Full-time Head of People Technology & Digital Excellence, Phoenix Group

01Job Type: Permanent

• Location: Hybrid, aligned to one of our core locations of London, Birmingham or
• Edinburgh
• Flexible working: All roles are open to part-time, job-share and other types of

flexibility. We will discuss what is important to you and balancing this with

business requirements during the recruitment process. You can read more about

flexible working here.

Salary & Benefits: £120,000-£140,000 DOE with an indicative bonus range of 30%

-60%, private medical, 38 days annual leave, excellent pension, 12x salary life

assurance, career breaks, income protection, 3x volunteering days and much more.

02Closing Date: 03/11/2027

• To make things easier, you might want to save this advert now, it won’t be
• accessible after the closing date.
• Who are we?
• We’re Standard Life, a retirement specialist focused entirely on retirement

savings and income. We champion the belief that everyone’s journey to and

through retirement can be better, and for more than 200 years, we’ve been

helping our customers plan and prepare for their financial futures.

Life today is increasingly complicated, uncertain and unpredictable. People move

through different careers, face unexpected moments and navigate important

choices. We offer our colleagues flexibility, trust and benefits that work for

whatever life brings. In return we expect curiosity, connection, accountability

and high standards. We make room for what matters - so you can bring your best,

every day.

03The role

• The successful candidate will help shape and lead delivery of a multi-year
• People Technology and AI strategy, transforming how HR services are designed,

delivered and experienced across the organisation. Leading the People Technology

team, the role will ensure investment in platforms, products, data, automation

and AI improves colleague experience and delivers measurable business value.

Working in partnership with the Head of People Technology, Digital, Analytics &

Change, the role owns the integrated People Technology roadmap, delivery plans,

operating model, investment portfolio, ecosystem and governance. Oracle HCM is

the core system of record, but this is a broad enterprise technology role

requiring experience across best-of-breed People technologies, Microsoft and

AI-enabled tooling.

The role will translate strategy into executable plans through a product and

platform operating model, balancing colleague experience and business outcomes

with affordability, architecture, resilience, regulatory requirements and

long-term sustainability.

Success will be reflected in a more tech-first People Function, increased

automation, improved colleague and manager experiences, and a future-ready

People Technology ecosystem aligned to business strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with the Head of People Technology, Digital, Analytics & Change to
• shape People Technology and Digital strategy, bringing market insight and a
• clear view of opportunity, risk and feasibility.
• Own the multi-year roadmap and delivery plans across Oracle HCM,
• best-of-breed People technologies, AI, automation, data and integrations.
• Ensure colleague experience and measurable business outcomes are at the heart
• of technology investment and delivery
• Lead the product and platform operating model, creating clear
• accountabilities and effective ways of working across People, IT, Data,
• Cyber, Risk, Procurement and strategic partners.
• Govern the People Function’s AI, automation, digital demand and investment
• portfolio, including prioritisation and strategic trade-offs.
• Partner with People Operations and COEs to ensure technology investment is
• underpinned by process simplification, trusted data, effective knowledge
• management, business ownership and adoption.
• Work closely with Group IT, AI and Digital teams on enterprise roadmaps,
• architecture, funding, support and third-party management.
• Own strategic vendor relationships, driving service, innovation, resilience,
• knowledge transfer and commercial value.
• Maintain oversight of People Technology cost, delivery and operational risk,
• security, data privacy and regulatory obligations.
• Act as a senior technology adviser to People leaders and represent the People
• Technology roadmap in relevant enterprise forums.
• Lead a high-performing People Technology team, building the skills,
• succession and capabilities required for the future roadmap.
• What we are looking for:
• Significant senior leadership experience in People Technology, digital
• transformation or enterprise technology, translating strategy into multi-year
• roadmaps and delivery.
• Broad experience across HCM platforms, best-of-breed People technologies,
• Microsoft 365, AI and automation, with strong technology, data and commercial
• judgement.
• Proven leadership of product/platform operating models, strategic partners
• and complex technology portfolios, delivering measurable business and
• colleague value.
• An influential leader who operates effectively across complex, regulated
• environments and confidently moves between enterprise strategy and practical
• delivery.
• Builds inclusive, high-performing teams with clear accountability, strong
• capability and a focus on outcomes.
• Curious, pragmatic and commercially minded, constructively challenging
• fragmented thinking and ensuring innovation is purposeful and responsible.
• We want to hire the whole version of you.
• We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants

from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we’ve

advertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role, we’d love to

hear from you. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please

let us know so we can help you to be at your best.

We’re reviewing applications as they come in and may close this role before the

closing date, so apply early to avoid missing out.

04Find out more about working at Standard Life

• Guide for Candidates: standardlifeplc.pagetiger.com/guideforcandidates
• Find or get answers from our colleagues:
• www.standardlifeplc.com/careers/talk-to-us