Platform Infrastructure Lead (EUC)

at  John Lewis Partnership

AT A GLANCE

• Working pattern - This is a hybrid working role, therefore your time will primarily be split between working from home and the Bracknell Head Office.
• The EUC team aims for around 2 days a week in the office to connect and on a more ad-hoc basis to attend key meetings.
• Contract type - Permanent

ESSENTIAL SKILLS YOU’LL NEED

• Extensive knowledge within the EUC space, with deep technical expertise and experience of key retail specific technologies, including experience of cloud, infrastructure and microservice architecture
• Proven experience in leading Product towers in a lean and agile environment, through managing and motivating technical teams to deliver outcomes
• Demonstrable experience in leading managed services / high-value third-party contracts in a complex enterprise IT environment
• Working knowledge of agile methodologies & DevSecOps frameworks
• Proficient at simplifying complex IT topics into everyday language, ensuring comprehension among those not versed in technology
• A credible and established expert with good commercial and operational acumen, who is able to demonstrate extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in building positive relationships, including third parties.

DESIRABLE SKILLS

• Experience in Retail IT environment
• Experience in Containerisation.

We’re seeking a highly skilled Platform Infrastructure Lead (EUC), to join our technology team. We are seeking an individual with considerable experience in the realm of End User Computing who is adept at devising and deploying inventive strategies. Extensive industry knowledge of retail hardware, technologies and solutions is key, along with Google Workspace and Virtualisation technologies. This may involve migrating infrastructure to the public cloud (GCP), simplifying existing technologies, whilst maintaining operational excellence.
In this role, you will lead comprehensive assessments that encompass the entire spectrum of End-User Computing Technology, evaluating hardware, software, infrastructure, and user experience to identify areas for improvement and optimization. Your wealth of expertise will be instrumental in running agile product teams and driving forward the technology roadmap. Additionally, you will be expected to handle business-critical or escalated cases from Ops, providing effective solutions. In the event of a major incident, you will act as the technical authority, communicating effectively with all stakeholders, coordinating the technical response, and ensuring clear and concise updates are provided throughout the resolution process.

This role demands effective communication and coordination abilities. You’ll need to build positive working relationships within cross-functional teams, ensuring everyone is aligned and informed, while also maintaining clear and productive communication with external vendors.

• As the Platform Infrastructure Lead (EUC) you will:
• Own the technical oversight of the design and delivery of solutions and creation of roadmaps
• Managing the day-to-day relationships with vendors
• Ensuring operational services meet or exceed agreed service levels
• Be the technical SME and service point of escalation for the technology tower
• Implementing and driving Operational Excellence
• Ensuring effective Operational Disaster Recovery & capacity management
• Maintain and manage resilience for all appropriate services
• Major Incident Management - Resolution and continuous improvement
• Managing operational and commercial risks
• Hardware and Software Support and Maintenance
• Ensure all parties deliver on contractual obligations
• Produce and validate requirements for contract renewals and new services.

You will also have key input into decisions on cost management and consumption, input monthly resource unit billing cycles, working alongside FinOps.
You will shape and implement policy alongside Security Operations.
You will work closely with the other Infrastructure areas and interface with the established Product & Platform teams to embed capability within areas.