At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead daily operations of essential services, ensuring stability and customer satisfaction.
- 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: Enjoy a supportive culture with opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-profile role that shapes operational excellence.
- Qualifications: Experience in service management and leading operational teams is essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Are you a Service Operations Manager looking for your next challenge in a secure, complex and high-profile environment? The work we do has a critical national purpose, helping to safeguard the UK by ensuring essential services remain resilient, reliable and protected. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in a complex, high-profile environment, where operational stability, strong leadership and continuous improvement are essential.
As Service Operations Manager, you will take ownership of the day-to-day operational delivery of core contracted services across a key customer account. Reporting to the Head of Service, you will ensure BAU services are delivered effectively, consistently and in line with customer expectations, service performance targets and contractual commitments.
This is a key leadership role, giving you the opportunity to lead a team of Service Delivery Managers and work closely with engineering, architecture, security and wider service teams. You will help bring structure, clarity and control to a complex service environment, while supporting operational improvement and ensuring services remain stable, well governed and customer focused.
The role will suit someone who enjoys leading people, managing live services, solving operational challenges and influencing how services are delivered. You will have the opportunity to shape ways of working, improve operational efficiency and contribute to the culture and growth of an important area of the business.
What you will be doing:
- Oversee the day-to-day BAU operation of core contracted services, ensuring services are delivered in line with SLAs, KPIs, quality standards and contractual commitments.
- Lead and manage a team of Service Delivery Managers, providing direction, support, development and clear operational priorities.
- Act as a key operational contact for the customer, ensuring clear communication, effective escalation management and timely resolution of service issues.
- Monitor service performance, resource levels and delivery risks, ensuring the right people, processes and controls are in place to maintain service stability.
- Work closely with engineering, architecture, security and service teams to improve ways of working, drive operational control and support consistent service delivery.
- Produce and oversee operational reporting, governance updates and service reviews for internal stakeholders, senior leadership and the customer.
What you will bring:
- Proven experience in a Service Operations Manager, Senior Service Manager, Service Delivery Manager or similar IT service management role.
- Strong experience leading operational service teams, ideally including direct management of Service Delivery Managers or similar roles.
- Demonstrable experience managing live IT services within a contractual, SLA/KPI-driven environment.
- Strong understanding of service management principles, including incident, problem, change, risk and continual service improvement.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to provide clarity, influence others and manage customer expectations.
- Experience driving operational improvements, identifying inefficiencies and implementing leaner, more effective ways of working.
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.
Loved reading about this job and want to know more about us? 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.
Service Operations Manager 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 Service Operations Manager
✨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 Service Operations Manager 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 Service Operations Manager 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 Service Operations Manager 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 Service Operations Manager role at Sopra Steria!
We think you need these skills to ace Service Operations Manager
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!
