Head of Core Platforms - ECS

SSE PLC; Reading, Perth, Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 81,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Flexible benefits

Hybrid work model

Job summary

SSE is seeking a Senior Platform Leader to own the core technology platforms, including customer, billing and integration, and to define the multi‑year strategy, architecture and modernization roadmap. You will lead cross‑functional teams, drive safety, security and regulatory compliance, and partner with senior stakeholders to deliver major investments while maintaining cost discipline.

Hybrid in Reading, Perth or Glasgow with a salary of £80,700–£121,100 plus car allowance and performance

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in large-scale technology platforms.
• Experience delivering major transformation and regulatory changes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and governance abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead platforms strategy and multi-year roadmaps.
• Own lifecycle, performance, and resilience of critical platforms.
• Ensure security, compliance and cyber risk governance.
• Build and lead high-performing cross-functional teams.
• Advise senior stakeholders with clear reporting and sponsorship.

Skills

Leadership

Platform mgmt

DevOps

Agile delivery

Stakeholder mgmt

Regulatory risk

Tools

Cloud platforms

Automation tools

Job description

Base Location: You'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in one of the following locations : Reading, Perth or Glasgow

Salary: £80,70 - £121,100 + car allowance + 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 role

The role encompasses the organisation's core technology platforms, including customer, billing, industry, integration, and enabling technologies. It is accountable for defining and owning the multi-year platform strategy, including the target architecture, modernisation roadmap, simplification agenda, investment priorities, technical debt reduction, resilience improvements and partner strategy required to support ECS and wider SSE outcomes. The role must ensure the platform estate is scalable, secure, cost-effective and capable of supporting current operations, future business growth, regulatory change, AI adoption and digital customer propositions.

You will

• Lead the Platforms capability by setting strategic direction, target architecture and multi-year roadmaps aligned with ECS and SSE priorities.
• Own the full lifecycle, performance and resilience of critical platforms, driving simplification, modernisation, automation and continuous service improvement.
• Ensure platforms are secure, compliant and fit for the future, with effective governance of cyber risk, regulatory obligations, data and AI-ready capabilities.
• Build and lead high-performing multidisciplinary teams while managing talent, workforce planning and strategic suppliers to deliver quality, value and cost optimisation.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, providing clear reporting, governance, assurance and executive sponsorship for major investments and transformation programmes.

You have

• Extensive leadership experience across large-scale technology, engineering, platform, DevOps and supplier functions within complex, changing organisations.
• Strong expertise in managing business-critical platforms, operational resilience, service continuity, technology risk and cyber security improvement.
• Proven delivery of major transformation, regulatory change and supplier-led programmes using Agile, DevOps, product and modern engineering practices.
• Commercial experience managing multi-million-pound budgets, investment portfolios, suppliers, business cases, operational costs and value realisation.
• Excellent senior stakeholder and regulatory engagement skills, with the ability to influence strategy, communicate clearly and manage competing risks, priorities and dependencies.

About SSE

SSE's purpose is to be restless every day until we make electricity clean, affordable and available for all.

We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. This includes electricity transmission and distribution networks, onshore and offshore wind farms, hydro-electric power and flexible thermal generation. We also provide products and services for businesses and other customers.

Our investment plan will see SSE invest £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure 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.

Flexible benefits to fit your life

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 to Work scheme. As well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

Work with an equal opportunity employer

SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact [e-mail] / 01738 275 846 to discuss how we can support you.

We're dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.

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