Head of Platform

Looking for an exciting and rewarding career?

theidol.com is looking for a Head of Platform to ensure the organisation’s digital infrastructure is robust, scalable, and resilient.

The Idol is a successful financial technology business based on the edge of the stunning Lake District National Park in Cumbria. Our location offers the opportunity for an exceptional work life balance, allowing you to enjoy the countryside, find inspiration and unwind.

We’ve been innovating in financial services since 1999 and are dedicated to transforming insurance technology to protect what matters.

As part of the Legal & General Group (since 2010), we proudly partner with household brands such as Go.Compare, ComparetheMarket and Confused.

We are committed to early adoption of new technologies, progressive working practices and supporting everyone to be accountable to deliver their best quality work.

Apply Now

If you feel you have the skills and experience required to join the team at theidol.com, please send us your CV, contact details and a short statement about you and your suitability for the role.

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Overview

Working collaboratively with senior technical team, agile development squads, and other key stakeholders, you will support and enable the delivery of industry-leading customer journeys across all platforms.

The Head of Platform develops and continually enhances the organisation’s deployment practices, infrastructure capabilities, and operational resilience to meet strategic objectives. The role includes line management responsibility for three team members and may also hold responsibility for the day-to-day fulfilment of regulatory functions and IT controls. Through proactive leadership and continuous improvement, the Head of Platform ensures the organisation’s platforms are high-performing, secure, and capable of supporting growth.

Principle accountabilities

Deploy, automate, maintain, and manage cloud and on-premises infrastructure to ensure the availability, performance, scalability, and security of production systems.
Optimise the platform for cost-effectiveness and for the efficient delivery of software and services to customers.
Continually review and evaluate system architecture and working processes, suggesting improvements wherever possible.
Manage the observability platform and lead a squad participating in on-call rotas for triaging issues affecting key systems.
Actively encourage best practice working methods through in-house and external training or demonstrations.
Oversee the day-to-day fulfilment of regulatory functions and IT controls, contributing to the maintenance of compliance certifications such as ISO 27001 and PCI DSS.
Ensure the quality, documentation, and stability of delivered Platform solutions are maintained to a consistently high standard.
Effectively communicate Platform rationale and strategy to a range of stakeholders.
Consider, relevant to your role, the needs and objectives of all our customers, including vulnerable customers, to ensure that they receive good outcomes.
Manage, motivate, and develop employees at all levels, in a manner that is consistent with the Company’s policies and procedures, to maximise the performance of the area.

Person specification

Knowledge, experience and qualifications

Deep experience with IaC management of systems and networks in a multi-region Cloud environment using Terraform, OpenTofu, or Ansible. Experience in AWS a plus.
Experience with operating relational and non-relational data storage systems such as PostgreSQL, Elasticsearch, Redis, and MongoDB.
Experience with running a customer data platform and data warehousing solution.
Experience working with delivering white-labelled solutions with multiple partners and stakeholders.
Hands-on experience with Internet technologies such as DNS, TCP, WAF, SMTP, HTTP.
Experience with Linux-based operating systems and its catalog of tools.
Experience with languages such as Python, Go, or Typescript.
Managerial experience of a distributed technical team including coaching of each team member.

Behaviours

Providing verbal and written communication in English that is clear and concise to colleagues, senior management, as well as other stakeholders. 
Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability, changing direction where required and quickly mastering new and existing technologies to meet evolving demands.
Acts as a voice of experience within the team, ensuring the organisation’s platform li Manages multiple concurrent projects effectively, prioritising demands and requirements to achieve outcomes.
Builds strong relationships through approachable, friendly, and supportive leadership, creating a positive and motivated team environment.
Embraces change and drives platform strategy forward with enthusiasm and resilience.
Takes ownership and accountability for their role and conduct to ensure good outcomes for customers.

Further information

This is a full-time Monday to Friday role working an average 37.5 hours per week.
Hybrid flexible home/office working supported. There is a requirement to attend the office in Cumbria approximately twice a month or as frequently is required to meet the role requirements (expenses will be provided depending on your location).
Salary in the range of £60,000 to £90,000 depending on experience, 27 days holiday plus public holidays, plus performance rated bonus, enhanced pension, and generous private medical, family, sickness and insurance benefits, and share schemes.
A full role profile can be downloaded -here

Over to You

If you have a genuine enthusiasm and an ability to quickly adapt to new technologies, you may be just what we’re looking for!

Apply here...

What’s in it for you?

Your Money

Taking care of your financial wellbeing, and making your money go further.

Performance bonus

Annual bonus based on individual performance.

Yearly pay increases

We review your salary annually, to make sure we’re paying you fairly.

Pension scheme

Up to 10% employer pension contribution.

Share scheme

Access to our Legal & General share schemes.

Your Health

Taking care of your physical and mental wellbeing.

Work life balance

Hybrid home or office working to help strike the perfect balance for you, while supporting your expenses to visit the office.

Health and Dental Insurance

Access to private medical plans for you and your family.

Employee Assistance Programme

Free, day-to-day wellbeing and counselling service.

Virtual GP

Fast and direct access to a Virtual GP and Mental Health service.

Tailored office environment

Life at Team Idol.

Social events

Exceptional events delivered by our social committee team.

Breakout rooms

Spacious meeting rooms and breakout areas.

Drinks and snacks

Complimentary hot and soft drinks, free fruit and a lunch allowance while at the office.

Free parking and charging

Access to electric charging points and no need to worry about parking charges!

Your life

Protecting you and your family.

Death in service insurance

Insurance to protect you and your family at 8 times your salary.

Holidays

Generous holiday allowance and the ability to buy and sell holidays according to your needs.

Work+Family Space

Access to advice, guidance, resources to balance work and caring responsibilities.

Income protection

Support if you are unable to work in the long-term due to illness or injury.

Where we are

Based in Eden Business Park, our modern office space reflects our culture and how we want to work. Step outside and you’re instantly looking out onto the Thacka Beck Nature Reserve.

We love where we live and we’re proud to remain a homegrown Cumbrian technology business. This pride extends to embracing our role in the community to champion, inspire and develop digital skills.

What to expect

We create a rewarding working environment for our teams to develop, collaborate and enjoy. Expect high energy, creative flair, attention to detail and an embraced adoption of new technologies.

Working in agile development squads, our teams freely exchange ideas and expert knowledge - sharing this both with each other and our clients. This approach encourages for continuous improvement, ensuring the projects we deliver are as truly considered and innovative as possible.

Find your balance

Adopting a healthy work life balance is an essential part of our culture. We offer flexible working hours, remote or blended home/office working, as well as funded social events.

Our modern, custom-built office is the perfect working environment for our teams, with spacious social working areas, free hot/cold drinks and fresh fruit. Facilities include an on-site gym, showers and table tennis.

Challenge yourself

Continuous professional development is more to us than ticking a box. It underpins our approach and belief in the value of personal and professional growth.

Training is accessible to everyone in all roles and across all levels, enabling you to develop and deliver your best work with us.

Working with you, we’ll identify and build a tailored development plan. Training opportunities include short courses and bootcamps, through to apprenticeships and industry-recognised qualifications.

You’re in good company

It’s important, dare we say essential, to enjoy what we do and have fun at work. Our staff-led social events team organises exceptional social events, including Christmas parties, axe-throwing, cheese and wine evenings, bake off events and even trips to the Crystal Maze!

Our annual summer party brings everyone together in the heart of the Lake District for an evening of live music, free food and drink.