Technology Business Manager / Platform Operations Manager in London

Location: Sheffield 3 days per week | Hybrid

Rate: £500-£625~ per day - inside IR35

Initial 6 month contract with strong potential for extension.

Essential Consulting is currently supporting a major banking client seeking an experienced Technology Business Manager / Operations Manager to support a large global technology organisation within the Chief Technology Office of a leading global financial services organisation. This role sits within the CTO Platforms organisation and will act as a trusted partner to senior leadership, supporting workforce strategy, financial management, governance, portfolio oversight, operational transformation and workforce growth initiatives across a global technology function.

The successful candidate will work closely with Managing Director-level stakeholders, helping drive operational effectiveness, organisational improvements and strategic initiatives across a large-scale engineering and technology environment. This is a highly visible role suited to candidates who have operated within Technology COO, CTO Office, CIO Office, Business Management or technology consulting environments and are comfortable influencing senior stakeholders whilst remaining hands-on in execution. The role is inside IR35 and the initial contract is expected to be for 6 months, with strong extension potential. The role is aligned to Sheffield, with an expectation of regular onsite attendance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with senior technology leadership to support the effective operation of the CTO Platforms organisation.
• Develop and maintain workforce plans aligned to organisational strategy, financial targets and future capability requirements.
• Support workforce transformation initiatives including organisational design, location strategy, contractor optimisation and future workforce planning.
• Support large-scale technology hiring and workforce growth initiatives, helping to improve recruitment, onboarding and resource management processes across the organisation.
• Drive operational improvement initiatives across the function, identifying opportunities to simplify processes, improve efficiency and enhance workforce and hiring-related processes.
• Lead business case development and analysis for workforce, financial and transformation initiatives.
• Manage financial planning, forecasting, budgeting and cost optimisation activities across the service line.
• Provide governance, reporting and management information to senior leadership teams and executive forums.
• Support portfolio oversight activities, ensuring appropriate tracking of deliverables, milestones, risks and dependencies.
• Partner with Procurement, Finance, HR, Risk and other key stakeholders to ensure effective operational management across the function.
• Support third-party and vendor management activities including business case development, commercial reviews and governance processes.
• Produce high-quality executive presentations, reporting and briefing materials for senior stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted advisor to Managing Director-level stakeholders, providing challenge, insight and operational support where required.
• Drive accountability and follow-through across a complex global technology organisation.
• Support the development and implementation of continuous improvement initiatives to enhance organisational effectiveness.

Key Requirements:

• Strong experience within Technology COO, CTO Office, CIO Office, Business Management, Technology Operations or Technology Strategy functions.
• Proven experience supporting senior technology leadership within large-scale enterprise environments.
• Demonstrable experience managing workforce planning, financial management, governance and operational activities.
• Experience delivering organisational transformation, operational improvement or process optimisation initiatives, with the ability to evidence measurable outcomes.
• Experience improving workforce, recruitment or hiring processes within large-scale organisations would be highly advantageous.
• Strong stakeholder management capability with the ability to influence, challenge and partner with senior leaders effectively.
• Significant experience within a large-scale banking, financial services or management consulting environment.
• Experience operating within complex matrix organisations and highly governed environments.
• Strong financial and commercial awareness, including budgeting, forecasting and cost management.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with experience producing executive-level materials.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability with the ability to translate complex issues into practical solutions.
• Comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels, balancing long-term planning with day-to-day execution.
• Experience working across global organisations with large, distributed technology teams would be advantageous.

Suitable Backgrounds:

This role is most likely to suit candidates who have worked within Technology COO, CTO Office, CIO Office or Technology Business Management functions in large banking or financial services organisations. Candidates from consulting backgrounds with experience in technology transformation, operating model design or process improvement would also be highly relevant. The successful individual will be comfortable supporting senior technology leaders across workforce, governance, financial and operational activities.