Delivery manager job description.

What does a delivery manager do?

 

A delivery manager ensures that agile teams deliver value effectively by balancing team performance, stakeholder expectations, and process maturity. They act as facilitators and team leads, often working closely with product owners and scrum masters.

 

Responsibilities include removing blockers, aligning delivery with product goals, managing dependencies, and reporting on velocity or progress. They also coach teams on agile practices and support cross-functional collaboration.

 

In startups, they may own all aspects of delivery. In scale-ups or enterprises, they work across squads or tribes, driving agile maturity and ensuring consistent delivery practices at scale.

 

Key responsibilities of a delivery manager.

 

Delivery managers ensure that agile teams deliver value consistently and efficiently. Their responsibilities often include:

• Coordinating delivery across multiple squads or workstreams

• Managing dependencies, risks, and timelines

• Working with product managers to prioritise and unblock delivery

• Tracking team performance and removing delivery impediments

• Supporting agile ceremonies and delivery frameworks

• Collaborating with engineering, design, and QA teams

• Reporting progress to leadership and stakeholders

• Aligning delivery outcomes with commercial or user objectives

• Driving process improvements and team health initiatives

• Supporting agile maturity and continuous delivery culture

This role blends delivery leadership with agile facilitation and strategic alignment.

 

Skills and requirements for a delivery manager.

 

Delivery managers ensure efficient, effective project and product delivery. Employers typically look for:

• 5–9 years of experience in delivery, project, or programme roles

• Proven ability to manage delivery teams and backlogs

• Skilled in agile processes, scrum, and continuous improvement

• Strong facilitation, prioritisation, and coaching skills

• Confidence managing internal and external stakeholders

• Experience overseeing budgets, schedules, and quality

• Familiarity with software delivery pipelines or digital services

• Ability to remove blockers and improve delivery performance

• Clear communication and issue-resolution capabilities

Most delivery managers coordinate between product and engineering teams.

 

Average salary for a delivery manager.

 

In the UK, the average salary for a delivery manager typically ranges from £45,000 to £65,000, based on team orchestration, delivery metrics, and Agile methodology.

• Mid-level delivery managers tend to earn between £45,000 and £55,000

• Senior professionals accountable for delivery strategy or programme success earn between £56,000 and £65,000

• Bonuses are common for hitting OKRs or product launch timelines

Top roles are found in SaaS, government digital, and enterprise IT programmes.

 

Career progression for a delivery manager.

 

A delivery manager ensures that cross-functional teams deliver work effectively and efficiently. It’s a key Agile role that often sits within product or tech environments. A typical path includes:

 

Project coordinator / Scrum master

 

Supports delivery through ceremonies, scheduling, and task tracking.

 

Delivery manager

 

Drives delivery outcomes across product and engineering teams. Manages dependencies, blockers, and reporting.

 

Senior delivery manager

 

Leads multiple delivery streams. Aligns team output with product strategy and business priorities.

 

Head of delivery

 

Oversees delivery teams and frameworks. Optimises cross-team collaboration and Agile practices.

 

Director of delivery / COO

 

Leads company-wide delivery strategy and continuous improvement at the executive level.