Head of Professional Services - Leading Software Company

Manchester, England, United Kingdom

11/21/2024

Department: Professional Services

Location: North West UK - Hybrid

Compensation: £80,000 - £120,000 / year

Description

As the Head of Professional Services, you will lead our professional services department, ensuring the successful delivery of our Project portfolio and driving exceptional client outcomes. You will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing strategy and building a high-performing team to support our ambitious growth. This position requires a dynamic leader with a strong background in technology, extensive experience in Project and Programme management (with a focus on Agile methodologies), and a proven track record of delivering complex, high-impact solutions. You will also serve as a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), contributing to the company's strategic direction, fostering cross-departmental collaboration, and driving initiatives that align with the organisation's vision and goals.

Senior Management Team

• You will join our dynamic team as a key player, working alongside department heads to bring CDL's strategic vision to life!


• We're seeking a senior management professional who will be instrumental in transforming our company's strategy into tangible results, with a particular focus on the professional services strategy (including Project /Programme Management, Client Implementation & Training Management).


• Your mission will be to set clear objectives, lead dedicated teams towards achieving them, and ensure seamless coordination across all departments, including the pivotal professional services department.


• As a strategic leader, you'll tackle complex challenges, capitalise on opportunities, and solve critical issues to propel our business forward.


• Your expertise will be vital in driving change and forging valuable partnerships that resonate with our long-term goals. Within professional services, you will craft a vision that aligns our delivery processes with client expectations, ensures robust governance, efficiency and exceeds customer expectations.


• You'll oversee the strategic planning process, allocate resources effectively and proactively address potential roadblocks.


• Your guidance will steer CDL from concept through to delivery excellence, your role will be to guide CDL's delivery teams to consistently provide value-driven outcomes that set new benchmarks for quality and client satisfaction.

About CDL
CDL is one of the UK's leading software development houses, employing over 600 people at its campus in Stockport. It has a consistent history in the high-volume retail insurance sector. CDL has spearheaded developments in the aggregator, web and telematics space, including connected home, enrichment and self-service solutions. As a result, the company's robust and innovative technologies have enabled its customers to thrive in the highly competitive UK insurance marketplace. We have an exceptional record of on-time delivery.

We have built a collaborative and creative culture where we employ agile techniques to deliver our pace-setting applications. We pride ourselves on cultivating an inspiring working environment with our employees at the heart of our company. In a nutshell, we are the market-leading software house in our industry, creating the software, websites & apps for the Insurance & Finance sector across the UK. If you were to go on a price comparison website, approximately 65% of the companies on there are our clients!

Why Join Us?

• Innovative Environment: Work with a team of forward-thinking professionals dedicated to tech advancement.


• Company Growth: Opportunity to shape the future of our delivery and make a significant impact on the industry.


• Competitive Compensation: Attractive salary and benefits package.


• Work-Life Balance: Flexible working arrangements to support your personal and professional life.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and develop the Professional Services teams to deliver exceptional customer outcomes.


• Oversee the end-to-end delivery of client Projects/Programmes, ensuring they are on time, within scope, and budget.


• Build and optimise scalable processes to improve efficiency and delivery performance within the change portfolio.


• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including sales, product, and engineering, to ensure seamless Project to BAU transitions and alignment with business goals.


• Act as a key client partner, providing strategic advice and ensuring satisfaction throughout the Project lifecycle.


• Participate in SMT meetings, contributing to the overall strategic planning, decision-making, and governance of the business.


• Monitor industry trends and emerging technologies to ensure our professional services remain competitive and innovative.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

• Extensive experience leading large-scale Projects/Programmes in a technology-driven environment.


• Proven leadership in Project/Programme Management, ideally with strong experience of working with Agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, etc.).


• Background in technology, with hands-on experience or in-depth knowledge of software development or IT infrastructure.


• Demonstrated ability to manage and grow high-performing teams in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.


• Strong analytical skills and a data-driven approach to decision-making.


• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, able to influence and inspire internal teams and external clients.


• Excellent presentation skills a must.


• Experience with PRINCE2 methodology is advantageous.

Desirable Skills

• Experience scaling professional services teams in a high-growth tech company.


• Certifications such as PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM, or equivalent are a plus.


• Familiarity with modern tech stacks and tools used in Project delivery.

Benefits

Salary

The salary for the role of Head of Professional Services is payingbetween £80,000 to £120,000p.a.

Your growth and advancement within CDL are only limited by your own ambition and effort.

Benefits

• Hybrid Working (2 Days a Week in the office - SK4 2HD)


• Truly flexible working.


• 25 days holiday to start, increasing by 1 day per 1 year of service up to 30 days.


• Top employer for 8th year running


• Excellent training and development platform


• Opportunities for career progression


• Health and Wellbeing programme


• Virtual activities, lunch and learns, coffee mornings and meetups.


• Life and health assurance


• Electric Vehicle Scheme


• Established Recognition Award System


• Great Parental Benefits


• Diversity and Inclusion network


• Pension scheme


• Community projects and volunteer days


• Refer a friend bonus

Campus Benefits:

• On-site free parking


• Open plan modern offices


• Quiet Spaces are also available


• Shuttle bus to and from the station


• Subsidised restaurant


• Games room and chill out zone


• Annual Hackathon & Deep Racer Events


• Social activities, regular social events through our social group Xtra, including a summer BBQ, competitions, bowling, go-karting, football games, Winter party and much more!


• Car wash, barber, yoga classes, boot camp and massage services all on site


• Cycle to work scheme


• Shower and dry rooms

Diversity and inclusion
We're on a journey to keep innovating, that means welcoming new ideas and ways of thinking.

CDL recognises that building a diverse workforce is critical to the success of our business. We strongly encourage applications from a diverse talent pool and welcome the opportunity to discuss flexibility requirements and workplace adjustments with all our applicants.