Infrastructure Operations Delivery Lead in Manchester

We’re looking for an Infrastructure Operations Delivery Lead to join our Core Platform team, here at N Brown. Over the next 12–24 months, we will be executing a significant infrastructure transformation programme, with this role sitting at the centre of it. This will include the migration of some major on‑premise infrastructure to AWS (with network, firewall and infrastructure dependencies across multiple teams) in partnership with incumbent managed service providers as well as key risk mitigation and control enhancements.

About the Role

The Infrastructure Operations Delivery Lead is responsible for ensuring the Core Platform tribe has a clear, well-ordered, and visible delivery backlog and that the agreed roadmap is executed effectively across internal squads and external partners. This is a delivery‑first role. Unlike delivery functions elsewhere in the organisation, the Core Platform tribe does not have dedicated Product Management. This means the role carries responsibility beyond coordination: you need enough technical fluency in infrastructure and cloud to plan credibly, ask the right questions, and avoid delivery friction caused by under‑informed decision‑making. You will work alongside several key technical leads including the Senior Infrastructure Manager (who owns technical direction, priorities, risk, lifecycle, and supplier relationships) and the Cloud Ops Tech Lead (who holds equivalent ownership of the AWS estate). We also work closely with Heads of Technology and Tech Leads from other Tribes. Your role is to take that direction and make delivery happen. As a shared platform, Core Platform is a critical dependency for other technology areas, making quarterly planning and cross‑team dependency management central to how this team operates.

What will you do as an Infrastructure Operations Delivery Lead at N Brown?

• Backlog & Prioritisation
  • Own and maintain a clear, prioritised delivery backlog aligned to the jointly agreed roadmap
  • Lead quarterly planning cycles and manage cross‑team dependencies across the wider technology estate
  • Ensure backlog visibility and transparency on priorities, progress, and blockers for all stakeholders
• Technical Credibility
  • Bring sufficient infrastructure and cloud fluency to plan delivery credibly and avoid frustrating engineering teams
  • Challenge delivery approaches, timelines, and dependencies constructively without overstepping technical design decisions
• Delivery Execution
  • Drive execution across internal squads and external managed service partners, facilitating ceremonies and removing blockers
  • Ensure delivery plans are realistic, technically grounded, and communicated clearly to senior stakeholders
• Operational Excellence
  • Ensure efficient, reliable, and predictable day-to-day planning and execution across all three delivery streams
  • Drive a continuous improvement culture with strong delivery hygiene, clear ownership, and up-to-date tracking
  • Coordinate supplier delivery commitments and elevate partner performance issues where delivery is at risk

What skills and experience will you have?

• Proven delivery leadership in an enterprise‑scale technology environment (we operate at circa 1,100 employees, £500–750m revenue)
• Track record managing complex, multi-workstream technology delivery including cloud migration or infrastructure transformation programmes
• Experience owning delivery backlogs, running squad ceremonies, and managing cross-functional dependencies and quarterly planning
• Comfortable working alongside strong technical specialists, confident to challenge without overstepping
• Working understanding of infrastructure and cloud (on-premise, servers, networking, AWS) sufficient to plan delivery credibly
• Delivery-focused, calm under pressure, with strong backlog management discipline and attention to planning detail
• Strong communicator across technical and non-technical audiences, including senior stakeholders
• Commercially aware with an understanding of how delivery decisions connect to business value, cost, and risk

What’s in it for you?

• Hybrid working (2-3 days in the office at a minimum)
• 24 days holiday (+ 8 bank holidays)
• Annual bonus scheme
• Enhanced maternity and adoption leave
• Company pension with up to 8% N Brown contribution
• Mental Health support both internally and externally, including access to our wellbeing champions and counselling services
• A range of financial wellbeing support
• Stream - a financial wellbeing tool that helps you track your pay, access earnings early and manage your money with confidence
• Colleague discount across all N Brown brands
• Onsite café with subsidised rates and local restaurant discounts!
• Life Assurance and Private Medical Insurance
• Paid volunteer time – all our colleagues can take a full day paid to volunteer for a charity of their choice

N Brown – who we are and why work for us?

N Brown is a leading UK digital retail platform for clothing, footwear, home and technology, headquartered in Manchester and employing over 1,200 people nationwide. Through our strategic retail brands JD Williams, Jacamo and Simply Be and our unique payments offering, we exist to champion inclusivity and serve the underserved. Our customers are our passion, and we take great pride in delivering products that ensure they can look and feel amazing, without compromising on choice, value and accessibility. We’re committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment that values equality for all. Our vision is that by ‘championing inclusion, we’ll become the most loved and trusted fashion retailer’. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are, therefore, at the heart of our culture. In May 2024 we were delighted to be named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024. We work hard to create a happy and inclusive culture for everyone and we’re so proud to have made this list – as voted for by our very own colleagues!

Ways of Working

We offer hybrid working which varies across the business depending on the role you’re in. Our Head Office is located in the Northern Quarter in Manchester City Centre. So if you are travelling by train, tram or bus we’re perfectly located, plus we’re surrounded by cool cafes, trendy bars and the best places to eat! Our working hours are 36.17 per week and our core working hours are between 10am - 4pm. Given we don’t have strict working hours you can find the working pattern that’s right for you.

Our promise to you

We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Please know your application is being reviewed by a real human being, not AI. We value your interest in joining us and appreciate you taking the time to submit your application.

What happens when you apply to a role at N Brown?

As soon as we receive your application, we’ll send you an email to let you know. We always aim to come back to you as soon as possible with an update and we really appreciate you taking the time to apply for a role with us. Good luck!