At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the strategy and delivery of core technology platforms, ensuring security and resilience.
- Company: Join a leading professional services firm with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a high-performing team with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact by driving platform excellence and automation in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in enterprise platforms and strong knowledge of cloud and security operations.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 € per year.
The Head of Platforms is accountable for the strategy, delivery, security, resilience and continuous improvement of the firm’s core technology platforms. This role provides leadership across infrastructure, security operations, endpoints, data integration and automation, applications and the Document Management System (DMS), ensuring platforms are secure, scalable, reliable, and aligned to business and regulatory requirements. The role acts as the senior technical authority for platforms, setting standards and roadmaps, leading platform teams, and partnering closely with Information Security, Legal Technology, Data Management, Finance Systems, PMO and business stakeholders.
Scope of Responsibility
- End-to-end accountability for the following platform domains:
- Infrastructure Platforms
- Cloud (Azure) and on-premise infrastructure
- Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) and platform automation standards
- Network, connectivity, identity and core platform services
- Resilience, backup, disaster recovery and service continuity
- Security Operations
- Platform security controls, monitoring and threat detection
- SIEM, SOAR, endpoint and network security tooling
- Operational security incident management in partnership with InfoSec
- End-user devices, operating systems and device lifecycle
- Microsoft 365, identity lifecycle management and collaboration tooling
- Endpoint security, compliance, configuration and automation
- Data Integration and Automation
- Automation, scripting and low/no-code orchestration to reduce manual effort
- Applications and Document Management Systems (DMS)
- Ownership of applications roadmap and the DMS platform (i.e iManage)
- Performance, availability, security and integration with other systems
- Close partnership with Legal Technology and business stakeholders
- Platform Strategy and Architecture
- Own the platform strategy and multi-year roadmap, aligned to business priorities, regulatory requirements and security standards
- Set architectural principles, technology standards and platform guardrails
- Lead lifecycle management, including modernisation, technical debt, and decommissioning of legacy platforms
- Operational Excellence and Service Management
- Accountable for platform availability, performance, resilience and supportability
- Ensure platforms are operated in line with ITIL practices (incident, problem, change, configuration and continuous improvement)
- Oversee third-line support, major incident response and root cause analysis
- Security and Risk Management
- Ensure security is embedded by design across all platforms
- Partner closely with Information Security on risk management, audit readiness and compliance (ISO, GDPR, CIS controls)
- Own operational security controls and the effectiveness of security tooling
- Automation and Continuous Improvement
- Drive automation and standardisation across platform services
- Reduce operational risk and cost through repeatability, IaC and self-service where appropriate
- Measure platform health using clear KPIs and service metrics
- Leadership and People Management
- Lead and develop Platform Managers and technical leads across Infrastructure, Endpoint, Security Operations and Application/DMS platforms
- Build a high-performing, collaborative engineering culture with strong accountability
- Set clear role clarity, performance expectations and development paths
- Stakeholder and Vendor Management
- Act as the senior escalation point for platform-related issues
- Partner with Legal Technology, Data, PMO and the business to support strategic initiatives
- Manage critical suppliers and service partners, including performance, risk and commercials.
- Governance and Decision Making
- Member of IT leadership and architecture governance forums
- Accountable for platform-related investment cases and technical risk decisions
- Provides clear reporting to senior stakeholders on platform risk, resilience and performance
- Senior leadership experience across enterprise platforms in a professional services environment
- Strong background in infrastructure, cloud platforms, endpoints and security operations
- Proven experience operating platforms at scale with high availability and regulatory requirements
- Strong understanding of ITIL-based service management and operational governance
- Experience with DMS platforms in a legal or similar document-centric environment
- Demonstrated success driving automation and platform modernisation
- Familiarity with SIEM, SOAR and modern security operations tooling
- Experience in legal services or regulated environments
- Deep knowledge of Microsoft 365, Azure, identity and endpoint ecosystems
- Platform availability, performance and resilience metrics
- Reduction in incidents and operational risk through automation
- Clear, trusted platforms supporting legal and business services
- Positive stakeholder feedback and effective vendor performance
- Strong audit outcomes and reduced technology risk exposure
Key Responsibilities
Key Skills and Experience
Success Measures
Hybrid working - We adopt a hybrid and flexible working approach, dependent on the requirements of the role and subject to manager approval.
Head of Platforms employer: Charles Russell Speechlys LLP
As the Head of Platforms, you will join a forward-thinking firm that prioritises innovation and excellence in technology. Our collaborative work culture fosters professional growth, offering opportunities to lead diverse teams while ensuring our platforms are secure and resilient. With a commitment to employee development and a hybrid working model, we provide a supportive environment where your contributions directly impact our success.
Contact Detail:
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Platforms
✨Tip Number 1
Network, network, network! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Head of Platforms role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews like a pro! Research the company’s platforms and their recent projects. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially around security operations and automation. Show them you’re the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your leadership skills! As a potential Head of Platforms, you’ll need to demonstrate how you’ve built high-performing teams and fostered collaboration. Share specific examples that highlight your ability to lead and inspire.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We make it easy for you to find the right role. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team. Don’t miss out on the chance to land that dream job with us!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Platforms
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Platforms role. Highlight your experience in infrastructure, cloud platforms, and security operations. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this position. Share specific examples of your leadership experience and how you've driven automation and platform modernisation in the past.
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:Don’t shy away from showcasing your technical skills! Mention your familiarity with ITIL practices, DMS platforms, and any relevant tools like SIEM or SOAR. We love seeing candidates who are technically savvy.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP
✨Know Your Platforms Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the core technology platforms mentioned in the job description. Brush up on your knowledge of Azure, infrastructure-as-code, and document management systems. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're serious about the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As the Head of Platforms, you'll need to lead teams effectively. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, particularly in high-pressure environments. Highlight your experience in building collaborative cultures and setting clear performance expectations.
✨Understand Security and Compliance
Security is a big deal in this role, so be ready to discuss your experience with security operations and risk management. Familiarise yourself with ISO, GDPR, and other compliance standards relevant to the industry. This will demonstrate your ability to embed security by design across platforms.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific challenges related to platform resilience, incident management, or automation. Think through potential scenarios and how you would approach them, using your past experiences as a guide. This will help you stand out as a strategic thinker.
