Head of Strategic Operations (Technology) - Folkestone Hybrid

85,000 - 95,000 per annum dependent on experience

Head of Strategic Operations (Technology)

85,000 - 95,000 dependent + car allowance

Permanent

London/Folkestone Hybrid

As our Head of Strategic Operations, youll look beyond the here and now to define our long-term technology direction, exploring emerging trends, challenging supplier roadmaps and identifying opportunities to strengthen our capabilities.

Reporting to our Technology Operations Director, youll work across teams, business units and strategic suppliers; youll influence at a senior level, champion evidence-based decision-making and ensure Technology Operations is aligned with Sagas wider business ambitions. Youll help us balance innovation with resilience, manage long-term technology risks and dependencies, and ensure our technology strategy supports a seamless, relevant and valuable experience for our customers.

If youre passionate about technology strategy, future-focused thinking and making a meaningful difference, this is an opportunity to shape Sagas evolving technology landscape.

We work in a hybrid way at Saga both at home and in the office. When you do come into the office, itll be with a real purpose in mind. You will be required to attend our London and Folkestone office on an ad-hoc basis, in line with business needs.

Role Responsibility

As our of Strategic Operations you will be responsible for developing and maintaining a forward-looking (2448 month) technology horizon view for Technology Operations, identifying emerging risks, opportunities and market shifts that may impact Sagas strategic position.

Experience working with a technology MSP would be of advantage.

Other accountabilities will include:

Identification of remedial actions including budget provision to mitigate risks whilst also identifying required change activity.

Continually scanning the external technology landscape and translating insights into structured options and strategic recommendations for the Technology Operations leadership team.

Challenging and shaping supplier roadmaps to ensure long-term alignment with Sagas enterprise technology direction and to avoid dependency, stagnation or unmanaged lock-in.

Ensuring broader enterprise technology initiatives are understood and appropriately reflected within the retained Technology Operations strategy.

Identifying long-term technical debt, platform dependency and strategic capability gaps, and recommending structured mitigation or investment options

Ensuring Technology is onboarded and aligned to ITIL service design principles including capacity, performance and availability.

Understand overall business strategy to create a Technology Operations strategy which underpins strategic goals.

Converting strategic direction into clear influence across the retained organisation, ensuring future-facing thinking is embedded in governance forums and decision-making processes.

Acting as deputy to the Technology Operations Director, providing leadership continuity and representing Technology Operations in strategic and cross-functional forums when required.

Ensuring Technology Operations is aligned with wider enterprise technology programmes and transformation initiatives, operating beyond functional boundaries where required.

Supporting the development of long-range technology positioning papers, investment cases and strategic narratives that inform executive decision-making.

Building and maintaining strong relationships across Group functions, business units and strategic suppliers to ensure Saga remains externally informed and internally aligned.

Promoting a culture of disciplined innovation, structured optionality and evidence-based strategic thinking across Technology Operations.

Ensuring that strategic initiatives and emerging technology opportunities are assessed through a balanced lens of value, feasibility, risk and organisational readiness.

Providing clear insight and reporting on long-term technology trends and their potential operational, financial and regulatory implications.

The Ideal Candidate

As our new Head of Strategic Operations, you will have significant experience operating at a senior level in technology leadership. Youll be able to demonstrate a track record of shaping long-term technology direction in complex, multi-supplier environments.

Experience working with a technology MSP would be an advantage.

Other experience required includes:

Experience challenging supplier strategies and influencing roadmap outcomes.

Strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles and operational service models (without owning architectural governance).

Experience operating within regulated or large-scale enterprise environments.

Proven ability to operate as deputy or senior strategic advisor to executive leadership.

Strong facilitation of strategic discussions and governance forums.

Clear articulation of complex technical concepts to executive audiences.

Ability to operate across organisational boundaries without formal authority.

Saga Values: Make it Happen, Do the Right Thing, Customer First, Excellence Every Day, Our People Make Us Special

Package Description

At Saga, we recognise that our people make us special. We believe our colleagues deserve rewards for the excellence they demonstrate every single day, that's why we have put together an amazing benefits package for all colleagues.

BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR THIS ROLE:

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Option to purchase additional leave - 5 extra days
• Pension scheme matched up to 10%
• Company performance related annual bonus - Up to 15%
• Car allowance 4,800 per annum
• Private medical insurance after 1 years service
• Life assurance policy on joining us, 4 x salary
• Wellbeing programme
• Colleague discounts including family discounts on cruises, holidays and insurance
• Range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Grandparents leave
• Income protection
• Access to Saga Academy, our bespoke learning platform

About the Company Over the past 70 years we have become the UK's specialist provider of products and services to people aged over 50 in the UK. The Saga brand has become one of the most recognised and trusted brands amongst UK consumers in this demographic, recognised for its high quality products and exceptional standards of service. These include cruises and holidays, insurance, personal finance and the Saga Magazine.At Saga we are committed to treating all employees fairly and to offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement. We value diversity not just because it is the right thing to do, but because diverse teams perform better.Fair consideration is given to applications from all applicants, including those with disabilities and those over who are over 50 as we are champions of age inclusivity. We are an official Disability Confident Committed employer and ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible and we will make reasonable adjustments as required. For more information on our DEI policies please visit our Saga Careers page.Saga does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the Talent Acquisition Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Saga will not be responsible for any fees related to CVs received in this unsolicited manner.Job Reference: saga/TP/56250/3592