Head of Publishing & HR Systems

Join to apply for the Head of Publishing & HR Systems role at Penguin Random House UK. We have a great opening in our Senior Technology Leadership Team, and we are seeking a strategic and driven Head of Publishing & HR Systems to join our incredibly successful team of five, reporting directly to our Group Technology Director. This pivotal role is integral to shaping the strategic direction and delivery of key transformational initiatives within Penguin Random House UK’s Technology division.

The successful candidate will be involved in technology and business capability planning, innovation strategy, and budget management, ensuring that our technology services align seamlessly with business priorities as well as running smoothly, safely and efficiently.

About Technology: Our Technology division is charging ahead with our strategic plan to amplify the voices of our organisation in line with our core mission. We have been on a very successful journey within Penguin Random House UK Technology to create the book publisher of the future ensuring that our estate is fit for the great opportunities we want to harness. This includes leveraging the potential of Cloud solutions, continuously enhancing our security measures, revitalising or upgrading from legacy applications, advancing our AI capabilities with care and enhancing our interactions with strategic partners and suppliers both locally and globally.

Our Technology Division spans across two vibrant office locations in London and Colchester, where approximately 200 colleagues are dedicated to empowering our mission – we make books for everyone, because a book can change anyone. We are also on a journey to create a workplace that is truly inclusive, empowering and equitable for all. Our recent successes have seen a significant measurable increase in our division’s engagement and sense of belonging. We are committed to fostering an environment where every voice is valued, and every individual can make a meaningful impact doing great work, and your role will be vital in leading this.

The role: As the leader of the Publishing and HR Systems Team, you will inspire, guide and manage a diverse, high-performing team dedicated to operational stability and innovative solutions. Your responsibilities will include overseeing the strategic development and smooth operation of our powerful Publishing and new HR platforms, maintaining clear and frequent communication between business and technology management, and managing vendor relationships to ensure top-tier service levels.

This role demands a proactive leader who can drive best practices across all elements of delivery, from analysis and development to testing and operational support, ensuring our technology services are stable and meet our key availability targets.

• Develop and execute the Publishing and HR Applications strategy and roadmap, aligning with the broader Technology strategy and project portfolio.
• Oversee all aspects of analysis, development, testing, and support for Publishing and HR Systems and all other platforms.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with stakeholders, including senior-level customers.
• Manage vendor relationships with Virtusales, Dayforce, and other platform vendors, ensuring collaboration and effective delivery within release cycles.
• Ensure the successful delivery of medium to large initiatives, meeting quality, time, and budget targets.
• Provide strategic insights and align resources for global and local programmes, initiatives, and new ventures.
• Drive best practices through standards, policies, and reporting metrics across all areas of delivery.
• Foster innovation and experimentation to stay ahead of new technologies and trends.
• Develop and manage your team of 7, ensuring clear objectives, talent development, and succession planning.
• Oversee resource management for project, development, and support needs, and manage departmental budget and forecasting in line with our policies.
• Ensure a security conscious and well-designed architecture maintaining updates and upgrades in line with security policies.

What you will bring:

• Extensive leadership experience in Technology environments, implementing standards and Agile service management strategies.
• Proven track record of leading Technology teams across multiple locations and time zones.
• Strong business acumen with experience in producing business cases and managing financial budgets.
• Ability to present ideas, projects and strategies in a non-technical manner to all business levels, including at Senior Leadership level with appropriate communication.
• Experience in third-party contract review and commercial negotiation.
• In-depth understanding of supplier management and governance of multiple vendor contracts.
• Leadership in diverse, open, and welcoming teams, with a focus on customer service and quality management.
• Creating well-crafted strategies aligning to a larger technology roadmap along with delivery plans and approaches.

Preferred criteria:

• Successful delivery of IT-based services to large user bases, preferably within publishing or media industries.
• Experience in a matrix organisation, successfully influencing outcomes to aligned targets.
• Experience in driving transformational optimisations at scale both within Technology as well as the business sphere as a trusted partner to wider business communities.

Application instructions: Please apply with your CV by 11:59pm on Tuesday 13th May. We anticipate a two-stage interview process which will include a virtual first-stage interview and an in-person second stage interview in our offices in London.

Circa £115,000 dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.

What you can expect from us: Our people are the heart of our business, and we work hard to support a culture of responsibility and recognition. Hybrid working is our current practice with time spent working from home, in our London office or on occasion our Colchester office.

About Penguin: We’re the UK’s largest publisher; made up of some 2,000 people and publishing over 1,500 books each year. Together, we make books for everyone because a book can change anyone.

The recruitment process: As a Disability Confident Committed organisation, we offer interviews to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role.