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# Head of Applications

- **Company:** Outcomes First Group
- **Location:** Manchester, UK
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** £45,000.0 - £55,000.0
- **Contract:** Temporary contract
- **Skills:** Application Lifecycle Management, Business Systems, Enterprise Software Applications, Enterprise Integration
- **Published:** October 19, 2026
- **Apply:** https://candidate.ofgeducationcare.co.uk/328183OFG

## About the Role

Essential

 * Significant experience leading enterprise applications, business systems, application support, or integration engineering teams in a complex multi-site organisation^.
 * Strong understanding of application lifecycle management, IT service management (ITSM), operational acceptance, and supplier governance^.
 * Proven track record of managing supplier contracts, vendor selections, due diligence, and software cost management^.
 * Ability to communicate complex technical and commercial matters clearly to senior non-technical stakeholders^.
 * Experience translating business requirements into delivery plans, options, high-level designs, and supportable services^.
 * Familiarity with agile and/or project management techniques^.
 * Excellent communication, organisational, and stakeholder management skills^.

Desirable

 * Experience with or familiarity with education systems (e.g., MIS, safeguarding, assessment platforms)^.
 * Passionate about using technology to improve education, safeguarding, and outcomes for young people^^.^

## Description

We're now looking for a Head of Applications to join our Group IT team^. Reporting to the Chief Architect, this pivotal role will oversee our application estate and integration capability across the Group^., The Head of Applications is accountable for the effective management, governance, and continuous improvement of the Group application estate and integration capability^. The role ensures that applications and integrations remain secure, reliable, supportable, cost-effective, and aligned with business priorities across the Group^., * Own the Group Application portfolio, ensuring clear technical/business ownership, support models, data classifications, and roadmaps^.

 * Lead reviews of the application landscape to identify opportunities for rationalisation, remediation, retirement, or investment^.
 * Partner with project teams to assess business requirements for new applications or material changes prior to procurement^.
 * Oversee application implementations, upgrades, releases, migrations, and decommissioning^.
 * Lead the Integration function, ensuring solutions and Power Automate workflows are designed, developed, tested, monitored, and supported to approved standards^.
 * Manage operational relationships with strategic application and integration suppliers, overseeing service performance, contracts, and renewals^.
 * Manage application service KPIs, incident trends, risks, and improvement actions^.
 * Contribute to budget setting, forecasting, and commercial cost optimisation across license, subscription, and platform costs^.
 * Support and build a capable, engaged team with clear objectives and development pathways^.