FILLED (ref # DM4161) Application Support Manager

Application Support Manager
Permanent/Interim, Watford Based
£500 per day,
Immediate start

Role Summary

Our client operates in the retail sector and is an expanding business with 234 stores currently and 30 stores being added per annum.

They are developing the IT function to improve bottlenecks and increase performance in a number of areas and are seeking an Application Support Manager to be responsible for the ongoing operation of business application systems, ensuring their operational health, performance and effectiveness.

Details

The company is undergoing significant changes to fragmented legacy systems and to core processes, as well as introducing POS and Web Channel delivery. The Application Support Manager must be able to provide support and direction to the business IT systems in this challenging environment.

The activities required in this role are:

* Support for all business application systems providing rapid workarounds and solutions to issues encountered by system stakeholders.
* Defining and improving Operations Processes and implementing best practice Operating Procedures for each production system
* Planning and executing releases of software to deliver fixes and improvements in capability of production systems.
* Owning the configuration of each production system and ensuring sufficient documentation and process.
* Ensuring business continuity processes and infrastructure are functional and regularly tested.
* Database Administration input to support all of the above. Various databases are in use but Oracle on Linux and DB2 on i5/OS are the primary platforms for critical business applications
* Define performance metrics for the Applications Support function and provide regular performance reports to IT management.
* Manage the application support team; recruitment, performance management, skills management and career development.

Key skills and Requirements

Mandatory

* Significant experience (>5 years) in Application Support and prior Application Development and Testing experience. This should include time spent within companies undertaking significant change programmes in a multi-platform environment.
* Experience of at least 2 years working in a team lead/management role with strong database administration skills (>2 years)
* Strong skills in Linux, Windows & iSeries (System i, AS400) and Oracle database technologies.

Desirable

* Retail / Finance experience could prove useful.

Logistics:

Duration: Permanent or Interim
Location: Watford
Rate: up to £500 per day.
Start Date: Immediate