We are looking for an experienced Applications Operations Manager to lead and develop a high-performing Applications Operations team within a global IT environment. This is a hands-on leadership role combining people management, application operations, incident and problem management, service delivery and continuous improvement. You will ensure supported application environments remain effectively managed while leading the team through incidents, changes, releases and operational priorities. You will also play an important role within the wider IT leadership community, building strong relationships with the business and helping deliver technology services that support the firm and its clients. Duration: Permanent Working Pattern: 2 days working from the office, 3 days remote You will lead the Applications Operations team, working collaboratively with colleagues across the global IT organisation and supporting end users across the business. The team is responsible for the ongoing operation and support of application environments, including releases, changes, service requests, monitoring, incident resolution and operational maintenance. As manager, you will develop and support your team while creating a positive, collaborative and high-performing environment. You will also act as an advocate for Applications Operations, communicating the team's results and achievements across the wider organisation. Key Responsibilities • Lead, develop and retain a high-performing Applications Operations team through effective coaching, mentoring, career development and performance management. • Manage team capacity, skills and resources to balance operational requirements, cost goals and high-quality customer service. • Oversee application and platform changes, releases, service requests and operational maintenance across supported environments. • Lead the effective management and resolution of application incidents, including root cause analysis, corrective actions and viable workarounds. • Act as an escalation point for major incidents and outages, including where required outside normal working hours, coordinating teams and driving issues through to resolution. • Develop and maintain effective incident, ticket handling and escalation processes, tracking KPIs and analysing trends to identify areas for improvement. • Monitor the health of application environments and ensure appropriate responses to system alerts and operational issues. • Oversee audits and analysis of application environments to support effective configuration management and consistency. • Support the integration of new application services and contribute to automation, consolidation and centralisation initiatives. • Ensure operational activity is completed and documented in accordance with required standards, methods and procedures. • Identify system or service improvements based on operational trends and make recommendations where changes or reconfigurations are required. • Oversee team training procedures and ensure both new and existing colleagues receive appropriate coaching and development. • Participate in Change Advisory Board (CAB) meetings where required and maintain awareness of relevant industry and technology developments. • Establish and communicate the team's on-call schedule and ensure effective operational coverage. • Build strong relationships across IT and the wider business, communicating technical information clearly and managing stakeholder expectations effectively. • Contribute positively to the wider IT leadership team, encouraging collaboration, accountability, innovation and continuous improvement. Essential Skills & Experience • Proven experience directly managing an Applications Operations team, ideally within a law firm or professional services environment. • Strong people leadership skills, with experience coaching, motivating and developing team members and maintaining an engaged, high-performing team. • Experience working successfully with global teams and end users, with strong relationship and stakeholder management skills. • Practical experience of incident, problem and change management, including managing operational queues and escalated issues. • Experience working with infrastructure and operational KPIs, reporting tools and metrics, with the ability to analyse trends and identify improvements. • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the confidence to research technical issues and drive problems through to resolution. • Strong customer service orientation and the ability to balance customer expectations with available capacity, skills and technology. • Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical ideas in clear, business-friendly language. • Ability to prioritise and deliver effectively in a high-pressure operational environment, including managing competing demands and major incidents. • Highly self-motivated and detail-focused, with a collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively across teams. • A track record of driving short-term operational priorities while remaining aligned with longer-term goals. • A degree in Computer Science or a related discipline is preferred. What sets this role apart This is more than a traditional application support management position. You will combine technical operational leadership with people management, taking responsibility for everything from team development and service performance to incidents, releases, changes and continuous improvement. You will have the opportunity to make a tangible impact on how Applications Operations performs, using KPIs, ticket trends, root cause analysis and operational insights to identify improvements and strengthen service delivery. You will also contribute to automation, consolidation and centralisation initiatives as the firm's technology environment evolves. As part of the wider IT leadership community, you will be expected to thi