Santander is looking for an IT Lead to join Santander Digital Services in Madrid. In this results-focused role, you will lead a technology area with banking and institutional applications, overseeing RUN and CHANGE teams. You'll be responsible for executing end-to-end delivery, ensuring stable service operation, and reporting to the Head of the Technology Unit.
What You'll Do
- Be the Subject Matter Expert for the application perimeter with a complete view of the functional, technological, and operational context.
- Maintain and evolve the technical and functional roadmap, ensuring traceability of decisions and consistency with the technology strategy.
- Manage the technology budget associated with the perimeter (RUN and CHANGE), with financial control, prioritization, and cost/value optimization.
- Govern the performance of external providers: quality, capacity, efficiency, contractual compliance, metrics, and continuous improvement.
- Analyze and define the best way to implement and deploy new functionalities and initiatives, aligning with global standards and promoting responsible AI adoption.
- Manage the complete software lifecycle (SDLC): definition and refinement, construction and certification, deployments and release management, post-deployment stabilization, and continuous evolution.
- Ensure real visibility of progress, managing risks, dependencies, and technical impediments affecting delivery or service stability.
- Align engineering practices with Chapters and standards: quality, testing, security, architecture, data.
- Drive and actively participate in continuous improvement: automation and CI/CD, quality improvement and defect reduction, resilience and observability, incident and lead time reduction, cost optimization, architecture evolution, technical debt reduction.
- Ensure stable and sustainable RUN operation with focus on: monitoring and alerting, incident reduction, recurring problem management, service continuity, technological simplification, elimination of technical debt and vulnerabilities.
- Ensure consistency in operation metrics: stability, performance, availability, SLAs, and resolution times.
- Work in Agile at scale: sprint planning, Program Increments (PIs), governance, and tracking.
- Participate in and facilitate key ceremonies: Daily, Planning, Refinement, Review, Syncs, Steerings, ensuring focus, transparency, and commitment fulfillment.
- Apply a responsible and rigorous approach throughout the lifecycle: security, privacy, traceability, and appropriate use of information.
What We're Looking For
- 5+ years of proven experience leading development and operation (RUN/CHANGE) teams with direct responsibility for delivery and service level.
- Solid knowledge of SDLC, deployments, release management, and stabilization.
- Experience managing dependencies, technical risks, and cross-team coordination.
- Experience in vendor governance (quality, metrics, compliance, efficiency).
- University degree in Engineering, Economics, Business Administration, or related disciplines.
- Native or bilingual Spanish.
- Good technical judgment and ability to make pragmatic, results-oriented decisions.
- Clear communication and coordination skills with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Ability to structure complex problems and turn them into executable plans.
- Close leadership: demanding, supportive, and focused on continuous improvement.
Nice to Have
- Additional training in project management and transformation.
- High level of English.
Team & Environment
You will join Santander Digital Services, a team of over 10,000 people in 8 countries. You will lead RUN and CHANGE teams for a technology area with banking and institutional applications, reporting directly to the Head of the Technology Unit.
Benefits & Compensation
- Unlimited growth with global opportunities and broad career paths.
- Hybrid work model—some days remote and others in the office—plus flexible hours.
- Continuous learning with access to hundreds of courses and Santander Open Academy.
- Highly competitive salary plus a bonus.
- Preferential banking conditions, special interest rates on loans, life insurance, and more.
- BeHealthy global wellness program promoting physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being.
- Support for childcare and family programs.
- Santander Contigo program offering legal advice, emotional support, and management services.
- Gym/WellHub, medical center in several facilities, meal subsidy, parking, shuttle service in Madrid, and employee discounts.
Work Mode
This role offers a hybrid work model based in Madrid, Spain. You will split your time between remote work and the office.
Santander is proud to be an organization that offers equal opportunities regardless of age, gender, disability, marital status, race, religion, or sexual orientation. We are committed to offering an inclusive and accessible selection process for all people.
