Head of Strategic Operations (Technology)

Head of Strategic Operations (Technology) in Sandgate, Folkestone (CT20), CT20 3SE | Saga Group Find a job Post a job Sign up Tired of searching? Let’s find you the right jobs faster Get Started Search These jobs were popular with other job seekers Digital Lead, England and Wales AECOM Cambridge, Cambridgeshire 19 hours ago NEW Digital Lead, England and Wales AECOM South East 19 hours ago NEW Director of Transformation and Assurance - IT Government Internal Audit Agency London From £105,000 to £150,000 per annum 6 days ago Strategic Programme Director Anson Mccade South West London (SW1) Up to £125,000 per annum 1 month ago Director, Technology Alliance Management (Alliance Lead) AstraZeneca Cambridge, Cambridgeshire 1 week ago Strategic Accounts Manager-Data Centers, Europe ABB South East 1 week ago Director of Software Engineering (Systems Software) ARM Cambridge, Cambridgeshire 1 week ago ETF Change - Director BlackRock London 1 week ago Process Architect Lead CWA: Civil Works Alliance Lambeth, South East London (SE1), SE1 7EU 1 week ago Director of Professional Services TEEMZ LTD Leeds (LS1) From £140,000 to £160,000 per annum + Bonus + Benefits + Full Remote W 1 week ago Head of Strategic Operations (Technology) Saga Group View Profile Sandgate, Folkestone (CT20), CT20 3SE Permanent Contract; Hybrid Published: 23 hours ago £85,000 - £95,000 per annum dependent on experience Apply Save Head of Strategic Operations (Technology) Saga Group Apply Head of Strategic Operations (Technology) £85,000 - £95,000 dependent + car allowance Permanent London/Folkestone Hybrid As our Head of Strategic Operations, you’ll look beyond the here and now to define our long-term technology direction, exploring emerging trends, challenging supplier roadmaps and identifying opportunities to strengthen our capabilities. Reporting to our Technology Operations Director, you’ll work across teams, business units and strategic suppliers; you’ll influence at a senior level, champion evidence-based decision-making and ensure Technology Operations is aligned with Saga’s wider business ambitions. You’ll help us balance innovation with resilience, manage long-term technology risks and dependencies, and ensure our technology strategy supports a seamless, relevant and valuable experience for our customers. If you’re passionate about technology strategy, future-focused thinking and making a meaningful difference, this is an opportunity to shape Saga’s evolving technology landscape. We work in a hybrid way at Saga both at home and in the office. When you do come into the office, it’ll be with a real purpose in mind. You will be required to attend our London and Folkestone office on an ad-hoc basis, in line with business needs. Package Description At Saga, we recognise that our people make us special. We believe our colleagues deserve rewards for the excellence they demonstrate every single day, that's why we have put together an amazing benefits package for all colleagues. BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR THIS ROLE: 25 days holiday + bank holidays Option to purchase additional leave - 5 extra days Pension scheme matched up to 10% Company performance related annual bonus - Up to 15% Car allowance £4,800 per annum Private medical insurance after 1 years’ service Life assurance policy on joining us, 4 x salary Wellbeing programme Colleague discounts including family discounts on cruises, holidays and insurance Range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies Enhanced maternity and paternity leave Grandparents leave Income protection Access to Saga Academy, our bespoke learning platform Main Responsibilities As our of Strategic Operations you will be responsible for developing and maintaining a forward-looking (24–48 month) technology horizon view for Technology Operations, identifying emerging risks, opportunities and market shifts that may impact Saga’s strategic position. Experience working with a technology MSP would be of advantage. Other accountabilities will include: • Identification of remedial actions including budget provision to mitigate risks whilst also identifying required change activity. • Continually scanning the external technology landscape and translating insights into structured options and strategic recommendations for the Technology Operations leadership team. • Challenging and shaping supplier roadmaps to ensure long-term alignment with Saga’s enterprise technology direction and to avoid dependency, stagnation or unmanaged lock-in. • Ensuring broader enterprise technology initiatives are understood and appropriately reflected within the retained Technology Operations strategy. • Identifying long-term technical debt, platform dependency and strategic capability gaps, and recommending structured mitigation or investment options • Ensuring Technology is onboarded and aligned to ITIL service design principles including capacity, performance and availability. • Understand overall business strategy to create a Technology Operations strategy which underpins strategic goals. • Converting strategic direction into clear influence across the retained organisation, ensuring future-facing thinking is embedded in governance forums and decision-making processes. • Acting as deputy to the Technology Operations Director, providing leadership continuity and representing Technology Operations in strategic and cross-functional forums when required. • Ensuring Technology Operations is aligned with wider enterprise technology programmes and transformation initiatives, operating beyond functional boundaries where required. • Supporting the development of long-range technology positioning papers, investment cases and strategic narratives that inform executive decision-making. • Building and maintaining strong relationships across Group functions, business units and strategic suppliers to ensure Saga remains externally informed and internally aligned. • Promoting a culture of disciplined innovation, structured optionality and evidence-based strategic thinking across Technology Operations. • Ensuring that strategic initiatives and emerging technology opportunities are assessed through a balanced lens of value, feasibility, risk and organisational readiness. • Providing clear insight and reporting on long-term technology trends and their potential operational, financial and regulatory implications. The Ideal Candidate As our new Head of Strategic Operations, you will have significant experience operating at a senior level in technology leadership. You’ll be able to demonstrate a track record of shaping long-term technology direction in complex, multi-supplier environments. Experience working with a technology MSP would be an advantage. Other experience required includes: • Experience challenging supplier strategies and influencing roadmap outcomes. • Strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles and operational service models (without owning architectural governance). • Experience operating within regulated or large-scale enterprise environments. • Proven ability to operate as deputy or senior strategic advisor to executive leadership. • Strong facilitation of strategic discussions and governance forums. • Clear articulation of complex technical concepts to executive audiences. • Ability to operate across organisational boundaries without formal authority. Saga Values: Make it Happen, Do the Right Thing, Customer First, Excellence Every Day, Our People Make Us Special About The Company Over the past 75 years we have become the UK's specialist provider of products and services to people aged over 50 in the UK. We’re the most trusted brand amongst UK consumers in this demographic, recognised for high-quality products and exceptional standards of service. Our product portfolio includes cruises, holidays, insurance, personal finance products and?our Saga Magazine. Our focus on delivering exceptional products and service empowers our colleagues to create moments that are personal and special for our customers and for each other and our values underpin our approach and help guide us to deliver our purpose. We’re committed to making sure that colleagues can be their best, be themselves and make a difference – more than anywhere else. We have done this by creating a truly inclusive culture, where all colleagues can bring their full and authentic selves to work and be treated with dignity?and respect in an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. Thanks to our people, Saga was awarded with a Gold for Best Customer Centric Culture in 2025. This is testament to the great culture we’ve built together. This award belongs to all our colleagues who collectively make Saga a fantastic place to work. We are champions of age inclusivity and signatories of the Age-Friendly Employer Pledge, we are proud of our multigenerational teams we have in place. We’re also a committed Disability Confident employer and ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. Your application will have fair consideration, and you’ll receive personal communication throughout your applicant journey when you apply to join Saga. Saga does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the Talent Acquisition Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Saga will not be responsible for any fees related to CVs received in this unsolicited manner. #LI-VL1 Apply Saga Group Other Sectors and Industries 3 Jobs The company is part of Company Profile In Short Industry Travel & Tourism Founded 1951 Location Folkestone Company size 1000+ Welcome to Saga Over the past 75 years we have become the UK's specialist provider of products and services to people aged over 50 in the UK. We’re the most trusted brand amongst UK consumers in this demographic, recognised for high-quality products and exceptional standards of service. Our Saga Values: Make it Happen, Do the Right Thing, Customer First, Excellence Every Day, Our People Make Us Special About us Our product portfolio includes cruises, holidays, insurance, personal finance products and our Saga Magazine. Our focus on delivering exceptional products and service empowers our colleagues to create moments that are personal and special for our customers and for each other. Our values underpin our approach and help guide us to deliver our purpose. We’re committed to making sure that colleagues can be their best, be themselves and make a difference – more than anywhere else. We have done this by creating a truly inclusive culture, where all colleagues can bring their full and authentic selves to work and be treated with dignity and respect in an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. Saga operates across a number of locations in the south of England, with offices designed to support our diverse business areas including insurance, travel, and supporting functions. From our head office in Enbrook, Kent to London, Crawley and Southampton, each site plays a vital role in enabling our colleagues to deliver exceptional service to our customers. Thanks to our people, Saga was awarded with a Gold for Best Customer Centric Culture in 2025. This is testament to the great culture we’ve built together. This award belongs to all our colleagues who collectively make Saga a fantastic place to work. Equal Opportunities We are champions of age inclusivity and signatories of the Age-Friendly Employer Pledge, we are proud of our multigenerational teams we have in place. We’re also a committed Disability Confident employer and ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. Your application will have fair consideration, and you’ll receive personal communication throughout your applicant journey when you apply to join Saga. 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