At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead IT services, ensuring security and high performance while driving continuous improvement.
- Company: Join Sovereign Network Group, a forward-thinking tech company focused on inclusion and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible benefits, wellbeing days, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a strategic leadership role within a dynamic tech environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in IT operations, service management, and leading multidisciplinary teams.
Lead Secure, Reliable and High-Performing IT Services at SNG. We’re looking for an experienced and strategic IT leader to join our CIO Leadership Team at Sovereign Network Group (SNG) as Head of IT Service & Secure Operations. In this new role, you’ll be responsible for the delivery, security, resilience and continual improvement of SNG's core technology services. Based from our offices in Basingstoke or Wembley, you’ll combine home and office working aligned with our hybrid approach. There will be regular travel to both of these offices to ensure close collaboration across teams.
The Role
Providing strategic leadership across SNG's technology operations and operational service capabilities, this role ensures technology services remain customer-focused, secure, resilient and aligned to SNG's technology strategy, continually evolving to meet changing organisational needs. You will be a leader who combines strong operational management with a focus on efficiency and value. You will drive improvements in service performance, colleague experience and operational effectiveness through the intelligent use of automation, AI and modern service management practices. You’ll be accountable for leading Service Desk, Infrastructure, Cloud Operations and Cyber Security Operations teams, ensuring colleagues receive reliable, secure and high-quality technology services.
Responsibilities include:
- Developing the operational strategy for IT Services and Secure Operations, ensuring services remain aligned to organisational priorities.
- Managing the IT Service and Secure Operations team with a focus on articulating a clear vision, providing direction, encouraging high performance, and supporting continuous improvement.
- Acting as service owner for all operational IT services within your remit, with accountability for service quality and maturity development.
- Leading the response to major incidents, ensuring robust monitoring, operational controls, resilience and business continuity arrangements are in place to minimise service disruption and maintain critical services.
- Leading the Service Desk, ensuring timely, high-quality support for colleagues and developing self-service and automation.
- Leading operational cyber security capability across monitoring, incident response, vulnerability management and operational security.
- Developing and owning the strategy, operational management and continual improvement of SNG's cloud infrastructure and workplace technology services.
- Leading the operational support of strategic business applications following transition into live service, ensuring effective operational ownership, monitoring, support and continual improvement of products.
- Managing strategic relationships with IT Service Management, IT Security and Infrastructure suppliers and related managed service providers, ensuring value for money and maximising return on investment.
What we need from you
You should have demonstrable experience in a similar senior role within IT Operations or IT Service functions, ideally from within a similar sized, complex organisation. You’ll also need:
- Experience leading Service Desk, Infrastructure and Cyber Security operations.
- Strong understanding of IT Service Management and ITIL principles.
- Experience managing cloud-based infrastructure and Microsoft technology environments.
- Demonstrable experience of operational service ownership, service transition and continual improvement.
- Experience leading operational response to major incidents and service disruptions.
- Strong commercial, financial and supplier management experience.
- Demonstrable experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
- Experience presenting operational performance and risk to senior leaders.
Job Description
We have some great benefits at SNG, including:
- 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays (with an extra day every year up to 30 days).
- Chance to buy or sell holiday as part of our flexible benefits package.
- 3 additional wellbeing days and 2 paid volunteering days.
- Generous matched pension scheme up to 12% and Life cover at 4x salary.
- Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption pay.
- Options for private medical insurance, dental insurance and critical illness cover.
- Wellbeing discounts, including Gym Memberships and access to a 24/7 virtual GP service.
At Sovereign Network Group, we are passionate about inclusion for all and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive. We are committed to our Equality Diversity and Inclusion strategy and believe that you can truly be yourself at SNG. Take a look at our careers site to learn more about us and our values.
Head of IT Service and Secure Operations in Basingstoke employer: Sovereign Network Group
At Sovereign Network Group, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture where your health and safety is paramount. With competitive salaries, generous benefits including 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, and opportunities for personal growth, you will find meaningful work that truly makes a difference in the community. Join our dedicated team in Wiltshire and enjoy the unique advantage of a company van and fuel card, ensuring you can focus on delivering quality homes without financial worry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of IT Service and Secure Operations in Basingstoke
✨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 Sovereign Network Group 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 Sovereign Network Group 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 Sovereign Network Group!
✨Direct Apply to Sovereign Network Group
Let's not forget to apply directly through the Sovereign Network Group 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 Head of IT Service and Secure Operations in Basingstoke
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 Sovereign Network Group.
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 Sovereign Network Group. 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 Sovereign Network Group
✨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.
