Services Delivery Manager – AR

Job Description – Application Services Delivery Manager
Service

Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT)

Operational IT and Project Delivery (or equivalent DDaT Applications Team)

Shute End (with hybrid working / attendance at council sites as required)

Service Manager – Technology and Project Delivery

11

Permanent

Full Time

The Application Services Delivery Manager is responsible for leading the delivery, performance, and continuous improvement of the Council’s application services portfolio.

The role ensures that all business applications are reliable, secure, cost-effective, and aligned to organisational priorities. It provides technical leadership across application lifecycle management, supplier performance, and service improvement, while enabling effective demand management through the DDaT Front Door process.

This is a key leadership role within DDaT, responsible for ensuring applications support high-quality public services and deliver value for money.

• Lead the management and development of the Council’s application estate
• Own the end-to-end application lifecycle including selection, implementation, integration, upgrades, support, and retirement
• Act as a driver for continual improvement across application services
• Maintain a clear application roadmap aligned to organisational priorities and funding cycles

• Act as technical lead for application implementations, upgrades, and integration projects
• Ensure appropriate technical resources are engaged throughout project delivery
• Oversee solution design, ensuring compliance with architecture, security, and accessibility standards
• Work closely with data and technical teams to support data migration, integrity, and integration between systems

• Ensure application services meet agreed performance, availability, and support standards
• Manage incident, problem, change, and release processes across application systems
• Identify and resolve complex service issues affecting business-critical applications
• Drive service improvement initiatives and operational efficiencies

• Manage relationships with application vendors and third‑party suppliers
• Oversee supplier performance against contractual SLAs and service expectations
• Lead procurement activity in collaboration with procurement specialists
• Ensure contracts and renewals deliver value for money and align with Council governance

• Act as a key point of contact for application‑related matters across the Council
• Engage with senior stakeholders including Heads of Service and Directors
• Translate business requirements into technical delivery outcomes
• Ensure application services align with departmental and organisational priorities

• Manage capital budgets (approx. £1m) allocated through the Council’s MTFP process
• Support business case development and funding submissions for application initiatives
• Ensure efficient use of resources and delivery of financial savings where possible

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of application specialists (circa 15 FTE including contractors)
• Provide direction, performance management, and professional development support
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on service excellence and collaboration

• Ensure all application services comply with Council policies, including security, data protection, and accessibility standards
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date technical and service documentation
• Support audit, governance, and compliance requirements across the application estate

• Managing application services or enterprise business systems in a complex organisation
• Leading application lifecycle management (implementation, integration, support, upgrade)
• Supplier and contract management in an IT environment
• Managing technical teams and/or service delivery functions
• Working with senior stakeholders in a public sector or complex organisational setting
• Delivering IT or application-related projects to time, cost, and…