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VP Data/AI & Digital Enablement

IFS

IFS

Software Engineering, Data Science
Staines-upon-Thames, UK
Posted on Dec 19, 2025

Company Description

Own the BAU operating model for our core platforms. Run intake, prioritisation, capacity planning, release/change, and incident/problem management. Align backlogs with business value, keep services reliable, and improve flow using agile delivery methodology.

Job Description

What you will deliver

  • A unified BAU backlog and intake for IFS Cloud, OSCA, and ServiceNow

  • Clear capacity plans, quarterly forecasts, and sprint/kanban throughput targets

  • Safe, frequent changes via automated pipelines, change control, and standard release paths

  • Higher service reliability and faster recovery with strong observability and runbooks

  • Self-service, automation, and knowledge that reduce manual handoffs

Key responsibilities

Strategy and operating model

  • Convert business demand into a single, prioritised backlog; balance run, small change, and minor enhancements

  • Lead capacity planning and quarterly/PI forecasting; track plan vs actual and adjust early

  • Define guardrails for configure vs customise, integration patterns, data flows, and security

Agile delivery and flow

  • Run agile at scale across BAU squads (Scrum/Kanban), with lightweight governance and clear definitions of done

  • Use flow metrics (cycle time, WIP, throughput, work item age) to improve predictability

  • Maintain a stable cadence: refinement, planning, demos, and retros that drive tangible improvements

Service reliability and change

  • Own Level 2 – 3 incidents, problem, and change processes; reduce repeat incidents via RCA and preventative actions

  • Standardise release and change windows; enforce quality gates, rollback design, and non-prod parity

  • Build observability: logging, metrics, tracing, and actionable alerts tied to SLOs/SLAs

Platform ownership

IFS Cloud

  • Run upgrades, extensions, and integrations across Finance, HR, Operations with minimal downtime

  • Establish medallion-style data patterns and reporting guardrails to support analytics and AI

OSCA

  • Use OSCA to orchestrate cross-platform workflows; manage event models and integration contracts

  • Ensure resilience for orchestrations; own playbooks and RTO/RPO expectations

ServiceNow

  • Make ServiceNow the front door for intake, request, change, and knowledge

  • Own ITSM/ITOM/CMDB/HRSD backlogs; improve data quality and automation across the platform

People and ways of working

  • Build high-performing BAU squads (platform, integration, BA); skills matrix, career paths, and coaching

  • Operate follow-the-sun/on-call models where needed; keep runbooks and KB articles current

  • Foster a culture of safety, ownership, and measurable outcomes

Vendors, cost, and compliance

  • Manage vendors for value, not dependency; align roadmaps and SLAs

  • Track TCO and unit costs; target savings through automation and standardisation

  • Meet security, privacy, and audit requirements; maintain accurate CMDB and access controls

Qualifications

  • Deep experience running BAU/platform operations at scale across at least two of: IFS Cloud, ServiceNow (ITSM/ITOM/CMDB/HRSD), OSCA or similar orchestration

  • Strong in capacity planning, quarterly forecasting, and agile delivery methodology (Scrum/Kanban)

  • Solid grasp of integration patterns, data flows, security, compliance, and observability

  • Pragmatic leader who moves between strategy and detail; clear communicator who earns trust

  • Comfortable with ITIL practices adapted to modern engineering and product ways of working