Benefits Lead

Major Public Sector Transformation Programme Location: Bristol or London Working Pattern: Hybrid – approximately 1–2 days per month on site Contract: Until 31 March 2027 Day Rate: £600 per day (Umbrella) IR35: Inside IR35 Security Clearance: Active SC clearance required About the Role We are seeking an experienced Benefits Lead to support a major transformation programme within a large, complex public sector organisation. This is a key role focused on ensuring that transformation investment delivers measurable, sustainable value. You will own and drive the programme's benefits management approach, from identifying and baselining benefits through to tracking, reporting and embedding benefits into business-as-usual operations. Working closely with senior stakeholders, programme leadership and business owners, you will ensure that benefits are clearly defined, measurable and actively managed throughout the transformation lifecycle. Key Responsibilities Develop and lead the programme's benefits management strategy, framework and plans. Identify, define and baseline benefits, establishing clear measures, targets and ownership. Drive benefits realisation throughout programme delivery and into business-as-usual. Work closely with senior stakeholders and business owners to enable the organisational change required to realise benefits. Establish effective benefits tracking, measurement and reporting. Monitor benefits performance and provide clear reporting to programme leadership and governance forums. Identify and manage risks, dependencies and issues that could impact benefits realisation. Develop and maintain benefits registers, roadmaps and supporting analysis. Provide constructive challenge to ensure proposed benefits are realistic, measurable and supported by robust evidence. Work collaboratively across corporate services functions including HR, Finance and Commercial. Support the embedding of benefits ownership and accountability across a complex, federated organisation. Essential Experience You will have: * A proven track record in benefits management and benefits realisation within major transformation programmes. * Experience working within public sector, Defence or large-scale corporate services environments. * Strong knowledge of recognised benefits management frameworks, including HM Treasury Green Book, Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) or equivalent. * Experience of ERP or HCM transformation, ideally involving platforms such as Oracle Fusion or SAP, and a strong understanding of the associated business change. * Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, including experience working with senior leadership and operating confidently at SCS / 2-star / 3-star level. * Strong numerical, analytical and financial modelling skills. * A good understanding of corporate services functions such as HR, Finance and Commercial, including their operating models and transformation challenges. Desirable Experience The following would be advantageous: * Knowledge of government governance structures and Portfolio Office processes. * APMG or MSP Benefits Management Practitioner certification. * Experience delivering cross-organisational change within a federated environment. * Experience working within complex, highly controlled or secure operating environments. * Experience of large-scale public sector or Defence transformation programmes. Why This Role? This is an opportunity to play a central role in a significant transformation programme within a complex public sector environment, helping ensure that investment translates into measurable operational and organisational benefits. You will work with senior stakeholders across the organisation, shaping how benefits are defined, measured, realised and sustained through to business-as-usual. Apply If you are an experienced Benefits Lead / Benefits Manager with a strong transformation background, excellent stakeholder management skills and active SC clearance, we would be keen to hear from you