Role Overview
The Head of Information Technology will provide strategic leadership and direction for the Programme’s information technology function, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and delivery of efficient, secure, and compliant IT operations.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
IT Strategy, Policy and Governance (12% of time)
- Develop and implement the IT strategic plan in line with the Programme's overall strategic goals and objectives.
- Develop, execute, and maintain IT policies, standards, and operating procedures across the Programme.
- Assess the impact of relevant legislation and entrench compliance in the provision of IT services.
- Lead the Programme's digital transformation agenda, including cloud adoption, automation, and responsible use of AI.
- Identify and champion opportunities for innovation and foster the development of creative IT solutions for the Programme.
Team Leadership and People Management (18% of time)
- Guide and lead the IT team across five functional areas (Service Delivery, Software Development, Infrastructure, Project Management, Risk & Security).
- Oversee individual performance of staff, set objectives, and conduct performance reviews.
- Ensure continuous professional development and capability building within the department.
- Make recruitment and salary negotiation decisions for the team.
IT Service Delivery and Operations Management (18% of time)
- Oversee the efficient operation of all IT functions within the Programme.
- Monitor, manage, and ensure continuous improvement of IT service delivery and service quality.
- Ensure IT services enable the Programme's research and scientific computing needs, including HPC and research data platforms.
- Oversee change management governance (including the Change Advisory Board) to minimize service disruption.
- Ensure IT best practice and service management frameworks are followed.
- Drive proactive and effective communication on IT matters across the Programme.
IT Project and Risk Management (12% of time)
- Lead and implement project activities for strategic IT projects.
- Manage and communicate risks and issues for IT projects.
- Oversee project implementation, ensuring delivery to scope, time, and budget.
- Identify departmental risks and develop and monitor mitigating measures.
IT Security and Cyber Risk Management (12% of time)
- Develop, implement, and maintain the information security and cybersecurity strategy, policies, and controls for the Programme.
- Oversee the identification, assessment, and mitigation of cybersecurity risks and threats across systems, networks, and data.
- Ensure protection of data and systems through access management, monitoring, vulnerability management, and incident response.
- Direct security incident management, security awareness, and compliance.
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (10% of time)
- Develop and implement strategies that support IT Business Continuity planning in the Programme.
- Develop, maintain, and manage testing of the disaster recovery plan for IT resources.
- Ensure resilience, backup, and recovery arrangements for critical systems and data.
Budgeting & Financial Management (8% of time)
- Develop budget proposals for the IT department and oversee implementation and monitoring of approved budgets.
- Make decisions on the procurement of departmental IT resources and manage related expenditure.
- Oversee management of IT vendors, contracts, and service-level agreements, ensuring value for money and service performance.
- Lead supplier evaluation and contract negotiations for significant IT investments.
Reporting and Compliance (8% of time)
- Prepare and submit regular, periodic, and ad hoc technical and management reports as required.
- Report on IT performance, risks, projects, and budgets to senior management and governance committees.
- Ensure ongoing compliance with relevant standards, regulations, audit requirements, and internal controls.
Key Performance Indicators
- Effectiveness of IT strategy and governance.
- Quality of IT service delivery and user experience.
- Timeliness of IT project execution against approved schedules.
- Effectiveness of cybersecurity management and risk mitigation.
- Quality of business continuity and disaster recovery preparedness.
- Effectiveness of financial and vendor management.
- Quality of stakeholder engagement and communication.
Job Dimensions
- Manage and oversee the IT departmental budget (CAPEX and OPEX).
- Safeguard and manage critical IT assets including data centre infrastructure, networks, end-user devices, enterprise systems, cloud environments, sensitive research data, and vendor contracts.
- Lead a structured IT function comprising direct oversight of departmental managers and a multi-disciplinary team.
Qualifications & Experience
- Master’s Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
- Relevant professional certifications such as ITIL, PRINCE2/PMP, COBIT, CISM/CISSP.
- Active membership in a recognized ICT professional body.
- Minimum 12 years’ relevant IT experience.
- At least 5 years at senior management level.
- Expertise in project management, IT governance, risk management, business continuity, and disaster recovery planning.
Competencies
Technical Competencies
- IT strategy development and digital transformation
- IT service management and operations governance
- Cybersecurity and risk management
- IT infrastructure and enterprise systems oversight
- Project and programme management
- IT budgeting, procurement, and vendor management
Behavioural Competencies
- Strategic leadership and decision-making
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- High integrity and professionalism
- Team leadership, motivation, and delegation
- Analytical thinking and problem-solving
- Ability to operate under pressure and manage complexity
Working Conditions
- Office-based with oversight of IT infrastructure environments including data centres and occasional field/site interactions.
- Standard working hours with occasional extended hours and on-call support for critical incidents.
- Exposure to cybersecurity threats, system failures, and high-pressure incident response scenarios.
