At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in DevOps, SRE, and engineering disciplines to enhance platform performance.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company in Manchester focused on innovation and growth.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, hybrid work, and perks like life insurance and a cycle-to-work scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on technology and culture while driving strategic initiatives in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in SaaS environments with expertise in Microsoft Azure and cloud-native technologies.
- Other info: Apply by 7th July 2025 to be part of an evolving team.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 84000 £ per year.
Location: Manchester | Full-time | Hybrid | £100,000
Our client is seeking a seasoned and visionary Head of DevOps to play a pivotal role within their engineering leadership team. This individual will be responsible for leading and developing a cross-functional group of specialists spanning DevOps, SRE, DBA, Platform and Network Engineering disciplines. The ideal candidate will be a strategic leader with a track record of building high-performing teams, executing complex technical projects, and aligning infrastructure capabilities with broader business growth objectives. Deep expertise in Microsoft Azure and cloud-native architectures is essential, along with a passion for fostering a culture of ownership, innovation, and continuous improvement. This role is ideal for someone who leads through influence, empowers teams, and is driven to make a meaningful impact on both technology and organizational culture.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational Excellence
- Oversee the reliability, performance, and availability of the client's CCaaS platform through advanced monitoring, alerting, and incident response mechanisms.
- Ensure security, compliance, and infrastructure governance by enforcing best practices in configuration management and risk mitigation across cloud-hosted environments.
- Maintain and enhance FinOps practices to optimise Azure spend without compromising performance or scalability.
- Platform Strategy
- Develop and implement a platform engineering strategy that aligns with the client’s product roadmap and long-term growth plans.
- Advocate for the adoption of cloud-native technologies, automation, and infrastructure-as-code to enable scalability, resilience, and operational efficiency.
- Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) that reflect platform health, team productivity, and delivery success.
- Team Leadership
- Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary engineering team, creating a high-performance environment rooted in accountability, continuous learning, and team empowerment.
- Set clear expectations, manage performance, and support professional growth through coaching and regular reviews.
- Foster strong collaboration between platform and product engineering teams.
- Project Delivery
- Drive the successful execution of major platform initiatives such as CI/CD enhancements, infrastructure modernisation, and observability improvements.
- Manage team capacity and prioritisation, balancing immediate delivery needs with long-term strategic planning.
- Contribute to commercial activities by providing work estimates and cost forecasts for sales-related technical initiatives.
- Security & Compliance
- Integrate security best practices across all phases of the software development lifecycle, with an emphasis on secure-by-design and zero-trust principles.
- Work closely with compliance teams to uphold standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 27001, and GDPR.
- Ensure all infrastructure and platform processes support audit, regulatory, and data protection requirements.
- Communication & Stakeholder Management
- Serve as a strategic advisor to internal stakeholders by translating technical challenges and opportunities into business-aligned insights.
- Clearly communicate the platform vision, updates, and risks to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Maintain productive relationships with cloud providers, tooling vendors, and other external partners.
Experience Required
- Demonstrated success in leading high-performing Platform Engineering, DevOps, or SRE teams within a SaaS environment.
- Extensive experience with Microsoft Azure services such as Azure Functions, AKS, Cosmos DB, Azure DevOps, and Terraform, as well as open-source technologies like PostgreSQL.
- Strong leadership and line management capabilities with proven experience in mentoring and performance development.
- Proven ability to design and manage secure, scalable, and cost-effective cloud platforms.
- Hands-on expertise in CI/CD pipeline development, infrastructure automation, and system observability.
- Strong knowledge of SRE principles and operational excellence methodologies.
- Experience embedding security and compliance into the SDLC (e.g., DevSecOps, Zero Trust frameworks).
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills with a business-aligned approach to technical leadership.
Benefits
- 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays), increasing up to 30 days with tenure
- Cycle to work scheme
- Birthday day off
- Pension plan
- Quarterly team socials and mixed team events
- Salary sacrifice matched to pension (NI contribution)
- Employee perks program
- Employee referral bonus
- Life insurance (4x salary, post-probation)
- An evolving range of benefits as the company grows
How to Apply?
Deadline date for submissions: Tuesday 7th of July 2025. Please submit your resume and a reference detailing your experience and qualifications for the Head of DevOps position to; Ben Trapnell – Recruitment Consultant, SR2 Socially Responsible Recruitment Benjamin @ sr2rec.co.uk 07378547786
Head of DevOps employer: Confidential - UK
Contact Detail:
Confidential - UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of DevOps
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the DevOps field, especially those who have experience with Microsoft Azure. Attend industry meetups or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and learn about their experiences, which can give you insights into what the company values.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills by discussing past experiences where you successfully led a team through complex projects. Prepare specific examples that highlight your ability to mentor and empower team members, as this is crucial for the Head of DevOps role.
✨Tip Number 3
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in cloud-native technologies and infrastructure-as-code practices. Being able to discuss these topics intelligently during interviews will demonstrate your commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to articulate how you would align DevOps strategies with business objectives. Think about how you can contribute to the company's growth and operational excellence, and be ready to share your vision during discussions with stakeholders.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of DevOps
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in leading DevOps teams and your expertise with Microsoft Azure. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage complex projects and foster a culture of innovation.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for DevOps and how your leadership style aligns with the company's vision. Mention your strategic approach to team development and operational excellence, and how you can contribute to their growth.
Highlight Relevant Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on achievements that showcase your ability to drive platform initiatives and improve operational efficiency. Use metrics where possible to quantify your impact, such as cost savings or performance improvements.
Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate technical questions related to cloud-native architectures, CI/CD processes, and security best practices. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with tools like Terraform and Azure DevOps, as well as your approach to embedding security in the SDLC.
How to prepare for a job interview at Confidential - UK
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of DevOps, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully built high-performing teams and fostered a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
✨Highlight Your Technical Expertise
Make sure to discuss your deep knowledge of Microsoft Azure and cloud-native architectures. Be ready to explain how you've implemented CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure automation, and security best practices in previous roles.
✨Communicate Effectively
Since this role involves translating technical challenges into business insights, practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms. Be prepared to discuss how you've engaged with both technical and non-technical stakeholders in the past.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking. Think of scenarios where you've had to balance immediate delivery needs with long-term planning, and be ready to share your thought process and outcomes.