Head of IT - Up to £65,000 - Southampton
Principal IT are working with a well-known and industry leading MSP who provide IT services to businesses that are looking for an experienced head of IT to join their team. This is a hands-on leadership role, responsible for overseeing all aspects of infrastructure, cybersecurity, networking, and business systems, while managing a talented in-house IT team. You'll also play a key role in the organisation's roadmap to AI implementation, ensuring that IT strategy and operations are aligned with wider business objectives.
The Role
As Head of IT, you'll be responsible for the strategic direction, management, and delivery of IT services across the business.
You'll ensure the security, resilience, and efficiency of systems while developing the team and driving continuous improvement across technology functions.
Core Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Escalation
Act as the highest technical escalation point for the service desk and field engineers
Troubleshoot complex issues across networking, cloud, security, and endpoint systems
Provide guidance on best practices, architecture decisions, and solution design
Mentor engineers and support their technical developmentProject Delivery & Technical Implementation
Lead technical projects: migrations, deployments, upgrades, cloud transitions
Scope and design solutions in collaboration with account managers
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to technical standardsSecurity & Compliance
Oversee implementation of security tools (EDR, MFA, XDR, backup, etc.)
Maintain compliance with frameworks (Cyber Essentials, ISO, NIST)
Conduct risk assessments and recommend improvementsClient Engagement
Act as a trusted technical advisor for key clients
Attend technical review meetings and present environment health insights
Translate technical concepts into business‑focused recommendationsProcess & Workflow Improvement
Develop and refine SOPs, runbooks, and escalation workflows
Improve documentation quality and ensure knowledge is shared
Identify opportunities for automation and efficiency gainsAbout You
We're looking for a proven IT leader ideally within the MSP space who can combine technical credibility with strong people management and strategic thinking.
Technical Skills
Strong understanding of Microsoft 365, Azure AD/Entra, Intune, and Windows and network environments
Networking fundamentals (VLANs, firewalls, routing, VPNs)
Backup/BCDR technologies
Endpoint security and XDR/EDR platforms
Virtualization (Hyper‑V, VMware)
Scripting/automation (PowerShell preferred)Leadership & Soft Skills
Excellent communication and client‑facing presence
Ability to mentor and upskill junior engineers
Strong problem‑solving and analytical thinking
Calm under pressure, especially during incidents
Ability to balance technical depth with business contextEssential experience:
Previous experience in a CTO, Head of IT, IT Manager, or Senior IT Leadership
Strong background in infrastructure, networking, and cyber security (Fortinet).
Experience in managing and leading system integrations or migrations.
Knowledge of Cyber Essentials + 27001/9001 and wider security best practices.
Strong stakeholder management and leadership skills, with the ability to operate effectively at all levels of the business.The Package:
If successful our client is offering a salary of up to £65,000, favourable holiday allowance, company bonus scheme, hybrid working & more.
How to Apply:
If you are interested in hearing more about this head of IT vacancy or interested in applying for the role please email me at or contact Principal IT Directly on LinkedIn.
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