At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the evolution of a cutting-edge internal developer platform and drive engineering transformation.
- Company: Join Elsevier, a global leader in technology and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to operational excellence and cultural change.
- Why this job: Shape the future of engineering with AI and automation in a dynamic environment.
- 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: Dormont Manufacturing Co
Elsevier is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, particularly in the dynamic field of technology and engineering. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we offer extensive opportunities for professional development and the chance to lead transformative projects on a global scale. Our hybrid work model promotes flexibility while ensuring that our teams are empowered to drive meaningful change in the developer experience and operational excellence.
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! If you’ve got a portfolio or projects that highlight your expertise, make sure to share them during interviews. It’s all about proving you can walk the walk.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky questions! Research common interview questions for leadership roles and practice your responses. We want you to feel confident and ready to impress.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After an interview, shoot a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation. It keeps you fresh in their minds and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
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 strategy and engineering 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 be leading a global team. Share examples of how you've successfully managed large teams and driven cultural change in previous roles. We love to see strong leadership in action!
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 let that shine through!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dormont Manufacturing Co
✨Know Your Platform Strategy
Before the interview, dive deep into Elsevier's platform strategy and how it aligns with their goals. Be ready to discuss how you would define and drive a platform-as-a-product model, showcasing your understanding of developer experience and AI integration.
✨Showcase Leadership Experience
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading large-scale transformations and managing distributed engineering teams. Discuss specific challenges you've faced and how you fostered an engineering-led culture focused on automation and collaboration.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Since this role requires partnering with various stakeholders, think of instances where you've successfully influenced cross-functional teams. Be ready to explain how you communicate effectively with both technical and executive audiences to drive alignment.
✨Demonstrate Technical Depth
Brush up on your technical knowledge related to platform engineering, SRE, and observability. Be prepared to discuss how you would ensure operational excellence and reliability in platform services, as well as your familiarity with AI-enabled engineering practices.
