At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the evolution of our internal developer platform and drive engineering transformation.
- Company: Join a global leader in technology with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team driving cultural change and operational excellence.
- Why this job: Shape the future of engineering with AI and automation while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in platform or software engineering with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 118300 - 219800 £ per year.
The Head of Platform leads the delivery and evolution of Elsevier’s internal developer platform as a core driver of engineering transformation. This role is accountable for shifting Elsevier from fragmented infrastructure services to a unified internal developer platform (IDP) that accelerates modernization, reuse, and AI-enabled engineering. This leader combines strong technical depth with enterprise influence, driving large-scale cultural and operational change across engineering. They will shape the platform as a product while embedding new ways of working focused on self-service, automation, and developer experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Platform Strategy & Vision
- Define and drive the platform strategy aligned with Elsevier standards and enterprise priorities.
- Translate strategic objectives (DevEx, reuse, AI-enabled SDLC) into clear platform roadmaps.
- Establish and evolve a platform-as-a-product operating model.
- Leadership & Organization Design
- Build and lead a global platform organization (95–125 engineers) across key domains.
- Partner with TIO leadership, architecture, and change teams to align operating models.
- Drive an engineering-led, automation-first culture across the organization.
- Developer Experience & Enablement
- Deliver internal developer portal capabilities (e.g., Backstage) and golden paths.
- Embed DORA and SPACE metrics to improve developer productivity.
- Champion reuse and inner sourcing across engineering teams.
- AI & Automation Integration
- Integrate AI across the SDLC including code generation, testing, and automation.
- Drive adoption of AI-enabled engineering practices.
- Ensure secure and efficient-by-default platform services through automation.
- Operational Excellence
- Ensure reliability, observability, and cost efficiency of platform services.
- Define resilience, incident management, and operational models.
- Track and report on platform maturity and performance.
- Collaboration & Influence
- Partner with Business Unit CTOs, product leaders, and engineering teams.
- Drive alignment between platform capabilities and business outcomes.
- Communicate effectively across executive and technical audiences.
Experience & Skills
- 15+ years in platform, software, or infrastructure engineering.
- Proven experience leading large-scale cultural and operational transformations.
- Strong background in platform-as-a-product and developer experience.
- Demonstrated stakeholder influence across complex organizations.
- Experience leading distributed engineering teams.
- Familiarity with AI-enabled engineering practices.
- Strong grounding in SRE, observability, and secure-by-design.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills.
Success Measures
- Increased developer productivity and satisfaction.
- Adoption of platform capabilities across engineering teams.
- Reduction in toil and time-to-market.
- Increased reuse through standardized patterns and golden paths.
- Improved operational reliability and cost efficiency.
- Demonstrated shift in engineering culture toward ownership and automation.
Head of Platforms - Technology, Infrastructure and Operations employer: 慨正橡扯
Elsevier is an exceptional employer that champions innovation and collaboration within a hybrid work environment, allowing employees to thrive in a flexible setting. With a strong focus on professional development, employees are empowered to lead transformative projects that shape the future of technology and engineering. The company fosters a culture of inclusivity and continuous improvement, ensuring that every team member has the opportunity to grow and contribute meaningfully to impactful initiatives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Platforms - Technology, Infrastructure and Operations
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills in real-time! Consider doing a project or a presentation that highlights your expertise. It’s a great way to demonstrate what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. Tailor your responses to show how you align with their mission and how you can drive their platform strategy forward.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Platforms - Technology, Infrastructure and Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in platform engineering and transformation. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at StudySmarter!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Head of Platforms, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead large teams and drive cultural change. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams and influenced stakeholders in the past.
Highlight Technical Expertise:Don’t forget to emphasise your technical depth, especially in areas like AI integration and developer experience. We’re looking for someone who can bridge the gap between tech and strategy, so make that clear in your application!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at 慨正橡扯
✨Know Your Platform Strategy
Before the interview, dive deep into the platform strategy and vision of the company. Understand how they define their internal developer platform and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals for modernization and AI integration.
✨Showcase Leadership Experience
Prepare to share specific examples of how you've led large-scale transformations in previous roles. Highlight your ability to build and lead diverse teams, as well as how you've fostered a culture of automation and self-service within engineering.
✨Emphasise Developer Experience
Be ready to talk about your approach to enhancing developer experience. Discuss any tools or practices you've implemented that improved productivity and satisfaction, and how you envision applying those insights to the role at Elsevier.
✨Communicate Effectively
Practice articulating complex technical concepts in a way that resonates with both technical and executive audiences. Clear communication is key, so prepare to demonstrate how you've successfully influenced stakeholders across various levels in your past roles.
