Cloud Platform Capability Lead

A leading technology consultancy is looking for an experienced Cloud Platform Capability Lead to define and grow one of its most strategically important practice areas.

This is a rare opportunity for a senior platform engineering leader to combine strategic direction, technical credibility and commercial impact — shaping how cloud platforms, Dev Ops and platform operations evolve as AI transforms the discipline.

This isn't a role about managing what already exists.

It's about defining what comes next: new services, new ways of working, and a new generation of platform talent equipped to deliver them.

About the Role As Platforms Capability Lead, you will take ownership of the practice's service strategy — deciding what is offered, to whom, and the outcomes it delivers — and keep that strategy commercially relevant and consistent across every sector and region the business operates in.

You'll sponsor the standards, patterns and delivery practices that keep quality high, and you'll evolve services through proven innovation rather than theory — testing new approaches directly with clients and proving their value in the real world.

With AI reshaping platform engineering and operations at pace, you'll take a leading role in defining how the practice adapts, innovates, and continues to create value for clients long into the future.

Externally, you'll build strong relationships with clients, technology partners and industry communities, using thought leadership and innovation to raise the profile of the capability and the business behind it.

This is, above all, a people-first leadership role.

You'll combine strategic vision, deep technical credibility and commercial awareness to support delivery, sales and capability growth — working closely with senior clients, technology partners and business leaders to shape how platform engineering evolves.

And you'll build an environment where talented people can thrive, grow their careers, and do the best work of their lives.

As platforms take on a bigger role in how technology gets delivered, the people who shape them matter more than ever.

What You'll Be Responsible For Setting and evolving a capability strategy that drives thought leadership, innovation, talent development and growth, grounded in real market understanding and aligned to wider business strategy.

Defining and maintaining services and accelerators that meet sector needs, ensuring supporting collateral stays reusable and is consistently recognised — internally and externally — for quality and impact.

Delivering external thought leadership that raises the profile of the capability across the industry.

Proactively aligning capability expertise with sales pursuits, ensuring credibility, relevance and senior advisory input for both existing and prospective clients.

Building and sustaining trusted relationships with senior and C-level stakeholders across clients, partners and industry forums.

Shaping the capability's long-term talent and skills strategy, supporting a strong, diverse pipeline aligned to future business needs.

Partnering with operations and talent acquisition teams to deliver workforce plans that keep the right capacity and capability in place, now and in the future.

Setting the direction for capability-wide learning and skills development, ensuring the practice keeps pace with market, sector and technology trends.

Fostering a strong sense of professional identity, belonging and engagement across the capability — promoting continuous improvement, knowledge-sharing and role-model leadership.

Championing the effective implementation of standards, patterns, methodologies and best practices that underpin delivery quality and assurance.

Evolving capability services, practices and skills to embrace a progressive, AI-first approach.

Identifying and managing capability risk and succession planning, escalating appropriately when needed.

Essential: Proven leadership experience within a technology professional services environment, including ownership of client-facing services, workforce planning and commercial growth.

A track record of defining and executing strategy across a technology capability, practice or service portfolio spanning multiple teams or business units.

Demonstrated ability to influence business growth through market engagement, sales support, strategic partnerships or the development of new service offerings.

A history of leadership success — building and evolving strategy with measurable outcomes in thought leadership, innovation, talent development and growth.

Deep, recognised credibility within your specialism, spanning both technical and commercial expertise.

The ability to build senior relationships and operate as a respected leader, both internally and in the wider market.

A people-first mindset, with the vision to shape a capability's future direction and the leadership skill to deliver it.

Strong, inclusive decision-making, balancing collaboration with the confidence to act in the organisation's best interests.

A track record of driving initiatives that improve team capability, effectiveness or performance.

Desirable: Experience leading major capability initiatives — strategy development, thought leadership, workforce planning or talent and skills development.

A genuine passion for personal and professional growth.

A strong commitment to developing others and sharing in their success.