Guidance

The Role of the Senior Responsible Owner

This guidance sets out requirements and expectations for Senior Responsible Owners (SROs) of major government projects.

Documents

The role of the senior responsible owner (PDF)

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Details

The purpose of this guidance is to set out clearly in one document:

  • requirements and supporting guidance for senior responsible owners of projects in the government major projects portfolio (GMPP)
  • guidance for senior responsible owners of non-GMPP projects

The guidance describes the role of the senior responsible owner (SRO) and its relationship to other key leadership roles in project delivery: within the project, the project director or manager, and within the wider organisation, the accounting officer.

The guidance also sets out current requirements on the appointment of SROs and appointment letters, and provides additional information to help with the selection, support and development of SROs.

The Role of the SRO is published as part of the Project Delivery Functional Standard which sets the overall expectations for the direction and management of portfolios, programmes, and projects in government.

Published 18 July 2019
Last updated 23 May 2023 + show all updates
  1. The document: The role of the senior responsible owner has been updated and replaced with this version.

  2. First published.