Business Applications, Social Care and Education Manager

Job Introduction We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all. This role has a starting salary of £ £63,823 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week. Are you an experienced applications leader with a strong Local Government background? Do you understand the critical role that Social Care and Education systems play in supporting frontline services and vulnerable residents? If so, this is an exciting opportunity to join Surrey County Council as our Business Applications, Social Care & Education Manager. In this influential leadership role, you will oversee a portfolio of business-critical applications, lead multidisciplinary teams, manage strategic suppliers and play a pivotal part in delivering Surrey's Local Government Reorganisation programme. Experience of System C platforms and records management solutions, such as Wisdom, would be highly advantageous. Our Offer to You 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service plus bank holidays Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave A generous local government salary related pension Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year Paternity, adoption and dependents leave An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents. About the role Surrey County Council is looking for an experienced Business Applications, Social Care & Education Manager to lead the support, development and continuous improvement of a portfolio of business-critical applications across Social Care, Education and corporate services. Working within IT & Digital, you will provide strategic and operational leadership to application support teams, ensuring systems remain reliable, secure and aligned to organisational priorities. You will oversee the full application lifecycle, from service transition and day-to-day support through to upgrades, testing, change management and future replacement. The role will play a key part in supporting Surrey’s Local Government Reorganisation programme, helping to modernise services and deliver technology solutions that support frontline teams, vulnerable residents, children and families. Working closely with senior stakeholders, suppliers and partners, you will drive service excellence, lead continuous improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to simplify processes, enhance performance and maximise the value of digital services. Your Application In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours: Significant experience in a Local Government IT, digital, applications or business systems leadership role. Strong knowledge of Adult Social Care, Children's Services and/or Education systems, and the operational services they support. Proven experience managing the full application lifecycle, including support, service transition, change, testing, releases and continuous improvement. A successful track record of leading, developing and motivating multidisciplinary teams within a complex operational environment. Experience managing strategic suppliers, contracts and service performance, with accountability for risks, budgets and service delivery. Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior leaders, service managers and technical teams. Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey. A basic DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) will be required for this role. The job advert closes at 23:59 on 14 September 2026 with interviews planned to follow. We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit. Contact Us Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. For an informal discussion please contact Tahiana Jefferis by e-mail tahiana.jefferis@surrreycc.gov.uk . Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities. Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council Our Commitment We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.