Service Delivery Manager - Workday and Business Applications

Are you experienced in managing live digital services and improving enterprise business applications? Can you provide strategic leadership while balancing user needs, service reliability, supplier performance and value for money? This is an opportunity to lead the strategy, delivery, support and continuous improvement of Workday and the wider business applications portfolio.

You will ensure services are secure, user-centred, well governed and aligned with organisational priorities. Working across digital, finance, HR, payroll and procurement teams, you will build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, suppliers and delivery partners. You will also manage Workday support capability and contribute to wider leadership as the team and portfolio develop

You will manage the operational performance of Workday and related applications, overseeing incidents, problems, changes, releases and service transitions. You will maintain the roadmap and backlog, translate business requirements and user feedback into prioritised improvements, and coordinate delivery across multidisciplinary teams while managing risks, dependencies and blockers.

You will manage supplier capacity, contracted support hours, budgets and commercial performance, ensuring resources are prioritised effectively and deliver value for money. As the key relationship lead, you will communicate service performance, delivery progress, risks and upcoming changes clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders. You will line manage one colleague, supporting their workload, wellbeing, development and performance.

Working pattern guidance

If applying as a job share partnership you should both complete separate application forms on Civil Service Jobs but should make it clear that you are applying as job sharers. Further details on job sharing can be found here JSF – What is the recruitment process for job sharers? , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)

Applicants who wish to work compressed hours are welcome to apply - however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Candidates that are already established Civil Servants or from non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will come to the FSA on a Loan basis and will need to request permission from their Home Department for the Loan prior to applying for this vacancy.

Note for FSA employees

You must seek approval from your substantive manager before applying for any non-permanent vacancy - please refer to the ‘Temporary internal appointments framework’ on the FSA intranet for more details. Please note that if applying for a temporary post within the FSA or elsewhere on promotion, successful appointment will not automatically result in a permanent promotion - you will revert to your current substantive grade at the end of the Fixed Term or Loan period (unless funding has been approved to make the post permanent).

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Full details of the selection process can be found in the attached candidate pack.

Application and shortlisting

You will be asked to provide personal details (not seen by the Panel) and to confirm your eligibility to apply for the role.

You will then be asked to complete an application which will be used to assess you against the following essential criteria.

Essential criteria

Experience

• Experience of managing live digital, data or technology services, including service performance, incidents, changes, risks and continuous improvement. Lead Criteria
• Experience of leading strategy, portfolio and product planning for enterprise business applications, translating organisational priorities into clear roadmaps, investment decisions and deliverable outcomes.
• Experience of leading delivery across multidisciplinary teams, providing leadership and direction, managing dependencies and risks, removing barriers, and ensuring successful outcomes against business priorities.
• Experience of managing supplier relationships, contracts and budgets, holding suppliers to account for performance, making informed prioritisation decisions and securing value for money.
• Experience of leading the management and continuous improvement of enterprise business applications (such as ERP, HR, finance or procurement platforms), balancing operational service delivery with strategic transformation and change.
• Lead Criteria An initial sift will take place on the Lead Criteria.

Interview

If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in which we will assess you against the following Experience requirements of the role.

Experience

• Experience of leading strategy, portfolio and product planning for enterprise business applications, translating organisational priorities into clear roadmaps, investment decisions and deliverable outcomes.
• Experience of leading delivery across multidisciplinary teams, providing leadership and direction, managing dependencies and risks, removing barriers, and ensuring successful outcomes against business priorities.
• Experience of managing supplier relationships, contracts and budgets, holding suppliers to account for performance, making informed prioritisation decisions and securing value for money.
• Experience of leading the management and continuous improvement of enterprise business applications (such as ERP, HR, finance or procurement platforms), balancing operational service delivery with strategic transformation and change.

Expected Timeline

Advert closes: 8/11/2026

Sift: Expected to take place: 9/11/2026

Final panel interview: Expected to take place: w/c 23/11/2026

Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams. (If you do not have the Microsoft Teams application installed on your computer, you can join on the web without installing the application).

Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to the Food Standards Agency from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare.

Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Reserve List

A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that the FSA does not offer visa sponsorship and cannot provide advice on visa applications

Making a complaint

If you feel your application has not been treated fairly in accordance with the principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should email the FSA’s Director of People at jo.bushnell@food.gov.uk.

If you are not satisfied with the response, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.