Head of Platforms
The Head of Platforms is accountable for the strategy, delivery, security, resilience and continuous improvement of the firm’s core technology platforms. This role provides leadership across infrastructure, security operations, endpoints, data integration and automation, applications and the Document Management System (DMS), ensuring platforms are secure, scalable, reliable, and aligned to business and regulatory requirements.
The role acts as the senior technical authority for platforms, setting standards and roadmaps, leading platform teams, and partnering closely with Information Security, Legal Technology, Data Management, Finance Systems, PMO and business stakeholders.
Scope of Responsibility
The Head of Platforms has end-to-end accountability for the following platform domains:
Infrastructure Platforms
• Cloud (Azure) and on-premise infrastructure
• Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) and platform automation standards
• Network, connectivity, identity and core platform services
• Resilience, backup, disaster recovery and service continuity
Security Operations
• Platform security controls, monitoring and threat detection
• SIEM, SOAR, endpoint and network security tooling
• Operational security incident management in partnership with InfoSec
Endpoint Platforms
• End-user devices, operating systems and device lifecycle
• Microsoft 365, identity lifecycle management and collaboration tooling
• Endpoint security, compliance, configuration and automation
Data Integration and Automation
• Platform-level data integration services
• Automation, scripting and low/no-code orchestration to reduce manual effort
• Platform automation standards
Applications and Document Management Systems (DMS)
• Ownership of applications roadmap and the DMS platform (i.e iManage)
• Performance, availability, security and integration with other systems
• Close partnership with Legal Technology and business stakeholders
Key Responsibilites :
Platform Strategy and Architecture
• Own the platform strategy and multi-year roadmap, aligned to business priorities, regulatory requirements and security standards
• Set architectural principles, technology standards and platform guardrails
• Lead lifecycle management, including modernisation, technical debt, and decommissioning of legacy platforms,
Operational Excellence and Service Management
• Accountable for platform availability, performance, resilience and supportability
• Ensure platforms are operated in line with ITIL practices (incident, problem, change, configuration and continuous improvement)
• Oversee third-line support, major incident response and root cause analysis
Security and Risk Management
• Ensure security is embedded by design across all platforms
• Partner closely with Information Security on risk management, audit readiness and compliance (ISO, GDPR, CIS controls)
• Own operational security controls and the effectiveness of security tooling
Automation and Continuous Improvement
• Drive automation and standardisation across platform services
• Reduce operational risk and cost through repeatability, IaC and self-service where appropriate
• Measure platform health using clear KPIs and service metrics
Leadership and People Management
• Lead and develop Platform Managers and technical leads across Infrastructure, Endpoint, Security Operations and Application/DMS platforms
• Build a high-performing, collaborative engineering culture with strong accountability
• Set clear role clarity, performance expectations and development paths
Stakeholder and Vendor Management
• Act as the senior escalation point for platform-related issues
• Partner with Legal Technology, Data, PMO and the business to support strategic initiatives
• Manage critical suppliers and service partners, including performance, risk and commercials.
Governance and Decision Making
• Member of IT leadership and architecture governance forums
• Accountable for platform-related investment cases and technical risk decisions
• Provides clear reporting to senior stakeholders on platform risk, resilience and performance
Key Skills and Experience
Essential:
• Senior leadership experience across enterprise platforms in a professional services environment
• Strong background in infrastructure, cloud platforms, endpoints and security operations
• Proven experience operating platforms at scale with high availability and regulatory requirements
• Strong understanding of ITIL-based service management and operational governance
• Experience with DMS platforms in a legal or similar document-centric environment
• Demonstrated success driving automation and platform modernisation
• Familiarity with SIEM, SOAR and modern security operations tooling
Desirable:
• Experience in legal services or regulated environments
• Deep knowledge of Microsoft 365, Azure, identity and endpoint ecosystem
Success Measures
• Platform availability, performance and resilience metrics
• Reduction in incidents and operational risk through automation
• Clear, trusted platforms supporting legal and business services
• Positive stakeholder feedback and effective vendor performance
• Strong audit outcomes and reduced technology risk exposure
Hybrid working - We adopt a hybrid and flexible working approach, dependent on the requirements of the role and subject to manager approval.
For a detailed specification please download the job description in the documents section of this page.
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