Contract Role: Director – IT Project Delivery
Contract Location: London.
Hybrid
Contract Duration: 6 months initially (with potential extension)
Contract Start Date: Immediate
Contract Classification: Inside IR35
Payroll provider: Rockford
Payroll Info for Contingent Workers – Rockford Pay Overview
We are seeking an experienced and commercially astute IT Project Delivery Director to support the CIO of a leading UK retail bank.
This is a senior-level contract opportunity for an individual with substantial banking experience, strong executive presence and a proven ability to lead delivery in complex, high-pressure environments.
Working directly with the CIO, you will provide senior-level oversight, manage key stakeholders and ensure that technology delivery remains focused, realistic and aligned with business priorities.
You will be comfortable challenging assumptions, managing demanding stakeholders and providing clear, pragmatic direction when expectations need to be reset.
This role would suit a confident and credible delivery leader who combines extensive financial services experience with sufficient technical understanding to assess delivery challenges, challenge unnecessary requests and drive informed decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
- Work directly with the CIO to provide senior-level leadership, oversight and support across IT project delivery.
- Manage relationships with senior stakeholders, ensuring clear communication, alignment and accountability.
- Set realistic delivery expectations, constructively challenging requests, priorities and timelines where necessary.
- Apply sound judgement in high-pressure situations, maintaining a calm, measured and solutions-focused approach.
- Use strong technology and delivery knowledge to assess feasibility, identify risks and challenge unnecessary complexity.
- Provide clear, concise updates on delivery progress, risks, dependencies and key decisions.
- Navigate demanding stakeholder environments, balancing business expectations with technical realities and delivery constraints.
- Help maintain delivery momentum by resolving escalations, addressing blockers and ensuring appropriate focus on critical priorities.
Essential Skills & Experience
- 20+ years of experience within banking and financial services, with substantial exposure to IT project or programme delivery.
- A strong track record operating at Director, Programme Director or equivalent senior leadership level.
- Experience working within a retail banking environment, ideally with exposure to complex technology delivery.
- Demonstrable experience managing demanding senior stakeholders and navigating challenging client environments.
- Strong executive presence, credibility and gravitas when engaging with senior leaders.
- A calm measured and resilient approach when operating under pressure.
- Sufficient technical understanding to challenge requests, assess feasibility and establish realistic delivery expectations.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- The confidence to challenge constructively, make sound judgements and maintain a clear focus on delivery outcomes.