Head of IT

Your new company
Are you ready to lead digital transformation at a senior level within a values-driven educational organisation?
This dynamic and expanding Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, with a strong and growing presence across Greater Manchester, is seeking to appoint a visionary
Head of IT. This is a pivotal strategic role, offering the opportunity to shape and lead the Trust's digital infrastructure and innovation as part of a well-established, ambitious senior leadership team.
With a current network of 23 schools and an ambitious growth plan to reach 60 schools by 2030, the Trust is entering an exciting phase of development. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting this expansion, ensuring robust, future-ready IT systems that enhance teaching, learning, and operational excellence across all academies.
What sets this Trust apart is its deeply embedded culture-described by staff as "healthy," collaborative, and purpose-driven. There is a strong ethos of mutual respect, transparency, and teamwork, with a shared commitment to delivering outstanding education for pupils across the region.
This is more than just a job-it's a chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people while working in a supportive, forward-thinking environment.Your new role
Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Head of IT will play a vital role within the Trust's leadership team, driving the development and execution of a forward-thinking IT strategy. This role is central to ensuring that both individual schools and the central IT function are equipped to deliver outstanding educational outcomes through robust, innovative, and secure digital infrastructure.
As Head of IT, you will lead and inspire a dedicated IT team, fostering a culture of excellence and service. You will be responsible for both strategic planning and day-to-day operational management, ensuring the Trust's IT systems are resilient, scalable, and aligned with its ambitious growth plans.
Key Responsibilities Include:

Strategic Leadership: Shape and implement the Trust-wide IT strategy in collaboration with senior leaders.
Project Management: Lead major IT initiatives, including system migrations, cybersecurity enhancements, helpdesk improvements, and other specialist projects.
Team Leadership: Manage and develop the IT team, including recruitment, training, and oversight of the apprenticeship programme.
Onboarding New Schools: Oversee the integration of IT systems and infrastructure for schools joining the Trust.
Policy & Compliance: Develop and communicate IT policies, ensuring consistent implementation across all schools.
Training & Innovation: Design and deliver IT training programmes, supporting the adoption of new technologies.
Procurement & Installation: Manage procurement processes and oversee the installation of new hardware and software.
Systems Management: Maintain and enhance third-party applications, as well as CCTV, telephony, and printing systems.
MIS Implementation: Work closely with the MIS team on current systems and future implementations.
Budget Oversight: Prepare and manage IT budgets, ensuring cost-effective and value-driven solutions.
Vendor Management: Liaise with external suppliers regarding contracts, renewals, and service delivery.
Stakeholder Engagement: Communicate effectively with schools regarding IT usage, needs, and expenditure.
Culture & Collaboration: Promote a collaborative, service-oriented IT culture across the Trust.What you'll need to succeed
To thrive in this role, you will bring substantial IT leadership experience in a multi-site environment-ideally within the education sector, such as a school, college, or multi-academy trust. You will be a proactive and strategic thinker, with a proven track record of successfully managing and evolving IT infrastructure to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders. Collaboration is at the heart of this role. You'll be an effective communicator who works seamlessly with cross-functional teams and school leaders, ensuring IT is not only operationally sound but also a key enabler of educational excellence. Your ability to engage with individual schools, guiding them in the effective use of technology in teaching and learning, will be essential. This opportunity is ideal for an experienced IT leader who has overseen multiple sites and is now looking to take the next step in their career within a forward-thinking, mission-driven organisation. If you are passionate about using technology to support education and want to be part of a growing, values-led trust, we would love to hear from you.
What you'll get in return
In return, you will be joining a growing organisation where you will be offered further growth and development, with the opportunity to learn about new technologies and changes in the IT world in education. You will be joining a collaborative senior leadership team, who all work passionately to deliver the highest level of education to pupils in the Greater Manchester area. You will receive a salary of between £59,000 and £63,000 dependent on experience, as well as receiving an attractive benefits scheme. This includes 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays, plus Christmas closure), access to the local government pension scheme and access to an employee assistance programme.
What you need to do now

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