Director of IT

This role will lead our I.T. strategy across the Trust and oversee the infrastructure and staffing. You will work closely with school leaders to secure, deliver and maintain a cohesive network. You will lead a team of professionals in this work and will be instrumental in developing a new approach and a new structure, as well as reviewing current systems. 

Management:

To oversee, lead and manage the Trust IT systems, infrastructure and services, including escalated support requests from the local schools and ongoing larger IT systems and infrastructure developments;

Providing assurance and support to the school IT Service Managers and Business Managers;

Regularly visiting each school to carry out quality assurance of the IT service;

Managing resolution of issues that have been escalated across the Trust;

Embedding and managing consistent methods of working practices including proactive IT support to ensure that a high quality, professional IT service if provided to all users;

Developing IT policies, processes and procedures to be used across the Trust;

Regular reporting to the Trust Executive team on day-to-day IT operations and any development work;

Working collaboratively with all users to understand their on-going technology requirements, in order to support in the development of the IT strategy and on-going IT operations planning and management;

Providing regular input towards the Trust IT vision and strategy, ensuring it is viable from a technical and IT support perspective;

Taking a leading role in all annual planning processes relating to IT, including the development and execution of individual work plans, ensuring structures are in place to provide on-going feedback;

IT budget creation and management, ensuring internal procurement process is followed for all purchases, that relevant records are kept and reports can be issued to leadership as and when requested;

Managing and reviewing the operational and contractual relationship with 3rd party suppliers.

Project and development:

Identifying, scoping and assuring key projects as a result of user needs, including budgets and management reporting;

Managing the delivery of projects using appropriate project management methodologies;

Driving personal continued professional development, in line with the CPD model and IT requirements;

The I.T. structure across the Trust is currently under review to ensure a more cohesive and streamlined delivery. You would play a part in this discussion.

Education and Training

At least five years’ experience of managing large scale IT operations across multiple sites, preferably within the education sector;

Scoping, assuring and managing IT systems infrastructure;

Qualifications demonstrating professional skills in providing high-quality and reliable services to customers in an IT context;

Evidence of professional development across career to date which supports this role.

Experience

Proven track record of successful leadership in a role within a comparable organisation and through a significant period of development. This may be within an education or business setting;

Experience of working with senior leaders, and a large number of users with varying needs;

Experience of leading and developing colleagues and teams effectively.

Knowledge and Skills

Identifying and meeting the needs of all key stakeholders in order to deliver a high-quality service;

Balancing and prioritising large quantities of concurrent deliverables;

Taking a long-term view and developing successful strategies through effective planning;

Providing direction and coaching to others to enable achievement of objectives;

Assigning work to others, supporting and empowering them while maintaining accountability;

Learning new technologies outside of traditional practice, and make recommendations on how they should be incorporated based on strategic requirements.

Personal qualities

Clear commitment and understanding of the Trust ethos, vision and values and an ability to uphold them;

Belief in equality and opportunity for all, ensuring all staff feel included and listened to;

Ability to establish and articulate a clear vision in an engaging way and to articulate technical issues to non-technical key stakeholders;

Determination and resilience; motivated to continuously improve the service by anticipating and meeting customer needs;

Ability and willingness to take responsibility;

High level of inter-personal and communication skills, and the ability to build relationships and influence at all levels – engaging with a range of stakeholders successfully;

Commitment to collaborative working;

High expectations of achievement, conduct and behaviour, and a willingness to address situations where these fall short;

An open-minded attitude, sense of humour, energy and enthusiasm;

Commitment to develop self and others;

Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.