Global Head of Business Applications

At Serco, we deliver essential public services across defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are a team of approximately 55,000 people responsible for delivering services that matter to millions of people every day. Our work is complex, operationally demanding and often high-profile — but at its heart is a simple purpose: to impact a better future for the people and communities we serve. We are currently searching for a Global Head of Business Applications to lead Serco's enterprise applications strategy, governance and transformation agenda globally. Reporting to the Group Technology Director, this newly created role sits at the heart of Serco's Global Digital Hub and will play a pivotal role in shaping how enterprise applications are delivered across the organisation. As Serco embarks on a significant global technology transformation, this role will provide single-point accountability for the Business Applications landscape, spanning ERP, Finance, HR, Procurement, Order-to-Cash and a broad ecosystem of enterprise platforms. This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a globally integrated Business Applications function, driving standardisation, simplification and modernisation across a complex international organisation operating in highly regulated environments. What you'll be doing

• Define and own Serco's global Business Applications strategy, roadmap and operating model.
• Lead the evolution of Serco's enterprise application landscape, including SAP ECC6, future S/4HANA direction and adjacent business platforms.
• Drive standardisation, simplification and harmonisation of applications, processes and services across global regions.
• Establish governance frameworks, architecture standards and decision-making processes for enterprise applications.
• Own Business Applications investment prioritisation, ensuring value realisation, affordability and alignment to business strategy.
• Provide authoritative direction to regional CIO and CTO organisations, ensuring alignment to enterprise strategy and standards.
• Lead major transformation initiatives across ERP, Finance, HR, Procurement and corporate systems.
• Oversee application delivery, operational performance, resilience and service management across a complex multi-vendor environment.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships, commercial performance and outsourced delivery partners.
• Drive opportunities to leverage automation, AI and modern cloud technologies to improve efficiency, user experience and business outcomes.
• Build and lead a high-performing global organisation spanning technical, functional, delivery and governance capabilities.
• Partner with executive stakeholders across Technology, Finance, HR, Procurement and the wider business to shape future investment and transformation priorities. What you'll need to do the role
• Significant leadership experience managing large-scale Business Applications or Enterprise Applications functions within complex global organisations.
• Proven experience leading ERP transformation programmes, including SAP ECC6, S/4HANA, SuccessFactors, Ariba or equivalent enterprise platforms.
• Strong understanding of Finance, HR, Procurement and Order-to-Cash business processes and supporting technologies.
• Experience defining enterprise application strategy, governance, architecture and operating models.
• Deep understanding of enterprise integrations, APIs, iPaaS, master data management and analytics platforms.
• Track record of delivering large-scale transformation, application rationalisation and operating model change.
• Experience managing significant technology budgets, strategic suppliers and outsourced service providers.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders across regional, functional and technical boundaries.
• Experience operating in highly regulated, compliance-driven environments.
• An inspiring leadership style, with the ability to lead through ambiguity, create clarity in complex environments and build alignment across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong commercial acumen combined with a focus on operational excellence, governance and value delivery.
• SC clearance, or the ability to obtain it.