At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and empower a cross-functional team in DevOps, SRE, and Network Engineering.
- Company: Join a dynamic engineering leadership team in the heart of Manchester.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary of £100k plus benefits and hybrid working options.
- Why this job: Shape the future of cloud platforms while fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in SaaS environments with deep Azure expertise and strong people management skills.
- Other info: Work in the office 2 days a week, with a focus on both technical and managerial tasks.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
I have a need for a Head of DevOps for my client based in Manchester City Centre on a hybrid basis. You’ll be a key member of our engineering leadership team, responsible for developing and empowering a cross-functional group of DevOps, SRE, DBA, and Network Engineering specialists. We’re looking for a strong leader who thrives on building high-performing teams, delivering complex projects at pace, and proactively drives strategic initiatives that align with our ambitious growth goals. With deep experience in Azure and cloud-native architectures, you’ll shape our platform roadmap, improve reliability and scalability, and foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Experience
- Essential:
- Proven experience leading high-performing Platform Engineering, DevOps, or SRE teams, in a SaaS environment.
- Deep expertise in Microsoft Azure services, including Azure Functions, AKS, ADF, Cosmos DB, Azure DevOps, and Infrastructure as Code (e.g. Terraform) and good open source knowledge e.g. PostgreSQL.
- Strong people leadership and line management experience—able to coach, develop, and performance-manage cross-functional teams.
- Track record of designing, building, and operating scalable, secure, and cost-efficient cloud platforms.
- Hands-on experience implementing CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure automation, and observability frameworks.
- Deep understanding of operational excellence practices, including system reliability, incident management, and SRE methodologies.
- Demonstrated ability to embed security and compliance practices across the SDLC (e.g., DevSecOps, Zero Trust).
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, capable of aligning technical initiatives with business outcomes.
- Experience in the Contact Centre, Telephony, or VoIP domain, particularly within CCaaS or real-time communications platforms.
- Familiarity with networking principles, SIP, SBCs, and telephony infrastructure in cloud environments.
- Exposure to FinOps practices and tools for managing cloud cost efficiency and forecasting.
- Experience working closely with Product and Engineering leadership to shape platform roadmaps and internal developer tools.
- Azure certifications (e.g., Azure Solutions Architect Expert, DevOps Engineer Expert) or equivalent SRE/DevSecOps accreditations.
- Experience managing vendor relationships and third-party cloud tooling integrations.
The split will likely be 70% Azure focused DevOps and 30% people management. £100k + Benefits. Need to be in the Manchester Office 2 days per week.
Contact Detail:
GBV Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of DevOps
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the DevOps community, especially those with experience in Azure and SaaS environments. Attend local meetups or online webinars to connect with potential colleagues and learn about industry trends that could give you an edge.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills by sharing examples of how you've built and empowered high-performing teams. Consider discussing your approach to coaching and developing team members during networking conversations or interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Familiarise yourself with the latest Azure services and tools relevant to the role, such as Azure Functions and Terraform. Being able to discuss recent projects or innovations in these areas can demonstrate your expertise and passion for the field.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience with CI/CD pipelines and operational excellence practices. Be ready to provide specific examples of how you've implemented these in past roles, as this will highlight your hands-on experience and strategic thinking.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of DevOps
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in leading high-performing DevOps or SRE teams, particularly in a SaaS environment. Emphasise your expertise in Microsoft Azure services and any relevant certifications.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, showcase your leadership style and how you've successfully built and managed cross-functional teams. Mention specific projects where you delivered complex solutions and drove strategic initiatives.
Highlight Relevant Experience: When detailing your work history, focus on your hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure automation, and operational excellence practices. Use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your contributions.
Showcase Communication Skills: Since excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills are essential for this role, provide examples of how you've aligned technical initiatives with business outcomes in your previous positions.
How to prepare for a job interview at GBV Ltd
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of DevOps, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead high-performing teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully coached and developed cross-functional teams in the past, focusing on specific outcomes and improvements.
✨Highlight Your Technical Expertise
Make sure to discuss your deep experience with Microsoft Azure services and cloud-native architectures. Be ready to explain how you've implemented CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure automation, as well as your familiarity with tools like Terraform and PostgreSQL.
✨Emphasise Strategic Thinking
The role requires someone who can drive strategic initiatives. Prepare to talk about how you've aligned technical projects with business goals in previous roles, showcasing your understanding of operational excellence and incident management.
✨Prepare for Cultural Fit Questions
Fostering a culture of ownership and collaboration is key. Think about how you've contributed to team culture in the past and be ready to discuss your approach to embedding security and compliance practices across the SDLC.