Head of Application Support

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Head of Application Support

Remote

Full Time

Permanent

Ref: REQ002659

XPS Group is a leading UK consulting and administration business specialising in the pensions and insurance sectors. At XPS, our vision is to create a vibrant place to work where difference is recognised as a strength and where talented people can flourish and achieve their highest potential .

Our IT Development & Delivery team continues to grow and we are now looking for a Head of Application Support to join one of our vibrant offices with remote or hybrid working. This is an exciting role and would most likely suit someone with previous experience in a similar role, where they have gained knowledge and extensive experience of pension administration, IT technical experience and strong people management skills.

A FTSE 250 company, XPS combines expertise and insight with advanced technology and analytics to address the needs of over 1,400 pension schemes and their sponsoring employers on an ongoing and project basis. We undertake pensions administration for over one million members and provide advisory services to schemes and corporate sponsors in respect of schemes of all sizes, including 88 with assets over £1bn. We also provide wider ranging support to insurance companies in the life and bulk annuities sector.

Our people drive our success and as an XPS employee you can bring your whole self to work - Everyone is treated equally and with respect. We will provide you with the support and training you need to grow and be at your very best. It's about inclusion and diversity, ensuring all our people feel included, that they belong to XPS and that they're happy. Above all, it's about ensuring everyone has a voice and feels valued. Because they are.

The Team

Our IT team provides support to all employees across our various offices in the UK. We exist to help our colleagues do their job and to keep our data safe from threats.

Our objective is to provide all users with consistent and secure access to the systems they need to successfully do their job.

This role resides within the IT Development and Delivery team; a centralised technical team that specialises in the development and maintenance of the core platforms used to deliver pension administration services to XPS clients.

The Role

The Head of Application Support will be responsible for overseeing the application support team, ensuring the smooth operation and maintenance of all business-critical applications.

As the Head of Application Support with XPS you will be involved in:

• People Management - Lead and develop the application support team; conduct performance reviews; plan and manage team structure and recruitment, and act as an escalation point for complex issues.
• Supplier Management - Manage relationships with third-party suppliers, including challenging and escalating issues as needed, and conducting service reviews.
• Stakeholder Management - Communicate effectively with stakeholders and prioritise their requirements, and understand the wider business/key strategies.
• Governance and Risk Management - E nsure compliance with audit controls and risk management practices.
• Operational Support (BAU) - Lead the resolution of business-as-usual (BAU) issues and problems; Manage Priority 1 (P1) issues and Major Incident Reviews (MIRs).
• Projects and Programmes - Active management in infrastructure projects and strategic business projects, leading new business initiatives and workstreams.

Your profile

Essential Criteria

• Extensive experience in pension administration.
• Proven experience in managing an application support team.
• Strong people management and interpersonal skills.
• Strong IT Technical experience.
• Ability to take ownership of the application portfolio and create a positive team environment.
• Experience in coordinating and prioritising across multiple stakeholder requirements.
• Strong decision-making skills and resilience in managing difficult situations.
• Ability to stand-in for Director - Development & Delivery from time to time to cover holidays and sickness.

What we offer:

Find out more about Life at XPS

Find out more about Our People Approach

We offer an attractive reward package, typical benefits can include:

• Competitive salary
• Participation in annual discretionary Bonus Scheme
• 25 days holiday plus flexibility to buy or sell holiday
• Flexible Bank holidays
• Pension scheme, matching contribution structure
• Healthcare cash plan
• Flexible Benefits Scheme to support you in and out of work, helping you look after you and your family covering Security & Protection, Health & Wellbeing, Lifestyle
• Life Assurance cover, four times basic salary
• XPS Rewards (offers High Street discounts and savings from retailers and services providers as well as offers available via phone)
• Employee Assistance Programme for you and your household
• Access to a digital GP service
• Paid volunteering day when participating in Company organised events
• Staff referral scheme when you introduce a friend to XPS

What next:

If you feel XPS could be the next step on your career ladder, please apply directly via the links provided and we look forward to learning more about you. We will consider all applicants and respond swiftly.

Please discuss with the recruitment team, via phone or email, if you require any adjustments to the recruitment process. For example, we can provide materials in an alternative format, or give you extra time in interviews or tests.

If you do not feel ready to apply or still have questions, please email us by clicking here

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the following requirements:

• Right to Work confirmation
• DBS Disclosure check
• Employment or educational references covering five years
• Satisfactory credit check

We continuously strive to build an inclusive workplace where all forms of diversity are valued, including age, background, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, religion or sexual orientation.

Please note we reserve the right to close our vacancies early and we only accept CVs direct from candidates or our preferred supplier list.

XPS try wherever possible to respond to all applicants if for any reason you have not heard from us within 28 days of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.