IS Applications Lead

Computer Futures; West of England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Computer Futures is seeking a senior IS applications manager to maintain cross-discipline applications processes, drive scalable architecture and ensure reliability, security and performance of the estate. You will act as the focal point for audits and manage vendor relationships with commercial oversight.

The role requires strong governance, control assurance and exposure to SAP, cloud services and cyber incident response.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT / business discipline or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Maintain (cross-discipline) IS applications processes, procedures and work instructions and drive compliance.
• Determine and maintain scalable, resilient integrated applications architecture with reliability, security, integrity and performance.
• Act as applications focal point for audits and external reviews.
• Manage third party application vendors, relationships and commercial agreements.
• Classify, assess and assure third party / cloud / SaaS application services.
• Execute application-related control assurance attestations.
• Coordinate Test / UAT cycles.
• Oversee SAP landscape, hosting, interfaces and related controls.
• Drive cyber security maturity and response capability across Manage, Protect, Detect and Respond.

Skills

IS applications management

Audits liaison

Contract management

Cyber security awareness

Incident management

Change management

PMO processes

Vendor coordination

Business analysis

Multi-site IT

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT or related field

Tools

MS365

Azure

PowerApps

PowerBI

SAP principles

Job description

General:

• Maintain (cross-discipline) IS applications processes, procedures and work instructions (and drive compliance)
• Determine / maintain fit-for-purpose scalable and resilient integrated applications architecture, ensuring reliability, security, integrity and performance of the estate
• Act as applications focal point for (cross-discipline) IS / IT / Cyber / Deloitte audits and external reviews
• Manage all third party application vendors, relationships and commercial agreements
• Classify, assess and assure third party / cloud / SaaS application services
• Execute application-related control assurance attestations
• Undertake contract renewals / tenders in collaboration with Head of IS and the Supply Chain function
• Maintain secure password management (rotation, vault storage etc.)
• Manage Source-to-Pay processes for IS applications (in collaboration with team, business owners, Supply Chain and Finance)
• Project Manage / Deliver application projects (upgrades, changes, replacements, implementations etc.), drawing on outsourced support
• Co-ordinate Test / UAT cycles
• Collaborate with the Head of IS and the IT Lead to evolve cyber control framework of Manage, Protect, Detect and Respond capability / controls, with ongoing maturity assessments
• Conduct security due diligence assessments on any new / changed IS services impacting the business
• Conduct Cyber Incident Response testing in collaboration with team
• Support cyber incident response / investigations
• Oversee service provisioning and hosting of internal LoB apps and associated integrations
• Oversee service provisioning and hosting of external / SaaS LoB apps and associated integrations
• Manage licensing, consumption and renewals for all applications
• Manage apps lifecycle (scope, source, design, build, test, commission, host, run, maintain, upgrade, retire, archive)
• Handle apps change / upgrade / release management
• Maintain apps (including SAP) build / support documentation (including Service Catalogue), drawing on outsourced providers
• Provide Master Data Management
• Handle major incident response (Apps, including SAP)
• Manage outsourced Apps support contract performance / resources, directing and supervising as required
• Act as the "glue" to connect external vendors and handle escalations related to integration / interfaces
• Any other associated duties as reasonably required

SAP-Specific:

• Oversee SAP landscape and associated integration - architecture, performance & security
• Oversee SAP hosting and core technical support and maintenance (external SAP RISE and internal SAP BW / PO on Azure) and associated interfaces
• Maintain and ensure operation of SAP-specific controls aligning to shareholder requirements, drawing on outsourced support
• Co-ordinate scoping / shaping / design of change activity between business and external service provider
• Handle SAP change / upgrade / release management, acting as Gate Keeper / Design Authority
• Manage outsourced SAP support contract performance / resources, directing and supervising as required
• Collaborate with Head of IS and Centrica over shared SAP journey (specific contract renewal needed in 2027)

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in this role, we are looking for:

• Strong overall understanding of IS applications management in a technical multi-site organisation
• Appreciation of infrastructure, networks and end user computing
• Good understanding of MS365, Azure and PowerApps / PowerBI
• Good understanding of core SAP principles around change and release management
• Ability to develop and maintain procedural, technical and architectural documentation and maintain a Service Catalogue
• Knowledge of software licensing models and consumption analysis
• Commercial skills to manage scope, specification and cost relating to applications
• Ability to interface with audit teams, acting as the bridge between outsourced delivery teams and auditors
• Deep and disciplined understanding of IT General Controls, specifically including those relating to SAP
• Solid understanding of key processes including incident, problem and change management as well as business analysis and PMO processes for project delivery.
• Effective contract management skills, with the ability to manage outsourced service providers and to connect vendors and navigate interfaces
• Ability to co-ordinate (and in some cases execute) application testing
• Strong appreciation for cyber security and the Cyber Assessment Framework, covering Managing Security Risk, Protecting against Cyber Attacks, Detecting Cyber Security Incidents and Minimising Impact of Security Incidents.
• Ability to handle escalations, lead on significant incident response and manage outsourced resources as required
• Batchelor's Degree in an IT / business discipline (or equivalent experience)