Head of IT & Data

A charity client of ours is seeking a Head of IT to take genuine ownership of infrastructure, cyber security and IT strategy across a small number of schools, a London office and a home-based team. This is a 4-day week within a lean IT function, offering a rare degree of ownership rather than a supporting role within a larger team.





What you'll be doing


You will own the IT strategy from the ground up, working closely with the Director of Finance and IT, who is looking for a strategic partner rather than an order-taker. This includes acting as technical lead on infrastructure and cyber risk, holding the managed service provider properly accountable for service levels and value for money, and leading procurement or re-tendering where performance falls short.


Cyber security sits with you end to end: MFA, endpoint controls and Cyber Essentials Plus, with a responsibility to keep practices current as AI reshapes the risk landscape. You will also lead the practical adoption of AI across the organisation, prioritising measurable efficiency gains in finance, HR and frontline delivery over experimentation for its own sake, with appropriate risk management built in from the outset.


There is a technical delivery dimension to the role as well. You will hold governance over internally developed tools, including their Tracker platform, with a junior developer reporting to you either directly or on a dotted line. You will be the first point of reference for the SMT ahead of any technology decision, not an afterthought once one has been made.





What they're looking for


• A solid track record in an IT management or senior operational role within a cloud environment
  
• Demonstrable experience managing outsourced providers and MSPs, beyond simply reviewing their reporting
  
• A strong grounding in cyber security risk management, including GDPR and Cyber Essentials
  
• The ability to translate business requirements into technology that delivers measurable results
  
• Strong knowledge of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, particularly SharePoint and Azure
  
• Confidence engaging equally well with external advisors and non-technical stakeholders
  
• Experience with AI adoption, exposure to product or software delivery, or a background in a charity, education or SME setting without a large internal team would be advantageous
  

Why this one

This is an opportunity to build the IT strategy from the ground up, rather than inherit and maintain someone else's plan. As mentioned, the Director of Finance and IT is looking for a genuine peer, and the purpose behind the role gives the position real substance beyond the standard job description.

If it sounds like you, then get in touch but please note, sponsorship is not available for this role.