DevOps Team Leader

*This role requires 3 days a week in the office*

We are seeking an experienced DevOps Team Leader to spearhead the modernisation and transformation of a technology stack from Legacy on-premises systems to a cloud-first, automated, and DevOps-driven approach. As part of a forward-thinking retail and leisure firm, this role offers the opportunity to drive change, lead a high-performing team, and deliver a cutting-edge technology platform that aligns with the company's long-term strategic goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership and Team Development:

  • Lead, mentor, and grow a skilled DevOps team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
  • Conduct regular one-to-ones, performance reviews, and provide clear career development pathways for team members.

• Modernisation and Transformation:

  • Take ownership of the transition from Legacy on-premises infrastructure to cloud-based solutions (eg, AWS, Azure, or GCP).
  • Champion the adoption of automation tools and DevOps practices to improve operational efficiency and scalability.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to design and implement a future-ready architecture that supports the organisation's retail and leisure operations.

• Cloud and Automation Expertise:

  • Drive the adoption of Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform, Ansible, Puppet, or Chef to automate infrastructure provisioning and configuration.
  • Lead the implementation and orchestration of containerization technologies such as Kubernetes and Docker.

• Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement:

  • Partner with cross-functional teams, including developers, infrastructure engineers, and product managers, to ensure seamless delivery of services and platforms.
  • Act as a key advocate for DevOps best practices across the organisation.

• Operational Excellence:

  • Oversee the deployment pipeline, ensuring robust CI/CD processes are in place.
  • Monitor system performance, ensuring high availability, reliability, and security of all environments.

• Change Management:

  • Lead change initiatives and support the cultural shift required for a successful transformation to cloud and DevOps.
  • Ensure stakeholders are kept informed of progress, timelines, and potential risks.

Requirements

• Technical Skills:

  • Strong experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
  • Expertise in DevOps tools and methodologies, including CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), and monitoring/logging tools.
  • Hands-on experience with automation tools such as Terraform, Ansible, Puppet, or Chef.
  • Advanced knowledge of Kubernetes, Docker, and container orchestration.
  • Solid understanding of Legacy infrastructure and the challenges of migrating to modern cloud platforms.

• Leadership and Communication:

  • Proven track record of leading and managing a DevOps or infrastructure team in a complex environment.
  • Exceptional communication skills with the ability to articulate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to prioritize and deliver in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience:

  • Previous experience driving modernisation and transformation programs within a retail, leisure, or similar industry.
  • Familiarity with Agile and DevOps methodologies.
  • Strong understanding of ITIL frameworks and operational excellence practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in cloud platforms (AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Azure Architect, etc.)
• Experience with retail or leisure-specific technology systems.
• Familiarity with governance, compliance, and security practices in cloud environments.