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Command and control centre manager

Find out what a command and control centre manager in government does and the skills you need to do the job at each level.

Last updated 30 August 2022 — See all updates

What a command and control centre manager does

Command and control centre managers proactively monitor live services and performance trends to identify potential problems or areas for improvement that can then be investigated.

Command and control centre manager role levels

There are 4 command and control centre manager role levels, from operations analyst to head of command and control.

The typical responsibilities and skills for each role level are described in the sections below. You can use this to identify the skills you need to progress in your career, or simply to learn more about each role in the Government Digital and Data profession.

1. Operations analyst

An operations analyst provides administrative support to their manager and alerts support staff if necessary.

This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:

  • EO (Executive Officer)
  • HEO (Higher Executive Officer)
Skill Description

Asset and configuration management

Level: awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • track, log and correct information to protect assets and components

Availability and capacity management

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage service components to ensure they meet business needs and performance targets

Change management

Level: awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • implement changes based on requests for change
  • apply change control procedures

Community collaboration

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • contribute to the work of others
  • motivate and empower teams
  • create the right environment for teams to work in, and can identify the best team makeup depending on the situation
  • recognise and deal with issues

Continual service improvement

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify process optimisation opportunities with guidance, and contribute to the implementation of proposed solutions

Continuity management

Level: awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of the IT standard continuity management processes and procedures

Incident management

Level: awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify and register incidents, gathering the required information and allocating it to the appropriate channel

Ownership and initiative

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • own an issue until a new owner has been found or the problem has been mitigated or resolved

Problem management

Level: awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • investigate problems in systems, processes and services, with an understanding of the level of a problem (for example, strategic, tactical or operational)
  • contribute to the implementation of remedies and preventative measures

Service focus

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • take inputs and establish coherent frameworks that work

Service management framework knowledge

Level: awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • You have a Level 3 service management framework qualification

Technical understanding

Level: awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of the relevant subject matter and a high level understanding of what it involves

User focus

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify and engage with users or stakeholders to collate user needs evidence
  • understand and define research that fits user needs
  • use quantitative and qualitative data about users to turn user focus into outcomes

2. Senior operations analyst

A senior operations analyst prioritises incoming messages for the team and ensures correct information flow, record keeping and data capture.

At this role level, you will:

  • detect notifications and conduct monitor checks to ensure that systems are running correctly
  • in emergencies, be on call outside your working hours to check events that have been logged as not functioning
  • oversee the virtual environment (in some organisations)

This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:

  • HEO (Higher Executive Officer)
  • SEO (Senior Executive Officer)
Skill Description

Asset and configuration management

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • maintain secure configuration and accurate information, controlling IT assets in one or more significant areas
  • verify the location and state of assets

Availability and capacity management

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage service components to ensure they meet business needs and performance targets

Change management

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • analyse and assess impact, and develop and document change requests
  • implement changes based on requests for change

Community collaboration

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • contribute to the work of others
  • motivate and empower teams
  • create the right environment for teams to work in, and can identify the best team makeup depending on the situation
  • recognise and deal with issues

Continual service improvement

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify process optimisation opportunities with guidance, and contribute to the implementation of proposed solutions

Continuity management

Level: awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of the IT standard continuity management processes and procedures

Incident management

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • diagnose and prioritise incidents, investigate their causes and find resolutions

Ownership and initiative

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • own an issue until a new owner has been found or the problem has been mitigated or resolved

Problem management

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • initiate and monitor actions to investigate patterns and trends to resolve problems
  • effectively consult specialists where required
  • determine the appropriate remedy and assist with its implementation
  • determine preventative measures

Service focus

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • take inputs and establish coherent frameworks that work

Service management framework knowledge

Level: awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • You have a Level 3 service management framework qualification

Technical understanding

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the core technical concepts related to the role, and apply them with guidance

User focus

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify and engage with users or stakeholders to collate user needs evidence
  • understand and define research that fits user needs
  • use quantitative and qualitative data about users to turn user focus into outcomes

3. Operational control manager

An operational control manager is accountable for day-to-day IT operations, acting as the escalation point for incidents and problems.

At this role level, you will:

  • be responsible for effective change management processes that maintain the availability of services, using proactive and preventative measures
  • be on call 24/7 or according to business requirements
  • be allowed to address issues across IT operations

This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:

  • SEO (Senior Executive Officer)
  • G7 (Grade 7)
Skill Description

Asset and configuration management

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • maintain secure configuration and accurate information, controlling IT assets in one or more significant areas
  • verify the location and state of assets

Availability and capacity management

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage service components to ensure they meet business needs and performance targets

Change management

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • deal with high impact, complex change requests
  • ensure that release policies, procedures and processes are applied

Community collaboration

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work collaboratively in a group, actively networking with others
  • adapt feedback to ensure it’s effective and lasting
  • use your initiative to identify problems or issues in the team dynamic and rectify them
  • identify issues through Agile ‘health checks’ with the team, and help to stimulate the right responses

Continual service improvement

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • analyse current processes, and identify and implement opportunities to optimise them
  • lead and develop a team of experts to deliver service improvements
  • help to evaluate and establish requirements for the implementation of changes by setting policy and standards

Continuity management

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage the runbooks for service continuity
  • manage the processes around service continuity and test the runbooks to ensure that service availability can be maintained in any event

Incident management

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead the investigation and resolution of incidents

Ownership and initiative

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • take accountability for issues that occur and be proactive in searching for potential problems
  • achieve excellent user outcomes

Problem management

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • initiate and monitor actions to investigate patterns and trends to resolve problems
  • effectively consult specialists where required
  • determine the appropriate remedy and assist with its implementation
  • determine preventative measures

Service focus

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • see the bigger picture by taking groups of services and investigating how to get the best of underlying services

Service management framework knowledge

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • You have a Level 3 service management framework qualification
  • demonstrate knowledge of the life cycle or capability elements of ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)

Technical understanding

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show a thorough understanding of the technical concepts required for the role, and can explain how these fit into the wider technical landscape

User focus

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • collaborate with user researchers and can represent users internally
  • explain the difference between user needs and the desires of the user
  • champion user research to focus on all users
  • prioritise and define approaches to understand the user story, guiding others in doing so
  • offer recommendations on the best tools and methods to use

4. Head of command and control

A head of command and control is responsible for the strategy roadmap, integration and building the capability of the team.

At this role level, you will:

  • ensure all tools are fit for purpose and meet business requirements
  • potentially be required to address issues across IT operations

This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:

  • G6 (Grade 6)
Skill Description

Asset and configuration management

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage configuration items, related information, service compliance and risks

Availability and capacity management

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • ensure the correct implementation of standards and procedures
  • identify capacity issues, and stipulate and instigate the required changes
  • initiate remedial action

Change management

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • deal with high impact, complex change requests
  • ensure that release policies, procedures and processes are applied

Community collaboration

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work collaboratively in a group, actively networking with others
  • adapt feedback to ensure it’s effective and lasting
  • use your initiative to identify problems or issues in the team dynamic and rectify them
  • identify issues through Agile ‘health checks’ with the team, and help to stimulate the right responses

Continual service improvement

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • analyse current processes, and identify and implement opportunities to optimise them
  • lead and develop a team of experts to deliver service improvements
  • help to evaluate and establish requirements for the implementation of changes by setting policy and standards

Continuity management

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage the runbooks for service continuity
  • manage the processes around service continuity and test the runbooks to ensure that service availability can be maintained in any event

Incident management

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead the investigation and resolution of incidents

Ownership and initiative

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • take accountability for issues that occur and be proactive in searching for potential problems
  • achieve excellent user outcomes

Problem management

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • ensure that the right actions are taken to investigate, resolve and anticipate problems
  • co-ordinate the team to investigate problems, implement solutions and take preventive measures

Service focus

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • see the bigger picture by taking groups of services and investigating how to get the best of underlying services

Service management framework knowledge

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • You have an expert certificate in the service management framework qualification

Technical understanding

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show a thorough understanding of the technical concepts required for the role, and can explain how these fit into the wider technical landscape

User focus

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • give direction on which tools or methods to use
  • demonstrate experience in meeting the needs of users across a variety of channels
  • bring insight and expertise in how user needs have changed over time to ensure they're met by the business
  • apply strategic thinking to provide the best service for the end user
Role Shared skills
Change and release manager

Asset and configuration management

Availability and capacity management

Change management

Community collaboration

Continual service improvement

Continuity management

Incident management

Ownership and initiative

Problem management

Service focus

Service management framework knowledge

Technical understanding

User focus

Incident manager

Asset and configuration management

Availability and capacity management

Change management

Community collaboration

Continual service improvement

Continuity management

Incident management

Ownership and initiative

Problem management

Service focus

Service management framework knowledge

Technical understanding

User focus

Problem manager

Asset and configuration management

Availability and capacity management

Change management

Community collaboration

Continual service improvement

Continuity management

Incident management

Ownership and initiative

Problem management

Service focus

Service management framework knowledge

Technical understanding

User focus

Service transition manager

Asset and configuration management

Availability and capacity management

Change management

Community collaboration

Continual service improvement

Continuity management

Incident management

Ownership and initiative

Problem management

Service focus

Service management framework knowledge

Technical understanding

User focus

Application operations engineer

Asset and configuration management

Availability and capacity management

Change management

Continual service improvement

Incident management

Ownership and initiative

Problem management

Service focus

Service management framework knowledge

Technical understanding

User focus

Updates

Published 7 January 2020

Last updated 30 August 2022

30 August 2022

  • Head of command and control now includes the ‘technical understanding’ skill, at practitioner level.

7 January 2020

  • First published.