Job Description

Interim Head of Software Engineering 3-Month Contract Initially | C £700 pd Inside IR35 | Hybrid London

A prestigious London-based organisation is seeking an experienced Interim Head of Software Engineering to provide operational leadership cover during a period of transition and organisational change and recruitment of a permanent Head of Software Engineering.

This is a senior leadership role focused on maintaining operational stability, supporting multidisciplinary technical teams and ensuring continuity across a broad enterprise technology estate whilst a permanent appointment is made.

The environment is complex, stakeholder-heavy and operationally critical, requiring a calm, resilient and highly credible technology leader who can "hold the fort", keep services running effectively and maintain momentum across ongoing initiatives.

The Role

You will lead a multidisciplinary function spanning:

* Software engineering

* Enterprise applications

* Integrations and APIs

* Data and reporting services

* Operational support and service management

The focus is very much on:

* Keeping the lights on

* Operational continuity

* Supporting stretched teams through transition

* Managing stakeholder expectations

* Maintaining delivery momentum

* Ensuring stable and resilient services

This is not a large-scale transformation programme or greenfield engineering role. Instead, the organisation requires a safe pair of hands with strong operational leadership capability within a complex enterprise environment.

Key Experience Required

* Experience leading enterprise application / software engineering / integration functions within large complex organisations ideally with experience within Higher Education or large public-sector organisations

* Strong operational leadership and service management experience

* Experience managing multidisciplinary technical teams and team leaders

* Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills

* Experience operating within Higher Education, Public Sector, NHS, Housing or similarly complex regulated environments

* Ability to manage competing priorities within stretched operational teams

* Calm, resilient and pragmatic leadership style

Desirable

* Experience across enterprise integrations, data/reporting platforms and operational governance

* ITIL / service management background

Contract Details

* 3 months initially, likely extension

* Rate c £700 per day Inside IR35

* Hybrid working - London 2 days a week.

* Immediate / short notice availability preferred

To progress matters please send your CV to

Services advertised are those of an Employment Business