At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape how new tech is introduced and ensure services are ready to go live.
- Company: Lincolnshire Co-op, a diverse organisation with a strong community focus.
- Benefits: 30 days annual leave, generous discounts, pension scheme, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a supportive team committed to making life better in our communities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by connecting project delivery with operational support.
- Qualifications: Experience in IT service management and knowledge of ITIL 4 practices.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
About the role
What if your next IT role gave you the opportunity to shape how new technology is introduced across a diverse organisation, connect project delivery with operational support, and make sure important services are ready to perform from the moment they go live?
At Lincolnshire Co-op, technology supports a varied family of businesses and services, from our food stores and pharmacies to our funeral homes, travel branches, warehouses and Support Centre teams.
Introducing new technology successfully takes more than completing a project.
Services need to be supportable, resilient and operationally ready, with the right knowledge, monitoring and processes in place before they are handed over.
As our Service Design and Transition Manager, you’ll bridge the gap between project delivery and business-as-usual support.
You’ll work with projects from their earliest stages, making sure operational requirements are understood and every new or changed service moves into the live environment in a controlled, well-documented and proportionate way.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll establish and lead an ITIL 4-aligned approach to service design, transition and acceptance across our IT project portfolio.
In this role, you will
- Engage with projects from initiation, making sure supportability, monitoring, resilience and operational requirements are considered from the outset.
- Own and maintain practical service design standards, templates and service catalogue information.
- Represent business-as-usual support during service design and delivery, ensuring operational risks and support requirements inform project decisions.
- Lead service acceptance and go-live readiness reviews, with clear entry, exit and approval criteria.
- Coordinate knowledge transfer between project and support teams, including runbooks, known errors, monitoring and support documentation.
- Plan and manage early-life support arrangements before overseeing the formal handover into steady-state service.
- Maintain transition risk logs and elevate unresolved readiness concerns ahead of go-live.
- Provide clear reporting on transition progress, risks, decisions and outcomes.
- Review post-go-live incidents, early-life support and colleague feedback to improve future transitions.
- Build strong relationships across project delivery, the PMO, applications, infrastructure, service operations and the wider business.
You’ll be supported by colleagues across IT, project delivery and the wider Society who share a commitment to introducing change effectively and providing dependable services for our colleagues, customers and members.
About You
You may already be working in service design or transition, or you might be an experienced IT service management professional looking for an opportunity to shape a more consistent approach across a complex organisation.
What matters most to us is your ability to connect technical delivery with operational reality, bring people together and make sure services are genuinely ready before they go live.
You’ll probably recognise yourself in this if
- You have significant experience in IT service management, service design or service transition within a medium-to-large IT environment.
- You have managed handovers from project delivery into live operational support.
- You have a strong working knowledge of ITIL 4, particularly its service design and transition practices.
- You have led readiness reviews, service acceptance processes or go-live governance.
- You’re confident influencing project teams and constructively challenging where operational requirements haven’t been met.
- You can create clear, practical standards, processes and documentation that colleagues will use.
- You’re comfortable interpreting incident and support data and using it to improve future outcomes.
- You communicate clearly with technical and non-technical colleagues at every level.
- You’re organised and able to manage several service transitions, risks and priorities at the same time.
- You build positive working relationships without losing sight of accountability, service quality or operational readiness.
Experience within a retail, multi‑site or high‑availability environment would be helpful, as would an ITIL 4 Foundation or higher‑level service management qualification.
A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for business use would also be advantageous.
Why this role matters
Technology supports almost every part of our Society.
Every day, colleagues across our businesses rely on IT services to serve our customers and members, support patients, manage important information and keep our operations moving.
When a new or changed service goes live, its impact can be felt across the organisation.
By making sure services are designed with operational support in mind, you’ll help reduce disruption, resolve early issues more quickly and give colleagues confidence in the technology they use.
You’ll have the opportunity to influence
- How operational requirements are built into IT projects from the beginning.
- How new and changed services are assessed and approved before go‑live.
- How effectively knowledge is transferred from project teams into operational support.
- How transition risks are identified, managed and escalated.
- How quickly services move from early‑life support into a stable operating environment.
- How lessons from previous transitions improve the delivery of future change.
Most importantly, you’ll help us deliver on our purpose of bringing together ideas, energy and resources to make life better in our communities.
What connects for you
Alongside the opportunity to shape an important area of our IT service and make a difference across the Society, you’ll receive:
- 30 days’ annual leave, including bank holidays, increasing with service.
- A pension scheme with up to 12% employer contributions.
- Generous colleague discounts across our family of businesses.
- Annual discretionary performance‑based bonuses.
- Access to a wide range of learning and professional development opportunities.
- Free tea and coffee during rest breaks.
- Wellbeing support and opportunities to get involved in our local communities.
We’re also proud to be an Investors in People Platinum employer, recognising our commitment to helping colleagues learn, develop and build rewarding careers.
The role is contracted for 37.5 hours per week, with typical working hours of Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm.
Some flexibility will be needed from time to time to support important service transitions and go‑live activity.
About Us
From a single store in 1861 we have grown to be one of the most successful co‑operatives in the UK.
We’re proud to be able to offer a wide range of services from across our family of businesses.
From Food Stores and Pharmacies to Post Offices and Support Services, we’re a growing society made up of over 220 outlets and nearly 3,000 colleagues.
We're owned by our members, the people of Lincolnshire and surrounding counties, and have been for more than 160 years!
Communities are at the heart of everything we do and motivate us to deliver more than great customer service.
We support them by sharing dividend with our members, investing in new and improved services, raising money for charity through our Community Champion scheme, supporting local schools and so much more!
We work together as a Society and are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is barrier free and as inclusive as possible for everyone.
If you need any adjustments, would like us to do anything differently during the interview or would like to get in touch with us about anything else, please contact our Recruitment team on (01522) 533316, or alternatively you can email careers@lincolnshire. coop.
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IT Service Design and Transition Manager in Lincoln employer: LincolnshireCoop
Gadsby's Bakery is an exceptional employer that values teamwork and quality, offering a supportive work environment where every Packer plays a crucial role in delivering fresh bakery products to the community. With generous benefits such as 30 days' annual leave, a robust pension scheme, and numerous learning opportunities, employees are encouraged to grow and thrive while enjoying a culture of pride and attention to detail. Located in a fast-paced production setting, this role not only provides meaningful work but also fosters a sense of belonging and contribution to local wellbeing initiatives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land IT Service Design and Transition Manager in Lincoln
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what LincolnshireCoop values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges LincolnshireCoop might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at LincolnshireCoop!
✨Direct Apply to LincolnshireCoop
Let's not forget to apply directly through the LincolnshireCoop website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace IT Service Design and Transition Manager in Lincoln
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at LincolnshireCoop.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at LincolnshireCoop. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at LincolnshireCoop
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
