At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead service strategy and performance across multiple services in a high-profile environment.
- Company: Join Sopra Steria, a leader in digital solutions for national security.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, 25 days leave, car allowance, medical insurance, and pension.
- Other info: Flexible working options available; we value professional development and teamwork.
- Why this job: Shape the future of service delivery and make a real impact on national security.
- Qualifications: Strong service management background and leadership experience in complex environments.
The predicted salary is between 59576 - 70089 £ per year.
Are you an experienced service leader looking for an opportunity to shape the future direction of service delivery across a complex, high-profile environment? This work has a critical national purpose, helping to safeguard the UK by ensuring essential services remain resilient, reliable and protected. You will play a key role in a growing service function, providing strategic direction across a complex account made up of multiple services, stakeholders and commercial frameworks.
You will be responsible for leading the overall service strategy, performance and growth of the account. You will ensure services are set up to deliver effectively today, while also shaping how they develop for the future. You will provide structure and strategic direction across the service environment, taking a broader view across service strategy, performance, governance, commercial position, service improvement and future growth, while working closely with the Service Operations Manager, who will focus on BAU delivery.
This is a key leadership role in a growing area of the business. You will help shape the next generation of service delivery across the account, influence the service culture, support future contract growth and bring a fresh approach to how services are managed, improved and delivered.
What you will be doing:
- Lead the overall service strategy across multiple services, customers and commercial frameworks, ensuring delivery is aligned to customer, contractual and business objectives.
- Oversee the Service Operations Manager and wider service teams, ensuring BAU performance, escalations, risks and service issues are being managed effectively.
- Work closely with the customer, account leadership and senior stakeholders to understand priorities, manage expectations and shape future service direction.
- Attend and contribute to account-level governance forums, including service, finance, strategy and growth boards, providing clear updates and supporting decision making.
- Support service design, transition and acceptance into live service, ensuring new or changing services are fit for purpose and have the right operating model, governance and controls in place.
- Drive continual service improvement, identifying inefficiencies, improving ways of working and supporting opportunities for account growth, service development and future contract success.
What you will bring:
- Strong background in service management, within a complex IT services, managed services or account-led environment.
- Experience leading services across multiple areas, customers or service lines, with an understanding of service strategy, lifecycle management, transition and operational performance.
- Understanding of ITIL service management principles, ideally ITIL 4, with awareness of Agile, DevOps or hybrid delivery approaches being beneficial.
- Commercial and financial awareness, including experience working with contracts, budgets, cost control, service performance, risk and opportunities for growth.
- Proven stakeholder management experience, with the ability to engage customers, senior leaders, commercial teams, finance, engineering, architecture and security.
- Strong leadership experience, with the ability to influence teams, provide clear direction, manage escalations and shape a positive service culture across a complex account.
If you are interested in this role but not sure if your skills and experience are exactly what we’re looking for, please do apply, we’d love to hear from you!
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Gloucestershire - on site full time
Security Clearance Level: eDV
Internal Recruiter: Josh
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Benefits: Bonus, 25 days annual leave with the choice to buy extra 10 days, 3% flex fund benefit, £5,400 car allowance, AXA Medical Insurance, life assurance, and 6% pension
If you’re interested and need to work flexibly, we encourage you to apply and talk to us about what might be possible.
Sopra Steria’s Aerospace, Defence and Security business designs, develops and deploys digital solutions to Central Government clients. The work we do makes a real difference to the client’s goal of National Security, and we operate in a unique and privileged environment. We are given time for professional development activities, and we coach and mentor our colleagues, sharing knowledge and learning from each other. We foster a culture in which employees feel valued and supported and have pride in their work for the customer, delivering outstanding rates of customer satisfaction in the UK’s most complex safety- and security-critical markets.
Head of Service employer: Sopra Steria
Sopra Steria is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity for a Data Security Technical Lead to influence enterprise-wide data security strategy while working remotely. With a strong focus on professional development, competitive benefits including a generous car allowance and private medical insurance, and a collaborative work culture that values innovation, employees are empowered to grow their careers in a supportive environment dedicated to making a real difference in national security.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Service
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Head of Service at Sopra Steria!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Sopra Steria or be willing to refer you for that Head of Service position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Sopra Steria who’s on the lookout for their next Head of Service star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Head of Service role at Sopra Steria!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Service
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Sopra Steria. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sopra Steria
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Sopra Steria. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
