Head of Deployment

Summary and purpose of position:

Wincanton is a leading supply chain partner for British business, providing supply chain solutions up and down the country. Through a wealth of experience and knowledge Wincanton provides business critical services including storage, handling and distribution; high volume eFulfilment; retailer ‘dark stores’; two-person home delivery; fleet and transport management; and network optimisation for many of the UK’s best-known companies.

Reporting into the IT Director, this critical role within the IT Structure is responsible for ensuring robust, timely and efficient programme and project delivery to all customers both internal and external.

Through day-to-day management of the Application Specialist teams, the Head of IT Deployment is accountable for all IT Application deployments across Warehouse, Transport, EFulfillment and associated Integration, resource planning, scheduling, and prioritisation with the requisite support from Business Stakeholders, Customers and Suppliers.

Working closely with the Group Change Management team the role holder will ensure strict adherence to the Wincanton project governance standards across all products and projects.

Duties and responsibilities:

Production and maintenance of a full deployment schedule showing current and pipeline activities to enable resource scheduling and where necessary prioritisation. To ensure management of the detailed deployment plans of each project to ensure successful delivery. Demonstrates ownership and full accountability for the completeness and robustness of solution delivery. Lead Application Specialist teams across Warehouse, Transport and Fulfilment Working alongside the Solution Architects, define standard deployment templates and configurations for Business Verticals in which Wincanton operate currently and any defined future areas of growth. Ensure compliance with Wincanton IT strategies, policies and architecture standards.  Manage the application solution deployment throughout the entire project lifecycle including transition to support. Ensure seamless transition of all deployments into support that are planned and standardised to ensure no impact to business or customers.  Accountability for ensuring application code set integrity and data across all environments. · Ensure all testing is performed against approved solution designs.  To understand IT related contract requirements and the details around SLA’s, ESCROW, IPR, Data Protection.  Be an evangelist of the IT Build and Run team and IT best practice.  Prepare and conduct presentations to share knowledge of the Team portfolio, capabilities and ways or working to the Wincanton business Sector Directors  Build effective working relationships with key stakeholders both internal and external. Create and run a deployment forum to keep up to date with the business needs and ensure a route for future recruitment and development.  Ensure the use of Wincanton IT products, services, standards and policies in-line with the business and client requirements.  To actively manage our existing strategic partners in line with the benchmarking exercise to ensure competitive edge.  To maintain knowledge base for both existing and potential suppliers.  Work closely with Architecture and Pre-Sales teams to manage the transition into formal project delivery via the agreed Wincanton Stage Gate Methodology.  Resolve conflict and ensures effective collaborative relationships between operational and IT teams are sustained.  Implement and improve ways of working to effectively define fit for purpose solutions against business / customer needs.  This list is not exhaustive and will be subject to changes dependant on Wincanton business requirements

Experience, skills and attributes:

Excellent Project / Change Management experience. Excellent expertise of the logistics business with both Operational and IT experience. Strong, proven knowledge of Information and Systems Technology including application landscapes and technical topologies. Excellent team management and Leadership skills with proven experience Strong people leadership and coaching skills. Excellent team and relationship building skills. Proven ability to bridge the gap between IT and Business user groups. Excellent Strategic/Procedural skills Proven Ability to Run workshops and resolve complex requirements conflicts through effective stakeholder engagement. Strong relationship management in order to collaborate with suppliers, vendors, managers and directors throughout the business. Flexible style to meet the needs/expectations of different cultures within the organization. Structured and logical approach to problem solving with the ability to quickly analyse and understand a problem and identify practical/pragmatic solutions. Can construct As-is' and To-be' process mapping to support process re-engineering activities. Strategic thinker  Influencing skills  Clear communication, including technical issues.  Ability to travel inside and outside of the UK  Ability to work with and develop a new team.  Ability to gain commitment from others.  Good commercial/contract skills.  Good negotiation skills.

Our Commitment:

Our people are our most important asset and as such we are continuously expanding our capability programs to provide you with opportunities to build and extend your professional, functional, and management skills. Your development through coaching is our priority. Continuous learning takes place through a broad variety of opportunities and types of engagements. Access to the latest technological innovations in the logistics and supply chain industry, as well as Wincanton’s deep knowledge and expertise in our field, constitute a superb platform for your professional development. 

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.

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