Head of People Technology & Digital Excellence

Standard Life plc; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Standard Life plc in Birmingham seeks a senior leader to shape and lead the multi-year People Technology and AI strategy, transforming how HR services are designed, delivered and experienced across the organisation.

Reporting to the Head of People Technology, Digital, Analytics & Change, you will own the integrated roadmap, operating model and investment portfolio, with Oracle HCM as the core system of record and exposure to AI-enabled tooling.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience translating strategy into multi-year roadmaps and delivery.
• Broad experience across HCM platforms, AI and automation.
• Strong technology, data and commercial judgement.
• Ability to operate across regulated environments and balance strategy with delivery.
• Proven leadership of product/platform operating models and portfolio management.

Responsibilities

• Shape People Technology and Digital strategy with market insight and feasibility.
• Own multi-year roadmap across Oracle HCM, AI, automation, data and integrations.
• Ensure colleague experience and measurable business outcomes guide technology investment.
• Lead the product and platform operating model across People, IT, Data, Cyber and Risk.
• Govern AI, automation, digital demand, and investment portfolio with prioritisation.
• Collaborate with People Operations and COEs to underpin investment with process simplification and trusted data.
• Engage with Group IT, AI and Digital teams on roadmaps and third-party management.
• Manage vendor relationships and ensure business value from technology investments.

Skills

Senior leadership

HCM platforms

AI and automation

Product/platform operating models

Commercial judgement

Job description

Job Description

Job Type: Permanent

Location: Hybrid, aligned to one of our core locations of London, Birmingham or Edinburgh

Flexible working: All roles are open to part-time, job-share and other types of flexibility. We will discuss what is important to you and balancing this with business requirements during the recruitment process. You can read more about flexible working here.

Salary & Benefits: £120,000-£140,000 DOE with an indicative bonus range of 30% -60%, private medical, 38 days annual leave, excellent pension, 12x salary life assurance, career breaks, income protection, 3x volunteering days and much more.

Closing Date: 03/11/2027

Who are we?

We’re Standard Life, a retirement specialist focused entirely on retirement savings and income. We champion the belief that everyone’s journey to and through retirement can be better, and for more than 200 years, we’ve been helping our customers plan and prepare for their financial futures.

Life today is increasingly complicated, uncertain and unpredictable. People move through different careers, face unexpected moments and navigate important choices. We offer our colleagues flexibility, trust and benefits that work for whatever life brings. In return we expect curiosity, connection, accountability and high standards. We make room for what matters - so you can bring your best, every day.

The role

The successful candidate will help shape and lead delivery of a multi-year People Technology and AI strategy, transforming how HR services are designed, delivered and experienced across the organisation. Leading the People Technology team, the role will ensure investment in platforms, products, data, automation and AI improves colleague experience and delivers measurable business value.

Working in partnership with the Head of People Technology, Digital, Analytics & Change, the role owns the integrated People Technology roadmap, delivery plans, operating model, investment portfolio, ecosystem and governance. Oracle HCM is the core system of record, but this is a broad enterprise technology role requiring experience across best-of-breed People technologies, Microsoft and AI-enabled tooling.

The role will translate strategy into executable plans through a product and platform operating model, balancing colleague experience and business outcomes with affordability, architecture, resilience, regulatory requirements and long-term sustainability.

Success will be reflected in a more tech-first People Function, increased automation, improved colleague and manager experiences, and a future-ready People Technology ecosystem aligned to business strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the Head of People Technology, Digital, Analytics & Change to shape People Technology and Digital strategy, bringing market insight and a clear view of opportunity, risk and feasibility.
• Own the multi-year roadmap and delivery plans across Oracle HCM, best-of-breed People technologies, AI, automation, data and integrations.
• Ensure colleague experience and measurable business outcomes are at the heart of technology investment and delivery
• Lead the product and platform operating model, creating clear accountabilities and effective ways of working across People, IT, Data, Cyber, Risk, Procurement and strategic partners.
• Govern the People Function’s AI, automation, digital demand and investment portfolio, including prioritisation and strategic trade-offs.
• Partner with People Operations and COEs to ensure technology investment is underpinned by process simplification, trusted data, effective knowledge management, business ownership and adoption.
• Work closely with Group IT, AI and Digital teams on enterprise roadmaps, architecture, funding, support and third-party management.
• Own strategic vendor relationships, driving service, innovation, resilience, knowledge transfer and commercial value.
• Maintain oversight of People Technology cost, delivery and operational risk, security, data privacy and regulatory obligations.
• Act as a senior technology adviser to People leaders and represent the People Technology roadmap in relevant enterprise forums.
• Lead a high-performing People Technology team, building the skills, succession and capabilities required for the future roadmap.

What We Are Looking For

• Significant senior leadership experience in People Technology, digital transformation or enterprise technology, translating strategy into multi-year roadmaps and delivery.
• Broad experience across HCM platforms, best-of-breed People technologies, Microsoft 365, AI and automation, with strong technology, data and commercial judgement.
• Proven leadership of product/platform operating models, strategic partners and complex technology portfolios, delivering measurable business and colleague value.
• An influential leader who operates effectively across complex, regulated environments and confidently moves between enterprise strategy and practical delivery.
• Builds inclusive, high-performing teams with clear accountability, strong capability and a focus on outcomes.
• Curious, pragmatic and commercially minded, constructively challenging fragmented thinking and ensuring innovation is purposeful and responsible.

We Want To Hire The Whole Version Of You.

We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we’ve advertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best.

Find Out More About Working At Standard Life

• Guide for Candidates: standardlifeplc.pagetiger.com/guideforcandidates
• Find or get answers from our colleagues: www.standardlifeplc.com/careers/talk-to-us