VP Engineering, Academic Leaders & Funders Solutions

About the Team

Elsevier, part of the RELX Group, is a global leader in information and analytics for science and healthcare. Our mission is to partner with the research and healthcare communities we serve to advance knowledge and drive human progress.

Within the Academic Leaders & Funders (AL&F) Solutions group, we deliver data-driven insights, workflow solutions, and platforms that strengthen strategy, performance, collaboration, and operational efficiency for university leaders and research funders worldwide.

About the Role

The VP Engineering, Academic Leaders & Funders Solutions leads the engineering organisation responsible for the design, development, delivery, and operation of the AL&F solutions portfolio. Reporting to the CTO, Academic & Government, this role leads approximately 120 engineers across multiple geographies.

The role partners closely with the SVP Academic Leaders & Funders Solutions, translating portfolio strategy and customer outcomes into scalable, secure, and high-quality SaaS solutions within a global, matrixed organisation. Some travel to the US and Europe is expected but will be minimal.

Key Deliverables & Success Metrics

• Defined and delivered an engineering strategy and roadmap aligned to AL&F portfolio priorities.

• Consistent delivery of complex SaaS solutions on time and within budget.

• Improved reliability, security, performance, and scalability of customer-facing products/platforms.

• Built and sustained a high-performing, inclusive, and engaged global engineering organisation.

• Established strong partnerships with senior stakeholders across product, commercial, and technology teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the engineering strategy and multi-year technology roadmap in partnership with the SVP AL&F Solutions and the CTO.

• Lead the design, development, and operation of scalable, cloud-based, customer-facing SaaS platforms with advanced data and AI capabilities

• Ensure predictable, high-quality delivery of complex software solutions using Agile and hybrid delivery models across globally distributed teams.

• Drive platform standardisation, reuse of shared capabilities, and effective management of technical debt to improve speed to market and efficiency.

• Establish strong engineering governance, metrics, and quality standards to ensure security, resilience, and regulatory compliance.

• Partner closely with product management, UX, customer success, and implementation teams to deliver a high-quality end-to-end customer experience.

• Build, lead, and develop a global engineering organisation of approximately 120 colleagues, fostering an inclusive and high-performance culture.

• Develop engineering leadership capability, talent pipelines, and succession plans to support long-term growth.

• Operate effectively within a complex matrix, influencing senior stakeholders and translating technical complexity into clear business outcomes.

• Act as an escalation point for critical delivery, operational, and technical issues across the portfolio.

• Support build, buy, or partner decisions through technical assessment, due diligence, and post-acquisition integration.

Requirements

• 15+ years’ experience in commercial software development, including senior engineering leadership roles.

• Proven track record of delivering complex, customer-facing SaaS platforms at scale.

• Strong experience with cloud-native architectures and modern engineering practices.

• Experience working in data-intensive, analytics, and/or AI-enabled environments.

• Demonstrated success leading large, global engineering organisations (100+ technologists).

• Proven ability to deliver within a global, matrixed organisation.

• Strong experience with Agile delivery and execution at scale.

• Ability to influence senior stakeholders across technology, product, and commercial functions.

• Experience scaling organisations organically and through acquisition; M&A experience desirable.

• Experience delivering workflow-based solutions is desirable.

• Bachelor’s degree required.

Work in a way that works for you
 

We promote a healthy work/life balance across the organisation. We offer an appealing working prospect for our people. With numerous wellbeing initiatives, shared parental leave, study assistance and sabbaticals, we will help you meet your immediate responsibilities and your long-term goals.
 

• Working flexible hours - flexing the times when you work in the day to help you fit everything in and work when you are the most productive

Working for you
 

We know that your wellbeing and happiness are key to a long and successful career. These are some of the benefits we are delighted to offer:
 

• Generous holiday allowance with the option to buy additional days

• Health screening, eye care vouchers and private medical benefits

• Wellbeing programs

• Life assurance

• Access to a competitive contributory pension scheme

• Save As You Earn share option scheme

• Travel Season ticket loan

• Electric Vehicle Scheme

• Optional Dental Insurance

• Maternity, paternity and shared parental leave

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Access to emergency care for both the elderly and children

• RECARES days, giving you time to support the charities and causes that matter to you

• Access to employee resource groups with dedicated time to volunteer

• Access to extensive learning and development resources

• Access to employee discounts scheme via Perks at Work

About the Business
 

A global leader in information and analytics, we help researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. Building on our publishing heritage, we combine quality information and vast data sets with analytics to support visionary science and research, health education and interactive learning, as well as exceptional healthcare and clinical practice. At Elsevier, your work contributes to the world’s grand challenges and a more sustainable future. We harness innovative technologies to support science and healthcare to partner for a better world.

We know your well-being and happiness are key to a long and successful career. We are delighted to offer country specific benefits. Click here to access benefits specific to your location.

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