Director of Information Technology

FDM is a global business and technology consultancy seeking a Head of Global Application Management to work for our client within the Finance sector. This is initially a 6 month contract with the potential to extend and will be a hybrid role that will be based in Bristol.

Our client is seeking the Global Application Management function is comprised of a group of Application Support, Hosting and Release teams aligned to each business divisions. This role is a leadership role overseeing all the Application Support teams, their interrelations, and interactions.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for development and implementation of the target operating model for the Application Support, Release and Hosting Group, ensuring it is futureproof, leverages global best practice. This will include recruitment and working with each direct report to develop the appropriate structure beneath them.
• Leads, mentors, and develops a team of Technology professionals including the functional leads who are direct reports to this role and are responsible for the Application portfolio of their respective domains.
• Work alongside other Technology business areas, including Software Development, to shape and deliver the strategy in order to deliver optimum technology and service for our customers (internal & external) in pursuit of our client's goals.
• Owns the standardisation of practices and processes in line with ITIL framework and approves any deviations from it, ensuring ongoing best practice and strong process adherence by all.
• As a member of the Technology Operations Leadership team, the role holder is responsible for delivery of the overall Application Support strategy, working in collaboration with all other Technology teams to ensure that output is fit for purpose for both the Technology function and the wider business, as well as ensuring that there is the consistent application, implementation, and improvement of approved policies/strategies/initiatives within the Teams.

Key Accountabilities:

• Set strategy/policy and establishing frameworks to ensure effective implementation (incl. risk management, targets, budgets).
• Develop and implement governance across the function (e.g., setting appropriate escalation protocols and being key decision maker for Application management).
• Ensure appropriate and optimally efficient policies, procedures and controls are maintained and regularly reviewed.
• Be aware of Audit actions and respond appropriately
• Oversee vendor relationship with third parties and advisors
• As a subject matter expert, lead and contribute to a range of strategic Group wide projects
• Adherence to all risk, control, and governance frameworks
• Monitor and manage demand for Application Management, Environments and Release functions to control the run-rate of the team.

About You

• Minimum 12 years' experience in Application Management, Application Support, Technology Operations or Service Management leadership roles within large enterprise environments.
• Proven experience leading global Application Support, Release Management and Hosting/Environment teams.
• Strong knowledge of ITIL frameworks, including Incident, Problem, Change and Release Management.
• Experience working with enterprise application environments across cloud and hybrid infrastructure platforms. Exposure to tools such as ServiceNow, Jira, Splunk, Dynatrace, AppDynamics, Azure Monitor or similar would be advantageous.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, geographically distributed teams and build effective relationships with senior business and technology stakeholders.
• Experience establishing governance, risk and control frameworks, including audit and compliance management.
• Strong vendor and third-party supplier management experience.
• Experience managing budgets, resource planning and operational demand within a complex technology environment.
• Experience working within a regulated industry, preferably Financial Services.

About Us

FDM is an award-winning global leader in tech and business talent solutions, backed by more than 35 years of industry experience. We have centres across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, and a global workforce of over 2500 employees. FDM has shown exponential growth throughout the years, firmly establishing itself as an award-winning employer, currently listed on the FTSE4Good Index and as a 2026 Financial Times UK ‘Best Employer’.

Diversity and Inclusion

FDM Group is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other status protected by federal, provincial or local laws.

Why join us

• Career coaching, mentoring and access to upskilling throughout your entire FDM career
• Assignments with global companies and opportunities to work abroad
• Opportunity to re-skill and up-skill into new areas, develop non-linear career paths and build a skillset within your field
• Annual leave and work-place pension