The posting
THE NEXT CHAPTER STARTS WITH YOU Service Transition Specialist Level: 10 Work Pattern: As a team, we work hybrid – attending the office 1-3 days a week to collaborate and stay connected Closing Date: 30th October Please note: In line with our Recruitment & Selection Procedure, the hiring team may close this vacancy early. If you're interested, we recommend applying as soon as possible. Help make sure technology services are ready for what comes next When a new or changed technology service goes live, being technically complete is only part of the story. It also needs clear ownership, effective support arrangements, appropriate controls and confidence that it can operate successfully from day one. As our Service Transition Specialist, you’ll plan, coordinate and assure the transition of new, changed and retiring technology services into live operation. You’ll engage early with projects, business owners, technical teams, suppliers and operational stakeholders, helping to identify requirements, manage dependencies and make sure services are genuinely ready for go-live. Reporting to the IT Change Manager, you’ll provide a clear, evidence-based view of readiness, residual risk, early-life support and handover into business-as-usual operations. You’ll also make sure the information and evidence needed for Vanquis Service Acceptance into Live (SAIL) is complete, coherent and ready for stakeholder approval. How you’ll make an impact:
You’ll…
So that…
Own integrated transition plans covering milestones, dependencies, acceptance criteria, evidence, approvals and handover
Everyone has a clear and joined-up view of what is needed to move a service safely into live operation
Engage during discovery and design to identify operational, support, resilience, security, data and supplier requirements
Readiness requirements are considered early rather than becoming late barriers to delivery
Coordinate stakeholders across delivery, architecture, engineering, security, operational resilience and service management
Technical delivery and operational readiness remain connected throughout the change
Apply and assess service acceptance and operational-readiness criteria
Go-live decisions are supported by current, traceable and appropriate evidence
Identify transition risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies, establishing clear owners and due dates
Gaps are understood, managed and escalated through the appropriate governance process
Plan operational-readiness reviews, service rehearsals, go-live assessments and handover checkpoints
Stakeholders can make informed acceptance and go-live decisions
Confirm early-life support arrangements, including monitoring, support coverage, escalation routes and exit criteria
Services receive the right support after launch and move effectively into business-as-usual ownership
Maintain transition management information and support post-transition reviews
Progress, blockers and outcomes are visible, and lessons learned strengthen future transitions
Create and maintain SAIL records, evidence and approvals
Service acceptance is clear, controlled and auditable
Why this role matters: This role creates the essential bridge between technology delivery and live operations. You’ll help ensure that services enter production with clear ownership, workable support models, appropriate documentation and a shared understanding of any remaining risks. By identifying readiness gaps early and bringing the right people together, you’ll help reduce avoidable early-life incidents, delays and unplanned support effort. Your work will also give decision-makers a transparent, evidence-based view of whether a service is ready to go live and what needs to happen next. You’ll build relationships across project and programme delivery, architecture, engineering, infrastructure, cloud, applications, data, Information Security, Privacy, Risk, Compliance and Operational Resilience. You’ll also work with service-management teams, Procurement, Finance, supplier-management colleagues and external service providers Our service-transition approach:
We believe in
What that means
Engaging early
Operational and support requirements are included from discovery and design, rather than identified shortly before go-live
Evidence-based readiness
Acceptance decisions are supported by evidence that is current, owned, traceable and proportionate
Joined-up delivery
Projects, technology teams, business owners, suppliers and operational teams work towards a shared transition plan
Clear ownership
Risks, actions, approvals and ongoing responsibilities have identified owners and agreed due dates
Proportionate control
Transition requirements support Agile, phased and iterative delivery while maintaining the required governance and control outcomes
Learning and improvement
Lessons from previous transitions, incidents and problems are used to strengthen future service readiness
Essential experience
Previous experience in Service Transition, Service Readiness, Service Design or Service Management within a complex enterprise environment. Experience owning multiple concurrent service transitions from discovery or design through to go-live, early-life support and business-as-usual handover. Strong working knowledge of ITIL 4 service-management practices and service acceptance principles. Experience creating transition plans, operational-readiness criteria, support models, service documentation, evidence packs and go-live recommendations. The ability to understand solution designs and turn technical, supplier and project information into practical operational requirements. Experience working with architecture, engineering, security, resilience, operations, suppliers and project-delivery teams. Confidence identifying and managing transition risks, dependencies, evidence gaps and competing stakeholder requirements. Strong stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to challenge constructively, build agreement and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences. Practical experience of Agile, Waterfall or hybrid delivery approaches. Confidence using IT service-management, reporting, workflow and document-management tools.
Useful, but not essential
Knowledge of operational resilience, technology risk, information security, data protection, third-party management or audit evidence. An understanding of service architecture, applications, integrations, infrastructure, CMDBs and configuration relationships. ITIL 4 Managing Professional, Practice Manager or relevant advanced ITIL modules. Qualifications or demonstrable experience in project delivery, Agile, risk management, business analysis or Lean Six Sigma.
The Interview Process Our recruitment process typically includes:
up to 45 minutes with the hiring team
Our average process takes around 4 weeks, though we’ll work around your availability. You’ll be supported throughout by our Talent Acquisition team. Your Key Contacts Talent Acquisition Operations Manager: Samantha Mackay Hiring Manager: Simon Wright Internal candidates are encouraged to reach out informally before applying. A conversation with the Hiring Manager or Talent Acquisition team can help you understand the role, expectations and development opportunity. A Few Things to Remember
Please apply even if you don’t tick every box – curiosity, learning mindset and transferable skills matter.
Your current flexibility matters. We aim to match your existing working arrangements where possible, so concerns about losing flexibility shouldn’t hold you back.
Remember to discuss your application with your line manager before applying.
Include an up-to-date CV – this helps us understand your experience and achievements.
If you need any adjustments or support to apply or interview at your best, contact [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help.
The Next Chapter Starts With You.
