Head of IT and Digital Innovation

We are a thriving Trust on the south coast of England with 16 current schools, 4927 children and 706 staff. We are preparing for further growth and are looking to appoint a highly skilled and dedicated Head of IT and Digital Innovation to oversee the strategic development, digital transformation and operational efficacy of our Trust and School ICT systems. 

The successful candidate will be one of our key Heads of Area (alongside the Heads of Finance, HR and Operations & Governance) within the organisation. You will be supporting the Trust’s executive team to design and implement a digital strategy that supports and enhances all areas of the business; driving continuous improvement in educational outcomes. In addition, the post-holder will be responsible for the strategic leadership and development of the IT support and digital infrastructure team in delivering a first-class IT service to all users. 

This role is key to our Vision for 2025 and comes with a significant annual budget to facilitate the strategy. 

The candidate must be outward thinking, and able to inspire and implement organisational change; providing advice and guidance on IT governance and shaping the way the Trust invests towards the implementation of digital technology. 

You will need to have:  

• A passion for digital innovation 
• A commitment to creating efficiencies 
• A vision for an integrated and safe system 
• Proven experience in managing IT networks and staff teams 
• Ideally, but not necessarily, experience in an education setting and across multi-sites 
• Excellent relationship building and communication skills.  
• Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy and good numeracy skills. 
• Excellent presentation and training skills. 

Salary and Hours 

East Sussex Local Managerial Grade 3, points 13-16 (£51,201-£55,925 per annum) 

Monday-Friday, 37 hours per week, all year round- negotiable for the right candidate. 

Candidates should submit: 

A completed application form (CVs will not be acceptable) 

A letter of application of no more than two sides of A4 size 11 font 

Completed applications should be addressed to Dominique Lewis, Head of HR and sent to HR@dcat.academy. The deadline for applications is 9.00am on Thursday 1st September 2022. Interviews will be held on Monday 12th September2022.  If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Stephen Barrett via email HR@dcat.academy.  

Don’t meet every single requirement?  Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification.  At DCAT we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.  You may be just the right candidate for the role.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful candidates will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check upon appointment.   

More information about the Trust can be found on our website.  

Please see the attached application pack for further details about DCAT, the role including job description and person specification.