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
From Senior Customer Service Administrator / Lead Systems Analyst
Roughly 4-7 years in a senior individual contributor role, demonstrating strong technical leadership and project management skills.Skills to master
- Moving from technical execution to strategic planning, managing complex projects end-to-end, informal team leadership (mentoring), and influencing cross-functional teams.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led multiple large-scale system implementation or optimisation projects.
- Consistently sought out for advice on complex technical problems.
- Proactively identified and solved systemic operational issues.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop junior team members.
- Presented solutions and recommendations to senior leadership with positive reception.
- 2
From Team Leader / Junior Operations Manager (in a smaller organisation)
Approximately 3-5 years managing a smaller team (e.g., 5-10 people) or a specific operational function.Skills to master
- Scaling leadership skills to a larger, more complex team, managing a larger budget, strategic vendor management, and operating at a more senior organisational level.
You're ready to move on when
- Achieved significant improvements in team performance or operational efficiency in previous roles.
- Successfully managed and developed a team, with good retention rates.
- Demonstrated ability to manage a budget and make data-driven resource allocation decisions.
- Experience in selecting and implementing operational tools or systems.
- Strong references from previous senior leaders regarding leadership potential.
- 3
From IT Service Management Lead
Around 5-8 years in a dedicated IT Service Management role, with a strong focus on ITIL processes and system ownership.Skills to master
- Shifting from a pure IT focus to a broader customer service operations perspective, understanding customer experience drivers, and managing a team that includes non-IT specialists.
You're ready to move on when
- Expertise in ITIL processes and their practical application.
- Proven track record of improving service delivery through process and system enhancements.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills applied to service incidents and problems.
- Experience in managing vendor relationships for IT service tools.
- A clear interest in and understanding of the broader customer experience.