Head of Technical Operations in England

Join Police Digital Service as Head of Technical Operations starting at £90,000 per annum. The Head of Technical Operations is a member of the senior management team (SMT) for the wider operations division and represents the managed services directorate. As the Head of Technical Operations, you will lead PDS’s efforts in supporting the implementation and delivery of the National Policing Digital Strategy, providing crucial service in managing the 24x7 technical delivery of live mission critical national Policing systems. You will be responsible for ensuring that PDS can provide and deliver appropriate services and solutions to support policing 24x7.

Our Values are:

• We value People
• We do the right thing
• We are innovative
• We are one Team
• We are proud and passionate

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and collaborate with the system users and business owners across local Police Forces in England and Wales, Police Scotland, Police Services Northern Ireland and other UK Policing bodies and Law Enforcement agencies.
• Form & lead the creation of Technical Operations function within PDS.
• Create and lead a comprehensive service desk function.
• Create and lead a 24x7 technical support capability within PDS.
• Manage relationships and support stakeholders across UK Policing, to drive innovation and add value to the forces by maximising the opportunities the national IT systems bring.
• Provide thought leadership in all aspects of Technical Operations including DevSecOps capability.
• Ensuring adoption of industry best practices (ITIL v4) and independent standards (ISO20000), working closely with the Head of Service Management.
• Work closely with and provide support to the Director of Managed Services, ensuring he is appropriately briefed with respect to the Technical Operations practice, while being empowered to drive these activities forward for the practice and as a bridge into the Police Forces’ own service management function.
• Ensure technical services are delivered to Service Level Targets to ensure value is provided end to end.
• Promote and support the Police IT community.
• Create a positive, vibrant, collaborative, can do team to deliver high quality service management.
• Ensure good and robust governance exists to effectively manage change.
• Ensure key suppliers are effectively managed and held to account for performance.
• Develop a clear Technical Operation strategy and delivery road map on a continuous basis that supports a DevSecOps capability.
• Ensure sufficient continuity plans exists which are frequently and robustly tested.
• Ensure good financial management of the Technical Operations function.
• Embed a learning culture identifying root causes of failure and designing them out to prevent re-occurrence.
• Design and provide a ‘service catalogue’ of the available capabilities through the technical operations function.
• Develop a clear career development pathway for all members of the team.

What you need to succeed in the role

• Proven experience of developing and embedding technical operations services, to mature and transform IT services.
• Previous experience in ITIL (v3/4) and attaining ISO-20000.
• Proven track record of leading a delivery of large-scale transformational change, ideally in the Policing, Defence or UK Public Sectors.
• Demonstrable passion and curiosity about delivering high quality, high performing IT systems.
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management, problem solving and building trust are all essential requirements for this role.
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, as well as presentation and negotiation skills.
• Ability to speak in plain English and to effectively engage with the senior Law Enforcement stakeholder community with varying data skills.
• Ability to win hearts and minds around good technical operations and convince stakeholders to embed and mature their IT capabilities.
• Previous experience in building, managing, and developing a team-one that embodies our values around being curious, empowered, diverse, inclusive and agile.
• High standards-you will know what good looks like and want to deliver it.
• Current knowledge of the technical operations industry: trends, innovation and best practices.
• Security clearance level: NPPV3 and SC.

Diversity, equity and inclusion

We are committed to equal opportunity for all and will not discriminate on any grounds. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible span of experience. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates and people with disabilities.

Working Arrangements

This is a remote role with occasional travel required to attend meetings. All applicants must be eligible for NPPV3 and SC clearances. Successful applicants will require NPPV3 clearance to have been approved before starting with PDS.

Seniority level: Not Applicable

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Administrative

Industries: IT Services and IT Consulting