Head of Business Applications & Customer Platforms

Lead the platforms that keep the council running, and help shape our digital and AI future.
Enfield Council is delivering an ambitious Digital, Data and AI strategy to transform how residents and staff experience council services. We’re looking for an experienced, pragmatic leader to take ownership of the business applications and customer platforms that sit at the heart of a modern local authority.
This is about running what matters today, while modernising for tomorrow.
The role
As Head of Business Applications & Customer Platforms, you’ll lead the teams responsible for the council’s core line‑of‑business systems, integrations, web platforms and digital channels used by residents every day. From statutory services and frontline operations to insight, decision‑making and customer journeys – these are the platforms that keep Enfield moving.
On a typical day, you might be:

- Working with services to resolve issues or plan changes to critical systems
- Challenging legacy and shaping the roadmap to simplify, modernise and reduce risk
- Ensuring platforms are secure, resilient, accessible and kept current
- Managing suppliers, performance, budgets and competing priorities
- Collaborating with infrastructure, networks, service desk, commercial and portfolio teams
- Engaging senior stakeholders on risk, investment and improvement
- Creating the space for your teams to innovate and improve how services work

What you’ll be responsible for
You’ll have end‑to‑end accountability for the council’s applications and customer platforms, including:

- Operational leadership of mission‑critical business applications and web platforms
- Keeping systems current and up to date, including lifecycle management, upgrades and decommissioning
- Reducing legacy and technical debt while maintaining service continuity
- Modernising the application and web estate, driving consolidation and rationalisation
- Ensuring accessibility, resilience, security and compliance with public‑sector standards
- Supplier and contract management, ensuring value for money and service quality
- Leading high‑performing, multi‑disciplinary teams, developing skills and capability
- Supporting digital, data‑led and AI‑enabled services, ensuring platforms are ready to evolve

This is a hands‑on leadership role in a large, politically aware organisation. You’ll balance operational excellence with transformation, acting as an escalation point when needed and deputising for the Head of Operations & Architecture at times.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for someone who:

- Understands the realities of running complex, business‑critical systems in a council or similar environment
- Has strong experience across applications, integrations and web platforms
- Knows how to keep platforms stable, secure and compliant while driving change
- Is confident managing suppliers, budgets and competing priorities
- Can lead, motivate and develop teams through change
- Understands how data, digital and emerging technologies – including AI – can improve public services
- Is comfortable working with senior stakeholders, elected members and partners

If you’re motivated by modernising public‑sector platforms, reducing risk, improving customer experience and enabling better outcomes for residents, this is a role where you can make a real and visible impact.
Contact Details -
If you would like to know more about the role, please contact Louise Bateman - Head of Operations and Architecture - louise.bateman@enfield.gov.uk for an informal discussion
We do not see your name or title when shortlisting your application. This is one of many initiatives to build a more talented and diverse workforce. However, if you put your name on your CV or Statement it will be visible to us. For this reason, we ask that you do not include your name on these documents. Please note it is your responses to the Essential/Desirable criteria, as detailed in the Job Description and Person Specification which is available on the job advert, that will determine if you are shortlisted for an interview, therefore we encourage you to always address the essential and desirable criteria in your application/CV.
We are passionate about our people and how we deliver services to our community in Enfield. That’s why we encourage a culture that puts our customers at the heart of everything we do - by empowering our people to work together to find solutions, be open, honest and respectful, take responsibility and listen and learn. If you value these behaviours too, we’d love to hear from you - and of course we are always happy to talk flexible working, click here to find out more.
Why it's great to work for Enfield Council:

- An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
- Up to 32 days annual leave depending on grade and length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year and an extra day off at Christmas.
- A blend of remote and office based working for most roles.
- Interest free season ticket loan repayable over three or ten months.
- Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods.
- Employee Assistance Programme to provide advice and counselling services. This is a free and confidential service available to staff and members of their family.
- Health and leisure discounts and tax-free bikes for work.
- 1 month paid sabbatical for Children’s Social Workers

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications have been received. Therefore, we advise that you complete fully and submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you have previously applied for this role within the past 6 months, unfortunately, a second application will not be considered.