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- Tasks: Lead the development and implementation of technology strategy and operating model at Tesco.
- Company: Tesco is a leading retailer and technology company, committed to improving everyday life for customers.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, an annual bonus, private medical insurance, and generous holiday allowance.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team driving impactful technology strategies in a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in technology strategy and operating models, with strong leadership and communication skills.
- Other info: We welcome diverse applicants and support flexible working arrangements.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 180000 £ per year.
As Head of Technology Strategy & Operating Model, I drive the definition, socialisation & implementation of an overarching technology strategy, and the associated core end-to-end technology operating model. My team and I work across a broad set of senior stakeholders within Technology and the broader business to ensure a strategic balance between centralised governance and decentralised strategy development and execution. Beyond shaping compelling content for diverse audiences, I focus on driving measurable improvements in Technology's overall effectiveness, ensuring our strategy and operating model deliver tangible business value.
About the role
You will be responsible for:
- Technology Strategy: Lead the development of the Technology Strategy framework, collaborating with the extended leadership team to ensure a federated approach, with strategic topics owned by the most relevant teams. Partner with Business Strategy & Planning to align and evolve the Technology Strategy alongside the business strategy, ensuring both iterate cohesively. Drive the ongoing creation and maintenance of strategic content, ensuring alignment with the agreed framework and balancing centrally versus locally-owned strategy. Foster relationships across teams to embed strategic guidance into processes, decisions, and communications, ensuring the strategy's relevance is understood.
- Operating Model: Define and maintain a high-level framework for how Technology describes and understands its end-to-end ways of working, ensuring alignment with our Technology Strategy. Emphasise aspects expected to be consistent across Technology teams, including mandatory elements and established 'best practices.' Lead the continuous development and refinement of the operating model to meet evolving organisational needs, fostering adaptability and scalability as the business grows and transforms. Manage materials, education, and governance using a federated approach, balancing centrally defined elements, contributions from other teams, and local flexibility, ensuring the model remains relevant and impactful. Lead overarching operating model related initiatives, including those related to improving colleague & stakeholder understanding, as well as significant change activity.
- Leadership: Lead the two cross-cutting practices of Technology Strategy and OpModel, ensuring their operations and development drive maximum transformational impact. Align practices with adjacent functions, both within Directorate (e.g. Enterprise Architecture, Change & Comms) and beyond (e.g. Portfolio, Service Management, etc.). Continuously track and review value delivered by the practices, and ensure priorities, investments & activities are optimised based on business needs & expected benefits.
You will need:
- Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate and influence effectively across functions and locations.
- Exceptional communication skills, capable of simplifying complex concepts for diverse audiences.
- Adaptability and agility to switch seamlessly between contexts, reflecting the breadth of Technology's strategy and operating model.
- Proficiency in adopting a coaching and consultative approach to support teams and stakeholders.
- Critical thinking skills to challenge ideas constructively and appropriately.
- Strategic vision and the ability to maintain a big-picture perspective while understanding organisational priorities.
- Value-driven leadership with a focus on delivering impactful outcomes through scalable partnership and practice models.
- Deep interest and expertise in current and emerging Technology strategies, operating models, and related frameworks.
Experience relevant for this job:
- Extensive experience in owning, driving, and delivering Technology Strategy through its full lifecycle, including the development and leadership of strategic plans over 3–5-year timescales.
- Experience in defining Technology operating models and successfully delivering operating model transformation, working across a broad range of colleagues, across many countries and cultures.
- Proven expertise in leveraging quantitative and qualitative data to design, implement, and evaluate the impact of complex strategies and operating models at an organisational level.
- Demonstrated success in delivering a diverse and complex agenda, with a proven ability to manage a broad remit with resilience and adaptability.
- Extensive experience in leading, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
- Experience of Group delivery would be an advantage (i.e. multiple markets, business units).
What’s in it for you?
We’re all about the little helps. That’s why we make sure our Tesco colleague benefits package takes care of you – both in and out of work.
- Annual bonus scheme of up to 45% of base salary.
- Car Cash Allowance.
- Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day (plus Bank holidays).
- Private medical insurance.
- Retirement savings plan - save between 6% - 10% and Tesco will contribute 1.5 times this amount.
- 26 weeks maternity and adoption leave (after 1 years’ service) at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay, we also offer 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave.
About Us
You might know us as a supermarket, technology company or even for our award-winning mobile network. Truth is, we’re all of those things, and much more. Our colleagues work with one goal in mind, helping to make every day a little better for our customers, colleagues and communities all over the world. No two customers are the same, neither are our colleagues. At Tesco, we champion a balance that lets you thrive both in and out of work. Spend 60% of your week collaborating with colleagues at our office locations or local sites and the rest remotely. Whether you’re just kicking off your career, juggling passions, or navigating big life events, we’re here to support you. We always welcome a conversation about flexible working, so talk to us throughout your application about how we can support. We’re proud to be an accredited Disability Confident Leader, where everyone’s welcome. That’s why we commit to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you need support with your application, click here for more information. And if you’re interested in joining our team but don’t tick every box, don’t let that hold you back from applying.
Head of Technology Strategy and Operating Model employer: Tesco
Contact Detail:
Tesco Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Technology Strategy and Operating Model
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the technology strategy field. Attend industry events, webinars, or local meetups to connect with individuals who have experience in similar roles. This can provide you with valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with Tesco's current technology initiatives and strategies. Understanding their business model and how technology plays a role will help you tailor your discussions during interviews and demonstrate your genuine interest in the company.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how it aligns with fostering collaboration across teams. Highlight examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led cross-functional teams to achieve strategic goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on emerging technology trends and frameworks relevant to the retail sector. Being knowledgeable about the latest advancements will not only enhance your credibility but also show that you're proactive and forward-thinking.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Technology Strategy and Operating Model
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in technology strategy and operating models. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead and implement strategic initiatives, as well as your experience in managing cross-functional teams.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for technology and how your vision aligns with Tesco's goals. Highlight your leadership skills and provide examples of how you've successfully driven technology strategies in previous roles.
Showcase Communication Skills: Given the importance of communication in this role, ensure your application reflects your ability to simplify complex concepts. Use clear and concise language, and consider including examples of how you've effectively communicated with diverse audiences.
Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: In your application, illustrate your strategic vision by discussing how you've previously developed and executed technology strategies. Mention any frameworks or methodologies you’ve used and how they contributed to measurable business outcomes.
How to prepare for a job interview at Tesco
✨Understand the Technology Strategy Framework
Before your interview, make sure you have a solid grasp of what a Technology Strategy framework entails. Be prepared to discuss how you would lead its development and ensure alignment with business strategy, as this is a key responsibility for the role.
✨Showcase Your Relationship-Building Skills
This role requires strong relationship-building skills. Think of examples from your past experiences where you've successfully collaborated with diverse teams or influenced stakeholders. Be ready to share these stories during your interview.
✨Communicate Complex Ideas Simply
Exceptional communication skills are crucial for this position. Practice explaining complex technology concepts in simple terms, as you may need to present ideas to various audiences. This will demonstrate your ability to engage effectively with different stakeholders.
✨Demonstrate Adaptability and Strategic Vision
The ability to adapt and maintain a big-picture perspective is vital. Prepare to discuss how you've navigated changes in previous roles and how you can apply strategic thinking to drive improvements in technology effectiveness at Tesco.
