Strategic Lead (Applications)

Honeycomb Group; Stoke-on-Trent; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Honeycomb Group in Stoke-on-Trent is seeking a Strategic Lead for ICT Applications to oversee the development and support of our applications portfolio, driving digital transformation, automation and better user experiences.

You will lead a small Applications Support team, manage upgrades, engage with suppliers and stakeholders, and champion data governance and security across systems.

Qualifications

• Experience leading application support, systems development or digital transformation.
• Ability to manage third‑party suppliers and technology partners.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Knowledge of data management and information security practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and delivery of application improvements, workflows and automation.
• Manage system upgrades and projects from planning to implementation.
• Ensure excellent day‑to‑day application support and service levels.
• Collaborate with business teams, suppliers and stakeholders for innovation.
• Explore AI-enabled solutions to improve efficiency and customer experience.
• Lead training, testing and adoption activities for new systems.
• Monitor performance and provide reporting to boards and leadership forums.
• Champion data governance and business continuity across applications.

Skills

Applications leadership

Microsoft 365

Stakeholder management

Digital transformation

Data governance

Problem solving

Communication

Education

IT degree or equivalent

Tools

SharePoint

Power Automate

Teams

Job description

Strategic Lead (Applications)

Location: Stoke-on-Trent/ Hybrid

Salary: £50,676 a year

Are you an experienced applications leader with a passion for digital transformation, systems improvement and delivering exceptional user experiences?

At Honeycomb Group, we're looking for a strategic and hands-on leader to oversee the development and support of our applications portfolio, ensuring our systems continue to evolve, enable smarter working, and deliver real value for colleagues and customers alike.

As our Strategic Lead for ICT Applications, you'll lead a small Applications Support team while working closely with stakeholders across the business and external suppliers. You'll play a key role in driving innovation, improving processes through technology, and ensuring our applications remain reliable, effective and fit for purpose.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of our digital landscape, championing continuous improvement, automation and emerging technologies, including AI, to enhance services and business performance.

What you’ll do:

• Lead the development and delivery of application improvements, digital workflows, process automation and system enhancements.
• Manage system upgrades and projects from planning and testing through to successful implementation.
• Ensure excellent day-to-day application support, maintaining service levels and driving continuous improvement.
• Work closely with business teams, suppliers and stakeholders to identify opportunities for innovation and change.
• Explore and implement AI-enabled solutions that improve efficiency and customer experience.
• Lead training, testing and engagement activities to support the successful adoption of new systems and enhancements.
• Monitor performance, measure benefits and provide meaningful reporting to project boards, improvement boards and leadership forums.
• Champion robust data management, governance and business continuity practices across applications and systems.

Who you are:

We're seeking a collaborative and forward-thinking technology professional who combines technical expertise with strong leadership and communication skills.

You'll bring:

• Experience leading application support, systems development or digital transformation activities.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a logical and analytical approach.
• Demonstrable experience managing third-party suppliers, integrations and technology partners.
• Significant hands-on experience with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, including SharePoint, Teams and Power Automate.
• The ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, engaging communications for a range of audiences.
• Experience prioritising and managing backlogs, system enhancements, roadmaps and change initiatives.
• A strong understanding of data management, information security and application governance.
• Knowledge of ITIL principles and service management practices.
• Experience using technology and AI to drive business improvement and innovation.

Desirable

• Project, Change Management or Lean qualification.
• People management qualifications or formal leadership training.
• IT degree or equivalent professional qualification.
• Microsoft 365 certification.
• Experience working alongside data and analytics teams

Why Join Us?

At Honeycomb Group, you'll have the opportunity to influence strategic technology decisions, lead meaningful change, and help shape digital services that make a real difference to our colleagues and customers. Working within a values-driven organisation, you'll be empowered to innovate, collaborate and continuously improve how we deliver our services

Learn more about our great staff benefits, how we live by our Honeycomb values, and what it's like working here by visiting our Careers Hub.

Closing date: 22nd November 2026

Shortlist date: 23rd November 2026

Interview date: TBC