At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead digital product development and manage IT infrastructure for a leading art platform.
- Company: Frieze is the top global platform for modern and contemporary art, connecting artists and collectors.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Join a creative team shaping the future of art technology with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills, excellent communication, and a passion for the arts are essential.
- Other info: This role offers a unique chance to influence the tech strategy in a vibrant cultural environment.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Who We Are: Frieze is the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art, dedicated to artists, galleries, collectors and art lovers alike. Frieze comprises three magazines – frieze, Frieze Masters Magazine and Frieze Week – and five international art fairs – Frieze London, Frieze Masters, Frieze New York, Frieze Los Angeles and Frieze Seoul. In October 2021, Frieze also launched No.9 Cork Street, a permanent space for visiting international galleries in the heart of Mayfair, London.
What You'll Do: Working closely with the CEO and Business Development team, this role consists of two pillars: leading a team of experts in the digital software development space, developing and maintaining our suite of business-critical digital products; managing the company’s IT infrastructure, developing and implementing the company’s technology vision and strategy to support business goals. You will be responsible for overseeing product development, managing architecture and infrastructure, driving research and innovation, ensuring security and stability, handling departmental budgets, leading strategic planning and execution, and fostering stakeholder relationships. You will lead teams who are responsible for several B2C and B2B websites, mobile applications, APIs and numerous supporting SaaS products such as CRMs, CMSs and other services which underpin the architecture and our processes. You will also play a critical role in shaping and developing the company’s future corporate IT strategy, whether that involves in-house IT teams, outsourcing or a combination of both. Your knowledge should extend to regulatory and compliance, both in the digital and IT space. This should include working knowledge of GDPR, encryption, cyber security, audits and general data and security best practices. Whilst this is not an engineering role, you should nevertheless understand the role of both digital software engineers (ideally having some development experience) and IT teams, enabling you to lead engineering and strategy discussions related to software development methodologies and IT requirements.
Main Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership and line management for the engineering and digital product teams, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. Identify and eliminate inefficiencies. Implement new best practice processes.
- Work with the product and engineering teams to define and refine the digital and IT roadmaps, ensuring alignment with business goals and objectives.
- Lead and facilitate architecture and systems technical discussions with the wider engineering teams, ensuring products are scalable, secure, high-performance and reliable.
- Build a culture of continued learning, collaboration and accountability throughout the whole department.
- Proactively identify new tools and technology solutions that can support, enhance and improve our offerings and streamline operations.
- Ensure our fair operations run smoothly and efficiently and guest experience is flawless with regards to digital and IT touchpoints.
- Collaborate with the business leaders of other departments, ensuring cross-departmental relationships are maintained and improved upon.
- Assume full responsibility for the departmental budgets, ensuring resources are allocated appropriately and efficiently.
- Lead the recruitment efforts, ensuring we continue to attract great talent who align with our departmental and company culture.
Our Software Engineering Tech Stack: This role requires a wide range of knowledge and experience across the whole digital and technical ecosystem; however, our current stack consists of:
- Websites built using Next.js and Node.js
- Headless CMS using Drupal
- APIs written in PHP
- Hosting using Heroku
- Apps written in React Native
- AWS for other services – S3, WAF, Cloudfront, RDS, EC2, Route53
You Have These:
- Strong leadership and influencing skills across all areas of a business
- Strong communicator who is clear and concise
- Takes a view and makes creative suggestions
- Excellent presentation skills - visually for packs and orally for meetings
- Good at working with the senior team to give and get information
- Hires A Players and nurtures talent
- Follows through on commitments
- Takes responsibility
- Open to criticism and feedback - wants to learn and constantly improve
- Interest in the Arts
Working Conditions: Permanent, London Surrey Street Mon-Fri, Hybrid - 10am-6pm
Contact Detail:
Frieze Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Digital And IT
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the digital and IT sectors, especially those who have experience in the arts or cultural industries. Attend relevant events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and learn more about the specific challenges and innovations in this field.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with Frieze's current digital products and IT infrastructure. Understanding their existing technology stack, such as Next.js, Node.js, and AWS, will help you speak knowledgeably about how you can contribute to their goals during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your leadership skills by sharing examples of how you've successfully managed teams and projects in the past. Highlight your ability to foster collaboration and innovation, which is crucial for the Director role at Frieze.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on the latest trends in digital technology and IT compliance, particularly around GDPR and cybersecurity. Being well-versed in these areas will show that you are proactive and ready to tackle the challenges Frieze faces in the digital landscape.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Digital And IT
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Director of Digital and IT position. Tailor your application to highlight relevant experience in digital product management and IT infrastructure.
Craft a Compelling CV: Your CV should clearly showcase your leadership skills, technical expertise, and experience in managing digital products and IT teams. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've successfully led projects or initiatives in the past.
Write a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the arts and how your background aligns with Frieze's mission. Highlight your strategic vision for technology and how you can contribute to the company's goals.
Showcase Relevant Skills: Make sure to emphasise your knowledge of regulatory compliance, cybersecurity, and your familiarity with the tech stack mentioned in the job description. This will show that you are well-prepared for the challenges of the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Frieze
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Director of Digital and IT, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, focusing on collaboration, innovation, and efficiency.
✨Understand the Tech Stack
Familiarise yourself with the technologies mentioned in the job description, such as Next.js, Node.js, and AWS. Being able to discuss these technologies confidently will show your technical understanding and ability to lead discussions with engineering teams.
✨Communicate Clearly
Effective communication is key for this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, especially when discussing complex topics. Consider preparing a brief presentation to showcase your ideas and strategies.
✨Demonstrate Your Interest in the Arts
Frieze is deeply rooted in the art world, so showing genuine interest and knowledge about contemporary art can set you apart. Be prepared to discuss how your passion for the arts aligns with the company's mission and values.