Head of Group Applications - Portsmouth

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Head of Group Applications Lakeside, Portsmouth Babcock Corporate Services SF29448

Here at Babcock International, we're looking for a Head of Group Applications to lead, motivate and manage a team responsible for driving and supporting group-wide business success through the use of group applications and software development practices.

This Head of Group Applications will be charged with the creation of a Centre of Excellence including staff, engineering and policies, recognised across Babcock for the skill and speed of execution in engaging with stakeholders, providing consultancy to the wider group and improving business outcomes through data. You will also be responsible for delivering proven application management services and expertise for agreed applications and business capabilities.

About the role:

In the role of Head of Group Applications, you will be expected to define and realise our strategy in the use of Enterprise applications, platforms including enablement and self-serve capabilities to drive growth.

You will team build a high performing team, fostering motivation and integration of employees as well as team learning and development and create an environment of continuous learning and improvement. You will coach and mentor team members to help them develop.

Excellent organisation skills will facilitate co-ordination across Sectors and the building of a community around sharing of knowledge and best practice and you will be accountable for our group-wide application roadmaps.

You will also contribute extensively to the annual planning and budgetary process for Babcock IS (Information Services) and to the business strategy of the organisation as a whole. To ensure that stakeholder engagement is effective and supports the needs of Babcock IS as well as Babcock International overall.

This Head of Group Applications will be an ambassador for Babcock IS through delivering successful Information & Insight activities to support the business in a professional manner that engenders a culture of partnering with the business, and whose team is perceived to be adding real value to creating bottom line benefit. You will actively support the CTO and CIO to deliver the long term technology strategy for IT and set an exceptional example of professionalism and successful business change.

Main Tasks, Activities and Outputs:

Deliver the organisation, resources, roadmaps, processes, documentation, toolsets and services for all group Applications including; Application architecture, Application portfolio, Business analysis (process), Solutions design, Solution delivery, Development, Testing, Training, Support/Enablement and Platform operations

Deliver proven application management services and expertise for agreed applications and business capabilities including suite of metrics to identify opportunities, grow and manage service, support and delivery of applications and associated services

Develop application strategies, architectures and roadmaps for Babcock's Applications Portfolio and establish robust investment plans for the development and deployment of the group applications including opportunities to improve services and or reduce cost for services including Digital Workplace, Customer contact, Compliance, Facilities Management, Project Management, Group Websites, Mobile, TFS

Manage application and development standards and methodologies to improve application delivery and consistency across the group and support the application design authority representing Group Applications

Establish and nurture communities of practice with key business leaders and technical forums for development, coding, portfolio, UX, mobile and testing to deliver consistent approaches across group

Contribute to the wider customer engagement model with the IS teams to deliver business benefit fast using agile and prototyping

What do I need to do the role?

Qualifications and Experience:

Degree qualified in a quantitative subject or at least 10 years of senior experience including knowledge of, and strategic vision for, data and analytics

Highly effective at building and leading high performing distributed teams of over 40

Personable and professional leadership style that is customer focused, and always strives to achieve a win-win scenario despite having to resolve conflict and take difficult decisions on behalf of the Group

Technical & Specialist Knowledge:

Expert in application management and strategy including user enablement

Expert in software development including the Microsoft stack (Windows, SharePoint, SQL etc) and customisation/configuration and integration of COTS solutions

Strong ability to manage 3rd party COTS technical relationships

Strong understanding of the metrics associated with a problem or situation, their significance and relationship, and being able to manipulate these as necessary to identify solutions

Able to work with and influence at senior levels within and across organisation boundaries

Skilled at understanding the hierarchy and culture of an Enterprise organisation, its' customer and supplier organisations and able to identify the decision makers and influencers

Key Behavioural Competencies:

Highly collaborative

Strong attention to detail but able to work with ambiguity

Skilled at delegating tasks, responsibilities and authorities effectively

Good oral and written communication skills, ability to create engaging material to support active stakeholder engagement

Able to identify goals and objectives, and motivating and leading others towards their achievement

Able to keep overall objectives and strategies in mind, and not be deflected by matters of detail

Comfortable working across a multi-disciplined environment

What else do I need to know?

SC Security clearance to be achieved and travel will be required with some overnight stays away from home.

This role is based in Lakeside, Portsmouth. A vibrant and accessible campus that has shops, restaurants, hairdressers and a nursery on site. It has parking for employees and runs a free shuttle bus from city centre trains and bus stops.

Application Guidance

If you are currently employed by Babcock, please let your line manager know that you're applying for this vacancy. You should also let them know if you are attending an interview or assessment for a role.

Please note that you will not be able to access the vacancy details after the closing date so you may wish to keep a copy of this advert and any supporting documents for your records.

We are committed to building an inclusive culture and strives to attract talent who thrive in an inclusive and flexible working environment.

If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages please let us know and we will respond in a way that best fits your specific needs.