Digital Technology Manager

The King Edward VI Foundation, Birmingham, is a progressive charitable organisation that has supported excellence in education across the city since 1552. Our schools are diverse in nature but share a common purpose and commitment to achieving our mission of “making Birmingham the best place to be educated in the UK.”

Our Academy Trust currently consists of two independent schools, six selective academies, and six non-selective academies. Our recent expansion into a broader range of local communities is enabling us to accelerate our strategies for improving the life chances of young people in Birmingham, regardless of their background.

The King Edward VI Academy Trust Birmingham (“the Academy Trust”) was established in 2017 and comprises the academies outlined above. The academies receive back-office central support services, including governance, from the Foundation Office (a central support services function), with several staff seconded from the Foundation to deliver support services to the Academy Trust and the academies themselves.

Our highly focused five-year strategy aims to build on our existing strengths and heritage while delivering our ambitious growth strategy, which seeks to incorporate a further five academies over the next five years.

King Edward VI Lordswood School for Girls in Harborne offers an excellent academic education within a happy and purposeful community. High-quality teaching, good behaviour, and valuing each individual are central to our engaging approach to pre- and post-sixteen study.

All students are encouraged to realise their fullest potential, to live and work in harmony with others, and to be ambitious for their futures. Students are supported by a team of highly professional and caring staff.

While student outcomes are significantly above national figures, this is not what makes us most proud. Our school is a community, and while we value academic success, this is not the only objective. We pride ourselves on fostering good citizens and developing girls who possess the knowledge, skills, and desire to make a difference in the world around them.

The world today is changing rapidly, and our aim is for all students to leave as flexible, positive, and assured young people. Past students exemplify this by excelling in a wide range of careers and interests.

King Edward VI Lordswood School for Girls is a happy, active place; students work hard and have fun. The facilities are excellent, and the opportunities on offer are exciting, but it is the people who make it special. We hope you will want to be one of those people.

We are now looking to appoint an excellent Digital Technology Manager to join our successful team. This individual will be primarily responsible for the smooth running of the IT systems infrastructure at King Edward VI Lordswood School for Girls, ensuring that all school IT-related systems function correctly, reliably, securely, and are regularly updated.

Reporting to the Support Services Manager, the Digital Technology Manager is the senior member of the Technical Support Team and is expected to take on a leadership role within the department. This includes demonstrating initiative to troubleshoot problems, employing good communication skills to guide other team members, and setting an example of best working practices for all members of the LSG community. With previous experience as a Senior IT Technician or Network Manager, the Digital Technology Manager will be comfortable operating at a second/third line level of technical support for the main IT function at King Edward VI Lordswood School for Girls.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategic development of all ICT systems across the school and sixth form centre.
• Line management of digital technology team.
• Provide effective technical support for all users.
• Provide training to users as required.
• Provide regular updates on faults/issues to all users via appropriate means.
• Audit and monitor the provision of ICT support to ensure IT resources are fully operational, supporting uninterrupted teaching and learning.
• Manage filtered internet connectivity and proxy server.
• Oversee the school’s WiFi provision across various VLANs.
• Manage all elements of the school’s Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 tenancy.
• Administer school-owned Chromebook and Windows devices.
• Manage relationships with third-party IT service providers.
• Oversee backup systems and disaster recovery contingencies.
• Manage the school’s MIS system, ensuring all upgrades and relevant patches are installed.
• Oversee the school’s printing and photocopying provision.
• Identify, plan, and cost future developments and upgrades of the ICT infrastructure within agreed budgets.
• Oversee software licensing, ensuring timely renewals.
• Develop and review the five-year IT development plan.
• Oversee the creation and implementation of designated IT policies.
• Oversee the implementation of the schools’ “acceptable use” policy.
• To support the school in meeting its safeguarding responsibilities.

The post offers excellent working conditions and a comprehensive development programme, along with a school that is committed to updating and developing its IT provision.

We encourage all interested applicants to visit the school and this can be arranged by contacting Sheila Allport, via email, s.allport@lsg.kevibham.org.

How to Apply

A full job description and an application pack for this post can be found at: https://lsg.kevibham.org

Completed application forms should be forwarded to Sheila Allport via email: s.allport@lsg.kevibham.org, by Noon on Monday 21st October 2024.

The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham is an educational charity supporting eleven schools and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent and spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.

Charity Number 529051