Service Introduction Lead

Base

Location:

You'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in one of the following locations:
Reading or Havant

Salary: £50,100 - £75,100 + performance-related bonus and a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.

Working Pattern: Permanent | Full Time | Flexible First options available

The Service Introduction Lead plays a pivotal role in enterprise-wide governance by supporting the Development, implementation and continuous improvement of robust service standards. As part of the Service Operations & Delivery team, this role provides oversight, constructive challenge, and guidance to ensure that services are operationally ready, resilient, compliant with established service standards, and sustainable before their introduction into operational use.

Acting as a critical link between strategy, design and operational delivery, the role is responsible for embedding service introduction standards that promote reliability, efficiency, and long-term sustainability across all services. While not directly involved in the day-to-day activities of the service design, delivery, or transition, the Service Introduction Lead collaborates as needed to provide independent advice, assurance, and guidance. This role partners with service architecture and strategy to connect service value chain elements, ensuring IT Service standards support effective management across the entire service lifecycle.

It also works with stakeholders throughout to create, implement, and uphold these standards, embedding resilience measures such as business continuity, disaster recovery, and robust support into every aspect of service introduction.

• Support the design, maintenance, and improvement of service standards, frameworks, and policies, with a focus on service introduction, operational resilience, reliability, compliance, and efficiency.
• Act as the authority for service introduction and readiness, working with the service integrator and IT teams to assure that new and amended services are prepared for live operation in accordance with service standards.
• Establish and govern service introduction guidelines to ensure supportability, resilience, ownership, and accountability throughout the service lifecycle.
• Collaborate across Strategy, Architecture, Delivery, Operations, and IT Risk teams to assure alignment, compliance, and effective risk management in service introduction.

• Solid understanding of IT services, their alignment with organisational objectives, and strong awareness of industry trends and innovations.
• Extensive experience and knowledge of IT service introduction, including ITIL and service management frameworks, service design, transition, and operation principles.
• Proven track record managing and assuring services in complex, multi-provider and multi-team environments, including both internal and external delivery teams.
• Strong governance and assurance skills, with experience in service readiness, operational risk assessment, and understanding of regulatory and internal governance requirements relating to service resilience and risk.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, enabling effective engagement with customers, suppliers, and senior management.

SSE's purpose is to provide energy needed today while building a better world of energy for tomorrow. We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. Our Transforming for Growth investment plan sees us investing £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure across the five years to 2030.

Our IT division powers growth across all SSE business areas by making sure we have the systems, software and security needed to take the lead in a low carbon world. They provide expertise, advice and day-to-day support in emerging technologies, data and analytics, cyber security and more.

Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships. Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service. Interest‑free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle…