Service Readiness & Cutover Manager
Bristol, UK (Hybrid – 2 Days Onsite)
Contract – 12 Months
£450/day
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Service Readiness & Cutover Manager to support a large-scale network transformation programme within the Education Business Unit.
This role combines deep technical understanding of enterprise network environments with strong programme delivery and operational transition leadership. You will be responsible for ensuring seamless migration from legacy environments into modern network services, while driving operational readiness and controlled handover into BAU support.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead end-to-end Service Readiness and Cutover activities across network migration waves
* Own and manage Hypercare and Early Life Support strategies
* Develop and maintain detailed readiness, warranty, and cutover plans
* Define governance, acceptance criteria, reporting, and go/no-go checkpoints
* Coordinate across engineering, testing, SIAM, service operations, and third-party suppliers
* Ensure operational and technical prerequisites are completed prior to BAU handover
* Drive Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT) activities and sign-off
* Ensure alignment with ITSM processes including Incident, Change, Problem, and Configuration Management
* Manage RAID activities and provide executive-level reporting
* Support continuous improvement across readiness and transition processes
Required Experience
* 15+ years’ experience in IT infrastructure or network transformation programmes
* Previous hands-on background in Network Engineering
* Proven experience delivering:
* Service Readiness
* Cutover Management
* Network and campus/building migrations
* Hypercare / Early Life Support
* Strong understanding of ITSM and Service Transition principles
* Experience with enterprise LAN/WAN, Wi-Fi, SD-WAN, routing & switching, and network security
* Strong stakeholder management and supplier coordination skills
Desirable Skills
* Experience within SIAM environments
* Public sector or higher education programme experience
* Familiarity with ServiceNow or BMC Helix
* Exposure to OAT, SVT, and UAT testing frameworks
* PRINCE2, PMP, Agile PM, ITIL v4, CCNP, or CCIE certifications