Director of IT

We are recruiting an experienced Director of Information Technology to lead the technology strategy and IT service delivery for a growing Multi Academy Trust comprising ten primary and secondary schools across North Bristol and South Gloucestershire. This senior leadership opportunity offers a salary of £66k, two days working from home, 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days after five years, a generous 15% pension contribution and free onsite parking.

Location: North Bristol, South Gloucestershire

Contract: Permanent, full time, 37 hours per week

Salary: £66,000

Working pattern: Hybrid, with two days working from home

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and working closely with the Executive Leadership Team, you will develop and deliver a Trust wide digital and technology strategy that supports teaching, learning and the continued growth of the organisation.

You will lead and develop a team of approximately ten IT engineers, overseeing technology services across ten schools and ensuring systems are secure, reliable, resilient and aligned with the needs of students and staff.

The Trust is entering an exciting period of digital development, including the opening of a new school operating within a fully Microsoft environment. You will play a central role in shaping the technology roadmap, improving digital capability and ensuring technology delivers measurable educational and operational value.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the Trust wide digital and technology strategy
• Lead, manage and develop a team of approximately ten IT engineers
• Oversee IT services across ten primary and secondary schools
• Ensure technology services are secure, reliable, scalable and cost effective
• Lead the development of cyber security, information governance and business continuity arrangements
• Oversee Microsoft 365 platforms including Intune, Entra ID, Exchange, SharePoint and Purview
• Provide strategic technology advice to senior leaders, Trustees and key stakeholders
• Manage IT budgets, suppliers, contracts and external technology partners
• Lead major technology projects and digital transformation programmes
• Establish clear service standards, performance measures and risk controls
• Ensure technology supports high quality teaching, learning, safeguarding and inclusion
• Promote continuous improvement and a strong customer service culture across the IT function

About you

You will be an experienced IT leader with a proven background in managing technology services within a complex, multi site organisation.

You will have:

• Significant IT leadership and team management experience
• Experience developing and delivering digital or technology strategies
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft 365, Intune, Entra ID, Exchange and SharePoint
• Experience leading cyber security, infrastructure and service improvement initiatives
• A successful track record of managing budgets, suppliers and technology contracts
• Experience delivering transformation projects across multiple locations
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills
• The ability to explain complex technical information to non-technical audiences
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to remain calm during major incidents or periods of change

Experience within education, a Multi Academy Trust or another multi-site public sector environment would be highly advantageous. Knowledge of Department for Education digital standards, Cyber Essentials, Power Platform, Copilot or other artificial intelligence platforms would also be beneficial.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious IT leader to shape the future technology strategy of a growing educational organisation and make a genuine difference to students and staff across the Trust.

Apply today to be considered for this Director of Information Technology opportunity.