Head of IT

The Head of IT provides strategic leadership and governance for the organisation's Information Technology function. This role ensures that IT capabilities, systems, and services enable business objectives, operational efficiency, security, and regulatory compliance, while driving technology innovation and transformation. The Head of IT is accountable for aligning IT strategy with organisational goals, maintaining operational stability, and fostering a culture of performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the IT function

How You'll Make a Difference

1. IT Strategy & Leadership

• Define, communicate, and drive the IT strategy, roadmap, and priorities in alignment with business goals

• Provide expert guidance to senior management on technology trends, risks, and opportunities

• Lead and mentor the IT leadership team, fostering a high-performance, accountable, and service-oriented culture

• Act as the key escalation point for critical IT issues, ensuring timely resolution and communication

2. IT Governance & Risk Management

• Establish and enforce IT policies, standards, and governance frameworks to ensure compliance and operational consistency

• Oversee cybersecurity, data protection, and technology risk management, aligning with regulatory and audit requirements

• Ensure robust incident, problem, and change management processes are in place

• Provide regular reporting to management on IT risks, performance metrics, and compliance status

3. Technology & Systems Oversight

• Oversee the design, implementation, and lifecycle management of enterprise systems and platforms

• Ensure technology solutions are scalable, resilient, secure, and aligned with business needs

• Govern major IT projects, system upgrades, and digital transformation initiatives

• Balance innovation with operational stability, ensuring continuous improvement of IT systems

• Ensure efficient delivery of IT operations, infrastructure, and end-user services, including internal teams and managed services providers

• Oversee vendor-managed IT services, including cloud providers, outsourced infrastructure, and support operations

• Define service level expectations, monitor KPIs, and ensure managed services meet organisational standards

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives for both internal IT and managed service operations to enhance reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness

• Ensure business continuity, disaster recovery, and operational resilience across both internal and managed services

5. Vendor & Financial Management

• Own the IT budget, cost planning, and investment strategy, including managed services contracts and outsourcing arrangements

• Manage strategic relationships with vendors, partners, and managed service providers, ensuring alignment with organisational goals

• Oversee contract negotiations, SLAs, renewals, and vendor performance evaluations for all external IT services

6. Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

• Collaborate with business leaders to translate organisational needs into effective IT solutions

• Communicate IT strategies, initiatives, and constraints clearly to stakeholders at all levels

• Balance business expectations with technical feasibility, risk, and cost considerations

• Drive adoption of IT solutions through effective change management and communication

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; postgraduate qualifications or professional certifications (ITIL, COBIT, PMP, TOGAF, CISSP) are a plus

• Min 10 years of progressive IT experience, including 2–5 years in senior leadership roles

• Proven experience managing enterprise-scale IT environments, strategy, governance, and transformation programs

• Strong knowledge of infrastructure, cloud, enterprise systems, ITSM, cybersecurity, and technology risk

• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams, manage large budgets, and optimise vendor relationships

• Strong strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and communication skills

• Experience in regulated industries (e.g., banking, financial services, payments, or technology services) is preferred

• Comfortable working across multiple locations or regions and leading teams through change