risks and all the harder project management elements of being a delivery person.
In this role as Head of Delivery for the Funding Service in MHCLG, he’s helped the team through difficult problems of both kinds: people problems and tough delivery milestones. He’s coached new delivery people and shown up to talk and mentor at the wider community of practice.
One of my favourite things about Jon is that when we have a 1-1, he will tell me calmly about some of the problems that he’s dealing with and then say, “but there’s nothing to worry about and I don’t need anything from you”. I know he will then go and handle those problems.”
What this looks like in practice
Jon can join your team at any stage and adapt to what you need most, including:
Leading and coordinating cross-functional teams
Planning and managing delivery across discovery, alpha, beta, and live phases
Improving ways of working, governance, and delivery confidence
Mentoring and supporting delivery managers and leaders
Bringing structure and momentum to complex or pressured environments
How this looks in the real world
Working with the Department for Education, Jon led the delivery of a service - from discovery to private beta - designed to help researchers access the National Pupil Database, one of the UK’s most sensitive datasets.
The project required navigating a complex landscape of data privacy, policy requirements, and technical constraints. By focusing on a clear, user-centred roadmap and maintaining a composed approach to governance, he guided the multidisciplinary team through successful Service Assessments.
The result was a trusted, live service that simplifies how researchers explore attainment and SEND data, making a tangible difference to national education insights.
Experience you can rely on
Jon has delivered 50+ projects and services for organisations including:
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Department for Education
NHS England
Barnet Council
University of Sheffield
University of Salford
HSBC
Co-op
That experience means he’s comfortable working in complex environments, navigating ambiguity, and supporting teams through change without adding unnecessary process or stress.
The types of work supported
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Strategic project recovery
Stepping into stalled or high-friction initiatives to stabilise delivery, rebuild stakeholder trust, and restore momentum.
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Complex multi-supplier orchestration
Managing the interface between internal teams and external suppliers to ensure alignment, accountability, and shared outcomes.
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End-to-end product & service launches
Taking ownership from initial concept through to live operation in high-pressure public and private sector environments.
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GDS-aligned lifecycle leadership
Navigating Discovery, Alpha, and Beta phases with a focus on passing Service Assessments and meeting the Service Standard.
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Organisational capability building
Transforming delivery functions by mentoring leaders and implementing "calm" governance that works for people, not against them.
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Strategic interim leadership
Providing high-level cover for Head of Delivery or Delivery Director roles during periods of transition or rapid growth.
A calm, embedded approach
Everything is hands-on and collaborative, working directly with teams so people learn while delivering real work, leaving the organisation with stronger capability.
For teams looking for calm, experienced delivery leadership, conversations can be arranged to explore the best way to provide support.
“Jon is an exceptional leader and manager of people and projects. His approach is meaningfully collaborative, making sure diverse teams of people come together successfully.
Importantly, Jon always makes space for others, appreciating diverse voices, experiences and perspectives. I found working with Jon truly wonderful: he’s a deeply kind and considerate colleague; approaches research problems with logic, calmness and confidence.”