Pod Lead

We are a Global Recruitment specialist that provides support to the clients across EMEA, APAC, US and Canada.

Role Title: Pod Lead
Location: Sheffield
Duration: 31/08/2026
Days on site: 3 days per week

402 GBP/day on Inside IR35

MUST BE PAYE THROUGH UMBRELLA

Role Description:

Guidance Notes
This job profile provides a broad overview of the Pod Lead and is not intended to exhaustively describe the role.

Job Profile (POD Lead)

Data and analytics is an important enabler for the UK Business' strategy and in achieving its' outcomes. The Pod Lead is within the UK Chief Data and Analytics Office (CDAO) function. The UK CDAO function is responsible for data risk and control management, delivering the data platform strategy, data and analytics products and AI for the UK Business.
Pod Leads will inspire, guide and empower cross-functional pods, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and delivery excellence. This role involves leading and motivating the team, delegating and prioritizing tasks, managing the product backlog and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The Pod Lead will also serve as the primary liaison between the POD and key stakeholders, ensuring transparency, collaboration and value delivery. They will be accountable for the end to end planning and execution of initiatives across multiple workstreams, proactively balancing scope, schedule, budget, RAIDs, resources and desired outcomes. A strong focus on business value, benefits realization and measurable outcomes is essential.

This role will carry out some or all of the following responsibilities:
Oversee the delivery of products or features in an agile context, managing the product backlog and drive continuous improvement efforts.
Coordinate team activities whilst proactively identifying and resolving challenges to ensure sustained and optimal performance.
Highlight, escalate and resolve risks, issues and dependencies, track updates and progress against delivered goals.
Make recommendations to influence decision-making to maintain progress towards delivery and benefits realization.
Proactively manage scope, requirements, benefits, schedule, and budget demonstrating clear ability to deliver to commitments.
Serve as the intermediary between the pod and the Business Engagement team, to effectively communicate progress.
Inspire and motivate pod members, set a clear vision and direction, and foster a cohesive, collaborative, and supportive work environment.
Run and promote agile practices within the pod, facilitating meetings and ensuring processes run smoothly.
Ensure the pod has the necessary skilled individuals and resources to ensure the holistic optimisation of the pod.
Drive synergies across multiple pods and identify opportunities for standardisation and reduction of complexity.
Work closely with the UK CDAO Capability Enabler team to ensure alignment of their project(s) with the wider change book of work and UK CDAO Strategy.
Influence the delivery approach, ensuring stakeholder buy-in around the plan, commitments, and scope changes.
Establish robust delivery governance including clear sponsorship in accordance with Client's Change Framework.
Manage stakeholder and senior management relationships across different markets and GBGIs.

This role will require the following skills:
Over 6 years proven experience in leading and managing pods within a global Matrix organization.
Proven track record of on time and on budget deliveries that achieve business case stated outcomes.
Exceptional understanding of data, in particular data products, data platforms and data migration.
Excellent knowledge of financial institutions.
Proven experience applying Agile methodologies across project and product development life cycles. Agile certification(s) advantageous (eg SAFe)
Strong stakeholder management experience from Exco level to analysts.
A meticulous approach to tasks and data.
Impeccable written, verbal and presentation skills.
Familiarity with the Client standards and processes.