At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the evolution of a cutting-edge internal developer platform at Elsevier.
- 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 dynamic team focused on cultural and operational change.
- Why this job: Drive engineering transformation and make a real impact with AI and automation.
- 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 in London 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 that shape the future of our internal developer platform. Our hybrid work model allows for flexibility while being part of a global team dedicated to driving operational excellence and embracing AI-enabled practices.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Platforms - Technology, Infrastructure and Operations in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech and engineering space. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet potential colleagues or leaders from Elsevier. A personal introduction can make all the difference!
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Prepare a portfolio or case studies that highlight your experience in platform strategy, AI integration, and operational excellence. This will help you stand out during interviews and demonstrate your fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to discuss how you've led large-scale transformations and improved developer experiences. Tailor your stories to align with Elsevier's goals, showing how you can drive their platform vision forward.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for joining our team at StudySmarter. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Platforms - Technology, Infrastructure and Operations in London
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 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 your previous roles.
Highlight Technical Expertise:We’re looking for someone with a strong technical background. Be sure to mention your experience with AI integration, automation, and developer experience. This will help us understand how you can contribute to our platform vision.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget 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.
How to prepare for a job interview at Dormont Manufacturing Co
✨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 examples that highlight your leadership skills, especially in driving cultural and operational change. Be ready to discuss how you've built and led large teams, and how you fostered an engineering-led, automation-first culture in your previous roles.
✨Emphasise Developer Experience
Familiarise yourself with concepts like DORA and SPACE metrics. Be prepared to talk about how you've improved developer productivity and satisfaction in past positions, and how you would approach enhancing the developer experience 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 think about how you can convey your ideas on platform capabilities and business outcomes succinctly.
