United Kingdom · Business process outsourcing · Director/VP (16-20 years)

Director, Global Service Level Management

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

See how AI is changing this job, and get the full read by email.

As a Director, Global Service Level Management, a good place to start on AI-Driven Service Design & Optimisation is Planning Automation Across a Department, a free Future Fluency module at Level 5. You'd practise working out what in your department's work could be automated, what should not be, and what to recommend.

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One email: what AI is changing in this job, the new skills it asks for, where it leads, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

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  • Experience bandDirector/VP (16-20 years)
  • Direct reports5-10 reports
  • Reports toVP, Global Service Excellence & Client Operations
  • UK framework levelUsually a director, accountable for a division and its numbers

Also advertised as VP, Service Delivery Excellence · Head of International Service Operations · Global Client Service Director

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in what real qualifications cover

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Data Science OTHM Qualifications · Level 7 · covers 2 of 9 standards
iCQ Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership iCan Qualifications Limited · Level 5 · covers 1 of 9 standards
Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Business Management Qualifi Ltd · Level 5 · covers 1 of 9 standards
Focus Awards Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership (RQF) Focus Awards Limited · Level 5 · covers 1 of 9 standards
NCC Education Level 5 Extended Diploma in Computing with Data Science NCC Education Limited · Level 5 · covers 1 of 9 standards
Level 6 Award in Data-led Decision Making Institute of Sales Professionals · Level 6 · covers 1 of 9 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Data Science Foundations OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Data Science
Business Process Management iCQ Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership
Business Operations Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Business Management
Introduction to Data Science and Big Data NCC Education Level 5 Extended Diploma in Computing with Data Science
Data-led Decision Making Level 6 Award in Data-led Decision Making

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Automation Fluency building AI into how work runs
Foresight Fluency seeing round the corner
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Director, Global Service Level Management

5 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Data Science Foundations OTHM Qualifications · covers 2 of 9 standards Level 7
  2. Business Process Management iCan Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 9 standards Level 5
  3. Business Operations Qualifi Ltd · covers 1 of 9 standards Level 5
  4. Introduction to Data Science and Big Data NCC Education Limited · covers 1 of 9 standards Level 5
  5. Data-led Decision Making Institute of Sales Professionals · covers 1 of 9 standards Level 6
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Director, Global Service Level Management?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • AI-Driven Service Design & Optimisation
  • Hyperautomation Strategy & Governance
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Director, Global Service Level Management plan as you set up, starting with the free Automation Fluency module. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

Keep this read. One email with what AI is changing in this job, the new skills it asks for and where to start free. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

3What this role really is

This role sets and manages the standards that decide whether international clients get the service they were promised. It involves building the frameworks used to measure service performance across every country of operation, and leading the response when standards slip.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

ServiceNow (ITSM/CSM modules) Expert

Defining the strategic roadmap for ServiceNow adoption across the enterprise, making architecture decisions for multi-client integrations, and leveraging advanced modules (GRC, ITBM) for global oversight. You'll guide your teams on its optimal use.

Microsoft Power BI / Tableau Expert

Defining enterprise-wide reporting standards for service metrics, overseeing data governance strategy, and using advanced dashboards to present executive-level performance reviews to C-suite clients and internal leadership.

Jira Service Management / Confluence Advanced

Architecting cross-functional Jira/Confluence instances for enterprise process orchestration and defining global knowledge management strategies to ensure consistent service delivery and documentation.

Microsoft Teams / Zoom Expert

Defining global communication policies, evaluating new collaboration technologies for efficiency and security, and leading critical international client meetings and internal strategic syncs.

SharePoint / Google Drive (Enterprise) Advanced

Architecting enterprise content management solutions, ensuring compliance with data residency and security regulations for client contracts and sensitive service documentation across all geographies.

MS Excel (Advanced: Power Query, VBA) Advanced

Designing complex analytical models for strategic decision-making, auditing critical spreadsheets used for financial analysis of service costs, and training teams on advanced Excel techniques for ad-hoc analysis.

SAP Ariba / Coupa (or similar CLM) Expert

Leading strategic contract negotiation, defining CLM system requirements for global adoption, and ensuring enterprise-wide contract compliance and risk management across all BPO engagements.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Global Service Level Framework Design No involvement. Follows existing framework. Contributes feedback on specific framework components. Leads design of complex, multi-tiered SLA/OLA frameworks for major clients.
Budget Allocation for Service Improvement Initiatives No budget authority. Requests resources via supervisor. Proposes small-scale project budgets (up to £5K) for manager approval. Manages project budgets up to £50K, with Director oversight for major variances.
Client Contractual Term Negotiation (Service Levels) No involvement. Escalates client queries. Provides data to support negotiations; does not directly negotiate. Leads negotiation of specific service level clauses with client counterparts.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Global SLA Adherence Rate
Overall percentage of Service Level Agreements met across all international client contracts within your purview.
Target · Consistently 98% or higher across the entire portfolio.

In Q2, your global portfolio of 25 major clients achieved a 98.5% average SLA adherence, meaning only a handful of minor breaches occurred, all with clear remediation plans.

Service Credit Reduction
Reduction in the total financial value of service credits incurred due to SLA breaches across all managed services.
Target · 15% year-over-year reduction in total service credit value (£GBP).

Last year, service credits totalled £2M. This year, under your leadership, we've reduced that to £1.7M, directly impacting our profitability.

Client NPS (Net Promoter Score) for Service Delivery
The average Net Promoter Score specifically related to our service delivery performance from key international accounts.
Target · Improvement of 5 points year-over-year, aiming for a score of 50+.

Our client NPS for service delivery was 45 last year. After implementing your new CSI frameworks, it's now 52, showing a clear positive shift in client perception.

Operational Efficiency Gain from CSI Initiatives
Measurable cost savings or productivity improvements resulting from Continual Service Improvement (CSI) programmes you've sponsored and driven.
Target · Identify and realise £500K+ in annualised savings or efficiency gains.

Your initiative to standardise incident management across EMEA reduced L1 resolution times by 10%, saving approximately £600K in annual operational costs.

Strategic Influence & Thought Leadership
Your ability to shape the company's long-term service strategy and be recognised as an expert both internally and externally.
  • You're regularly invited to C-suite strategy sessions, your proposals for new service offerings are adopted, you represent the company at industry conferences, and your insights are sought by major clients for their own operational improvements.
Global Team Development & Leadership
The effectiveness of your leadership in building, mentoring, and retaining a high-performing global Service Level Management team.
  • High retention rates within your direct and indirect reports, successful internal promotions from your team into more senior roles, positive feedback from skip-level reports, and a clear succession plan for key positions.
Proactive Risk Mitigation & Compliance
Your foresight in identifying potential service delivery risks (contractual, operational, regulatory) across international operations and implementing robust preventative measures.
  • Zero critical compliance breaches under your watch, successful navigation of complex client audits, early identification of emerging regulatory changes impacting service delivery, and a demonstrable reduction in unexpected 'firefighting' scenarios.
Client Trust & Partnership
The depth and quality of your relationships with executive-level client stakeholders, positioning us as a trusted strategic partner.
  • Clients proactively consult you on their strategic initiatives, they recommend us to their peers, you're involved in early-stage discussions for new business opportunities, and you can navigate difficult conversations while maintaining a strong relationship.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Driving Global Operational Excellence

You'll find immense satisfaction in designing and implementing global service frameworks that genuinely improve efficiency, reduce risk, and elevate the quality of our BPO services across all geographies. This means constantly looking for ways to make things better, faster, and more reliable.

Spending your week architecting a new global incident management process, knowing it will reduce MTTR by 20% for critical client services.

Building High-Performing International Teams

You're driven by the challenge of recruiting, developing, and empowering a diverse team of Service Level Managers across different countries. Seeing your team members grow, take on more responsibility, and deliver outstanding results is a huge win for you.

Mentoring a Senior SLM in Manila to take on a Lead role, or coaching a team in London on a complex client negotiation strategy.

Strategic Client Partnership & Impact

You thrive on being a trusted advisor to C-suite client executives, understanding their business challenges, and positioning our services as a key enabler of their success. The ability to influence their strategy and see our services directly contribute to their outcomes is incredibly rewarding.

Presenting a quarterly business review to a client's board, not just on our performance, but on how our service excellence is helping them achieve their market goals.

What frustrates people
  • Having ultimate accountability for service quality but not direct control over all the disparate global teams that deliver it.
  • Navigating the 'blame game' when an international SLA is missed, with different teams pointing fingers instead of collaborating.
  • Dealing with client scope creep without formal contract adjustments, meaning your teams are constantly doing 'extra' work for free.
  • The sheer volume of urgent client escalations that derail planned strategic work, forcing you into constant reactive firefighting.
  • Legacy systems or client-imposed tools that hinder your ability to implement modern, efficient service management practices globally.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, predictable 9-to-5 where you can just execute on a pre-defined plan.
  • A role where you only deal with internal teams and don't have to manage demanding external client relationships.
  • Complete autonomy over all resources and budgets needed to deliver service – you'll always be negotiating and influencing.
  • A place where you can avoid difficult, high-stakes conversations with senior leaders or frustrated clients.

8Who you work with

This role directly shapes our global service delivery reputation and commercial success. You're accountable for ensuring we meet and exceed client expectations, which in turn drives client retention, revenue growth, and our competitive advantage in the BPO market. Get this right, and we're known for reliability; get it wrong, and it costs us millions in service credits and lost business.

Inside the business
  • Global Head of Operations
  • Regional Delivery Leads (EMEA, APAC, AMER)
  • Sales & Account Management Leadership
  • Legal & Compliance Teams
  • IT Infrastructure & Application Support Directors
  • Finance Directors
Outside the business
  • C-Suite and Senior Leadership of major international clients
  • Key vendor partners (e.g., software providers, infrastructure partners)
  • Industry analysts and consultants

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Proven track record of leading large-scale service delivery or service level management functions in a complex, multi-national BPO environment.
  • Extensive experience (10+ years) in managing and negotiating high-value client contracts, including complex SLAs and commercial terms.
  • Demonstrable experience in building, mentoring, and leading teams of 5+ direct reports, preferably across different geographies.
  • Expert-level knowledge of ITIL framework and a strong understanding of Lean Six Sigma principles, with practical application in process optimisation.
  • Experience in managing P&L for a significant business unit or function (£500K+ annual budget responsibility).
  • A history of successfully driving strategic change and digital transformation initiatives within service operations.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced Data Governance & Ethics for AI

As we use more client data for AI-driven service improvements, ensuring data privacy, security, and ethical use becomes paramount. Regulators are getting stricter, and clients are more sensitive. You'll need to lead the charge in establishing robust governance.

Data anonymisation and pseudonymisation techniques · Bias detection and mitigation in AI algorithms · Explainable AI (XAI) for service decisions · Data lineage and auditability in AI pipelines · Compliance with emerging AI regulations (e.g., EU

  • This quarter: Review our current data governance policies with Legal and Compliance, specifically through an AI lens.
  • Next 6 months: Participate in workshops or courses on AI ethics and responsible AI development.
  • Next 12 months: Lead the development of an internal 'Responsible AI in Service Delivery' framework.
  • Ongoing: Stay informed about global data privacy and AI regulatory developments.

Quick win: Ensure all new AI initiatives have a clear data privacy impact assessment from day one. It's easier to build it in than to bolt it on later.

Cloud-Native Service Architecture

Our clients expect scalable, resilient, and cost-effective services. Moving to cloud-native architectures for our BPO platforms (e.g., contact centre, workflow automation) is key. You'll need to understand the strategic implications of this shift.

Microservices and containerisation (e.g., Docker, · Serverless computing for cost optimisation · Hybrid cloud strategies for data residency · DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) prin · Cloud cost management and optimisation

  • This quarter: Engage with our IT architecture team to understand our current cloud strategy and its impact on service delivery.
  • Next 6 months: Attend executive-level briefings on cloud-native technologies from major providers (AWS, Azure, GCP).
  • Next 12 months: Contribute to the strategic planning for migrating key service delivery platforms to cloud-native architectures.
  • Ongoing: Understand the security and compliance implications of cloud deployments in a multi-national context.

Quick win: Start by understanding the basics of cloud economics – how does it impact our operational costs and scalability? This will inform your strategic decisions.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attending executive-level industry conferences (e.g., Gartner IT Symposium, Outsourcing World Summit) to stay abreast of market trends and network with peers.
  • Participating in leadership development programmes focused on global team management, cultural intelligence, and strategic influence.
  • Engaging in continuous learning around emerging technologies like AI, RPA, and cloud computing, specifically how they impact service delivery and BPO models.
  • Mentoring junior leaders within the organisation, sharing your experience and helping to build our internal talent pipeline.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI-Driven Service Design & Optimisation

AI isn't just for automating tasks anymore; it's fundamentally changing how we design and optimise services. Competitors are already using AI to predict client needs, automate complex workflows, and personalise service delivery, creating a significant competitive advantage. If we don't embrace this, we'll fall behind.

  • Generative AI for service catalogue creation and k
  • Predictive analytics for demand forecasting and re
  • AI-powered sentiment analysis for proactive client
  • Ethical AI considerations in automated service dec
  • Integration of AI into existing ITSM/CSM platforms

Hyperautomation Strategy & Governance

Clients expect faster, more efficient, and error-free services. Hyperautomation, combining RPA, AI, ML, and process mining, is the key to achieving this at scale. As a Director, you'll need to strategically identify where to apply these technologies to drive significant operational leverage and cost reduction across our global BPO services.

  • Process Mining for identifying automation opportun
  • RPA (Robotic Process Automation) for repetitive ta
  • Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) combining RPA
  • Orchestration of multiple automation technologies
  • Governance frameworks for automation at scale (e.g

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) Framework
  • COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies)
  • Lean Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt Principles)
  • Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM)
  • International Stakeholder Management & Negotiation
  • Service Delivery Risk Management

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    VP, Service Delivery Operations (from another BPO)

    Direct entry, assuming a strong track record.

    Skills to master

    • Rapidly assimilate our specific client portfolio, internal operational models, and strategic priorities. Build immediate credibility with key internal and external stakeholders.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully managed a P&L of £5M+ in a previous role.
    • Led a team of 50+ (direct and indirect reports) across multiple geographies.
    • Demonstrated ability to drive significant service improvement programmes with measurable ROI.
  2. 2

    Senior Director, Global Service Management (Large Enterprise IT)

    1-2 years to adapt to BPO nuances.

    Skills to master

    • Transition from internal IT service management to managing external client contracts with commercial implications. Understand the BPO competitive landscape and client-vendor dynamics.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Managed enterprise-level IT service delivery for a Fortune 500 company.
    • Deep expertise in ITIL and service governance frameworks.
    • Proven ability to manage complex vendor relationships and internal stakeholder expectations.
  3. 3

    Management Consultant (Specialising in BPO/Service Ops)

    2-3 years to gain operational leadership experience.

    Skills to master

    • Move from advisory to hands-on operational leadership. Build and manage direct teams, and take full accountability for service delivery outcomes, rather than just recommendations.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Led multiple BPO transformation projects for major clients.
    • Strong analytical and strategic problem-solving skills.
    • Demonstrated ability to influence senior client stakeholders and drive change programmes.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This role can lead to positions such as Chief Operating Officer or Chief Customer Officer, or into digital transformation leadership within BPO operations.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Director, Global Service Level Management is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Data Science Foundations, worked against Director, Global Service Level Management.

Data Science Foundations Level 7

Applied to your work in Director, Global Service Level Management

1. To enable the learner to define the scope and landscape of Data Science and differentiate the roles of Data Scientists from other IT professionals. 2. To enable the learner to evaluate key topics within Data Science, including data administration, governance, and big data sources. 3. To enable the learner to describe the architecture and core elements of Apache Hadoop. 4. To enable the learner to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of utilising Artificial Intelligence techniques in a business context. 5. To enable the learner to critically analyse the impact of Big Data on digital transformation within organisations and its effects on users. 6. To enable the learner to review strategies for ensuring data compliance and explain the responsibilities and challenges faced by data specialists.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Director, Global Service Level Management
  • ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) Framework
  • COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies)
  • Lean Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt Principles)
  • Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM)
  • International Stakeholder Management & Negotiation
  • Service Delivery Risk Management
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Director, Global Service Level Management is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. VP, Global Service Excellence & Client Operations

    3-5 years

    From L6 to L7

    • Defining enterprise-wide service innovation strategy
    • Leading major organisational restructuring for service delivery
    • Developing global talent management and succession planning for the entire service organisation
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, as a Director, your time is precious. You're juggling strategic planning, team leadership, client escalations, and budget oversight. What if you could reclaim a significant chunk of that time, not by working harder, but by working smarter with AI?

Our AI Productivity Hub isn't about replacing your strategic brain; it's about giving you superpowers. Imagine automating the tedious parts of reporting, getting early warnings on client risks, and even having AI help you dissect complex service issues. This isn't future tech; it's here, and it's ready to make you a more impactful leader.

Proactive SLA Anomaly Detection & Prediction

AI-powered analytics continuously monitors real-time service data across all international client engagements. It identifies subtle deviations from normal patterns and predicts potential SLA breaches before they occur, flagging at-risk services and providing you and your team with early warnings. This means fewer surprises and more time for proactive intervention. Honestly, it's like having a crystal ball for your service performance.

Intelligent Root Cause Analysis & Resolution Suggestion

Imagine AI sifting through vast amounts of historical incident logs, problem records, change requests, and knowledge base articles from every client environment. It quickly identifies common root causes for recurring international service issues and suggests known solutions or links to relevant documentation. This dramatically accelerates problem resolution, reduces Mean Time To Resolve (MTTR), and frees up your senior team to focus on novel challenges.

Automated Contract Compliance & Risk Monitoring

AI can review service contracts, amendments, and operational performance data to automatically flag potential non-compliance issues – think missed reporting deadlines, unfulfilled obligations, unbilled services, or even data residency violations. It provides an early warning system for contractual risks, helps you avoid 'contract leakage', and ensures proactive risk mitigation. This is about protecting our P&L and reputation.

Smart Service Report Generation & Executive Insights

AI can ingest raw service data from various disparate sources (ServiceNow, client portals, internal tools) and automatically generate standard monthly/quarterly service reports for international clients. Even better, it can draft executive summaries, highlighting key trends, performance drivers, and actionable recommendations tailored to each client's specific context. This frees up significant time for strategic client engagement, rather than manual report compilation.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Director, Global Service Level Management?

Common routes in include VP, Service Delivery Operations (from another BPO) (Direct entry, assuming a strong track record.), Senior Director, Global Service Management (Large Enterprise IT) (1-2 years to adapt to BPO nuances.) and Management Consultant (Specialising in BPO/Service Ops) (2-3 years to gain operational leadership experience.). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Director, Global Service Level Management progress to?

This role can lead on to VP, Global Service Excellence & Client Operations (3-5 years), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Director, Global Service Level Management?

Increasingly, AI-Driven Service Design & Optimisation and Hyperautomation Strategy & Governance. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 7

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

More jobs in business process outsourcing

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

The skills built in this role transfer to senior operational or client-facing leadership roles. This includes other large-scale service industries, such as telecommunications and financial services. It also includes technology companies with large managed services operations. Managing complex global service delivery is a skill valued across sectors.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my free Automation Fluency module What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.