Head of Applications

Outcomes First Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working environment

Great Place to Work certification

Job summary

Outcomes First Group is seeking a Head of Applications to steer the Group IT application's estate from its Manchester base in a hybrid setup, with occasional UK and worldwide travel.

Reporting to the Chief Architect, you will lead Application Managers and Integration Engineers, govern lifecycle, drive cost-effective, secure, and scalable solutions while bridging tech and business priorities.

Qualifications

• Experience leading enterprise application teams.
• Knowledge of ITSM and lifecycle management.
• Supplier governance and contract negotiation experience.
• Strong stakeholder communication with non-technical leaders.
• Familiarity with agile/project management techniques.

Responsibilities

• Own the Group Application portfolio with clear ownership and roadmaps.
• Conduct landscape reviews for system rationalization and investment.
• Assess business requirements for new applications before procurement.
• Oversee implementations, upgrades, releases, migrations and decommissioning.
• Lead the Integration function with Power Automate workflows against architecture standards.
• Define designs and data flow diagrams for projects and ensure support models.
• Manage supplier relationships, service reviews and renewals.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Vendor governance

IT strategy

Application lifecycle

Tools

Power Automate

APIs

Job description

In 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running

Head of Applications

Location: Manchester (Hybrid - Occasional UK and world-wide travel may be required)

Salary: £63,000 per annum

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Please note: UK applicants only | No sponsorship available

About the Role

We're looking for an experienced, commercially minded Head of Applications to join our growing Group IT team.

Reporting directly to the Chief Architect, this is a high-visibility, impactful role where you will own, govern, and continuously improve our enterprise application estate and integration capabilities across the Group. Leading a team of Application Managers and Integration Engineers, you will bridge the gap between technology and business priorities, ensuring our applications remain secure, reliable, supportable, and cost-effective.

We’re looking for a proactive tech leader who excels at vendor management, team development, and translating complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders to deliver sustainable change.

Why Join Us?

• High-visibility leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Architect
• Opportunity to shape and govern enterprise-wide application roadmaps
• Hybrid working environment with an established, supportive tech leadership team
• Great Place to Work certified for six consecutive years
• Meaningful work using technology to improve outcomes for children and young people

What You'll Be Doing

• Own the Group Application portfolio, ensuring clear technical/business ownership, support models, data classifications, and lifecycle roadmaps.
• Conduct landscape reviews to identify opportunities for system rationalization, remediation, retirement, or investment.
• Work with project teams to assess business requirements for new applications before procurement begins.
• Oversee implementations, upgrades, releases, migrations, and decommissioning.
• Lead the Integration function, ensuring solutions and Power Automate workflows are designed, developed, monitored, and supported to approved architecture standards.
• Ensure projects produce proportionate designs, data flow diagrams, and support models.
• Manage operational relationships with strategic application and integration suppliers, overseeing service reviews and contract renewals.
• Contribute to budget setting, forecasting, and commercial negotiation to actively manage software licensing and platform costs.
• Lead, mentor, and build a capable team of Application Managers and Integration Engineers.
• Define and report on service KPIs, operational risks, application availability, and incident trends.

About You

You’ll be a seasoned technology leader who thrives in complex multi-site environments and enjoys aligning technical capabilities with business goals.

You’ll have:

• Significant experience leading enterprise application support, business systems, or integration engineering teams.
• Strong knowledge of Application Lifecycle Management, IT Service Management (ITSM), and supplier governance.
• Proven track record in supplier negotiation, contract due diligence, and software cost control.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate technical and commercial matters to non-technical leaders clearly.
• Experience translating business requirements into clear delivery plans and high‑level designs.
• Familiarity with agile and project management techniques.

Experience or familiarity with education systems (e.g., MIS, safeguarding, assessment platforms) is advantageous but not essential.

What You’ll Bring

• A collaborative and strategic approach to technology governance.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong technical acumen balanced with commercial awareness.
• A genuine passion for using technology to improve outcomes for young people.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS check.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of suitable applications is received. Outcomes First Group is committed to a fair, thorough, and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. While we aim to keep applicants informed, we do not accept liability for any loss of earnings or costs incurred due to delays or changes in compliance processes. All stages are subject to safeguarding checks and statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.