Head of Strategic Operations; Technology

Job Introduction Head of Strategic Operations (Technology)85,000 - 95,000 dependent + car allowance

Permanent

London/Folkestone Hybrid As our Head of Strategic Operations, you’ll 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, you’ll work across teams, business units and strategic suppliers; you’ll influence at a senior level, champion evidence-based decision-making and ensure Technology Operations is aligned with Saga’s wider business ambitions.

You’ll 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 you’re passionate about technology strategy, future-focused thinking and making a meaningful difference, this is an opportunity to shape Saga’s 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, it’ll 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 (24–48 month) technology horizon view for Technology Operations, identifying emerging risks, opportunities and market shifts that may impact Saga’s 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 Saga’s 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…