Head of Platform - Network & Voice

Head of Platform - Network & Voice
£100,000 - £116,000 plus private healthcare, company car or car allowance and more great benefits (Work Level 4)
Manchester city centre - in this role you'll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between home and the office (find out more about our hybrid working policy at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).

We're open to applications from people who may require flexible working arrangements. There'll be an opportunity to discuss your flexible working requirements during the interview process, and at offer stage.

We're reshaping our Digital, Technology and Data function for the future, creating new opportunities, strengthening our capability, and building clearer, more resilient ways of working so we can deliver even better services for our Co-op, our colleagues, members and customers.

We're looking for a Head of Platform - Network & Voice to join our Foundation Services team and help us deliver secure, resilient and high-performing connectivity services across Co-op. You'll lead the strategy, operation and continuous improvement of our network and voice services, ensuring colleagues, customers and members can rely on the technology that underpins everything from stores and depots to offices and customer-facing services. Working across technology, business teams and strategic partners, you'll provide leadership for a critical technology domain that supports Co-op's day-to-day operations and future growth.

Why this role matters

In this role you'll lead a significant portfolio of services, influence major technology investment decisions and work with senior stakeholders across the business to ensure our connectivity platforms remain secure, reliable and fit for the future. From driving large-scale transformation programmes to managing strategic supplier relationships, including a major partnership with BT, you'll play a key role in enabling digital innovation and delivering great experiences for colleagues and customers alike.

What you'll do

* Define and lead the strategy, roadmap and operating model for Co-op's network and voice services, including WAN, LAN, Wi-Fi, SD-WAN and telephony platforms
* Ensure network and voice services provide a reliable, secure and resilient foundation for business operations and digital services
* Lead and develop a team of Network & Voice specialists, creating a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and technical excellence
* Ensure teams deliver a busy portfolio of network change including major network technology transformations
* Own the prioritisation and delivery of both operational and change activity across the Network & Voice domain
* Manage budgets, commercial performance and total cost of ownership across network and telephony services
* Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, including oversight of key telecommunications partners
* Use service performance, operational and cost data to drive decisions, improve service quality and increase value
* Ensure services remain compliant, resilient and aligned with security, risk and continuity requirements

What you'll bring

We're committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you'll need to bring:

* Proven experience leading enterprise-scale network and voice platforms across complex organisations
* Deep technical knowledge of networking technologies, including WAN, LAN, Wi-Fi, SD-WAN and voice or telephony platforms
* Experience developing and delivering technology strategies and transformation roadmaps
* Proven leadership experience managing technical teams and delivering results across operational and change environments
* Strong commercial and financial management skills, including ownership of large technology budgets and supplier contracts
* Experience managing strategic third-party suppliers and driving value from key partnerships
* Good understanding of network security, resilience, operational risk and service continuity requirements
* Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and build strong relationships across the business

We know some people may hesitate to apply if they don't meet every requirement. At Co-op, we're committed to building diverse and inclusive teams, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly, we still encourage you to apply.

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we're owned by our members. And because we're owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you're not just taking a job, you're joining a movement. We're an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we're powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you'll also receive:

* An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
* 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
* A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
* Private healthcare
* Company car or £6,000 car allowance
* Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
* 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
* Stream - early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
* Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
* 24/7 colleague support service
* Training and support for your development and career progression
* Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you'll belong

We're building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We're proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we'll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion.