VP Engineering

Location: London, ENG, GB, N1C 4AG

Brand: RS Group

Function: Digital & Technology

Work Location: Hybrid

Role Purpose

VP, IT Engineering is a senior executive who reports to the Global CIO Information Services and Technology. The role in the technology and engineering owner that has accountability for cloud, integration, middleware, and API platforms for the whole of RS Group Globally. The role whilst highly technical and technology focused understands both business and IT so that they can drive innovation and shape demand for technology that increases business value by building and maintaining common reusable platforms across cloud, integration and APIs. They will also coordinate IT resources and work with cross-functional teams to ensure those opportunities deliver the business value that was expected from them, acting as a point of escalation when needed.

Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Global Chief Information Officer, this role will have IT engineering and delivery responsibility Globally for Cloud services, Middleware Integration and APIs.
• The Engineering Director will partner with Technology and Business leaders to stimulate, surface, and shape demand for engineered IT platforms, solutions and assets.
• The Engineering Director will also ensure delivery of information technology solutions that generate business value and confirm that the results are measured and communicated.

Strategic Leadership and Strategy

• Work with senior leaders to evolve culture and organizational behaviour, elevating IT into a strategic partner.
• Lead and mentor diverse engineering teams specializing in cloud platforms, middleware, integration, and microservices.
• Develop deep knowledge of technology roadmap and execution globally and build both horizontal and vertical relationships with business and IT leaders that deliver business impact to influence platforms.
• Act as the principal technology advisor to technology teams, project and leadership for Cloud and Integration decisions and a champion for identifying, leading and driving information technology transformation through common engineered platforms available globally.
• Partner with enterprise architects and other work streams to develop technology and engineering enabled business capability roadmaps.
• Partner with business and IT leaders to evaluate proposals, build business cases, and plan new joint initiatives, and determine how they fit into capability, roadmaps and priorities.
• Lead global initiative to evaluate and select the integration strategy, tools, and methodologies across all portfolios and initiatives in the Information Services and Technology organization.

Technical Oversight

• Oversee the architecture and deployment of cloud platforms, ensuring scalability, reliability, and performance.
• Guide the development and integration of middleware solutions to facilitate seamless communication between systems.
• Drive the design and implementation of robust APIs and microservices, promoting best practices in API management and security.
• Proactively identify capability and IT service gaps and contribute to improvement efforts and advocate for capabilities.

Project Management

• Manage the end-to-end software development lifecycle for engineering projects.
• Collaborate with product management, architecture, and other teams to define technical requirements and project scope.
• Monitor KPIs to assess team effectiveness and project outcomes.

Collaboration and Communication

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including product management, UX/UI, operations, etc. to align engineering efforts with business needs and outcomes.
• Communicate technical concepts effectively to non-technical stakeholders, facilitating informed decision making.

Budget and Resource Management

• Develop and manage the engineering budget, ensuring resource optimization and cost-effectiveness.
• Identify and implement tools and technologies to enhance engineering productivity and collaboration.
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in cloud computing, middleware, integration, and microservices.
• Bring outside-in or fresh perspectives into the organization by routinely meeting with external partners and suppliers, customers/consumers, industry peers, and other external sources.
• Promote continuous learning and improvement within the engineering organization, including value optimization, IT performance and processes.
• Develop value-adding engineering professional maturity, individually and for the entire function.

Candidate Requirements

• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related field.
• Significant experience in information technology development and engineering.
• Solid experience in facilitating the development and implementation of business initiatives and projects based on organizational objectives and leading a team through Roadmaps.
• Extensive experience with cloud platforms (e.g. AWS, Google Cloud, Azure), middleware solutions (e.g. Mulesoft, SAP Cloud Integration Suite, Boomi, IBM), and API microservices.
• Strong knowledge of software development methodologies, including Agile and DevOps.
• Familiarization with containerization and orchestration technologies (e.g. Docker, Kubernetes).
• Demonstrated track record of creating common platform technology solutions and engineering these to solve business problems (globally, or across multiple divisions or regions within a single company).
• Strong collaboration, teamwork and relationship building skills across multiple levels and functions in the organization.
• Ability to listen, build rapport, and credibility as a strategic partner with the technology function and across the business, as well as with leadership and functional teams.
• A strategic thinker focused on business value results and reuse that utilise technical solutions.
• Ability to set expectations and effectively leverage governance for a positive business partner experience.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with and influence C-level executives to drive business value.
• Exceptional ability to lead change using positive and collaborative methods.
• Skilled at conflict resolution and problem-solving to achieve win-win outcomes.
• Strong communication skills in writing, speaking, and presenting.
• Able to communicate technical or complex subject matter in business terms.
• Demonstrated acumen and passion for technology and engineering.
• Understands the IT industry, e.g. emerging technologies and trends, industry standards, solution architecture, and the vendor landscape.
• Highly self-motivated.
• Ability to attract, develop and retain talent, and build strong teams.