At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead IT operations, manage a team, and enhance technical services in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking organisation focused on innovation and technology.
- Benefits: Attractive salary, professional growth opportunities, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Exciting role with opportunities to explore emerging technologies and AI solutions.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact by leading IT initiatives and driving technological advancements.
- Qualifications: Proven IT leadership experience and strong technical skills across various systems.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We are looking for an experienced
Head of IT to lead the operational management, technical development and ongoing improvement of IT services within a busy environment.
This is a senior, hands-on leadership role, responsible for ensuring that IT infrastructure, systems, support services and technical processes are secure, resilient, well documented and aligned with organisational priorities.
The role will suit someone who can combine strong technical expertise with team leadership, service improvement, project planning and clear communication with senior stakeholders.
You will lead the IT Services team day to day, provide senior technical guidance across core infrastructure and security, and ensure reliable support for staff and wider stakeholders.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the day-to-day operation of IT Services, ensuring support is effective, timely, customer-focused and aligned with organisational needs.
- Manage, support and develop the IT Services team, including workload planning, regular team meetings, coaching, and performance reviews.
- Provide senior technical leadership across networking, virtualisation, Wi-Fi, servers, storage, Microsoft 365, endpoint management and related systems.
- Act as the senior technical lead for IT infrastructure, cyber security controls, service resilience, business continuity and disaster recovery.
- Maintain IT risk registers, audits, risk assessments and service reviews to identify weaknesses and strengthen systems, processes and controls.
- Ensure technical procedures, operating processes, support arrangements and key systems are clearly documented and kept up to date.
- Oversee routine maintenance activities including backups, updates, patching, monitoring, access controls and user account management.
- Manage SQL server environments, upgrades, access controls and backup arrangements.
- Contribute technical expertise to wider projects, ensuring IT implications, risks, dependencies and resourcing are understood early.
- Translate technical issues into clear, accessible advice for senior leaders, including options, costs, benefits, risks and recommendations.
- Lead IT budget planning, lifecycle replacement planning, capital bids, supplier relationships and contract management.
- Develop and maintain a medium-term technical roadmap covering infrastructure, systems, security improvements, lifecycle replacement and service development.
- Oversee hardware, software, network systems, Active Directory, group policy, device management and departmental software deployment.
- Manage internal penetration testing activity and ensure follow-up on identified vulnerabilities.
- Support access control systems, including maintenance, permissions, troubleshooting, reporting and security monitoring.
- Keep up to date with emerging technologies, infrastructure developments, cyber risks.
- Identify opportunities to use AI-enabled technologies to improve operational efficiency, service delivery and security.
Skills and experience required
- Experience leading or supervising an IT team.
- Strong hands-on technical background across IT infrastructure and support services.
- Experience designing, installing and configuring networks, including switches and firewalls.
- Virtual server experience, ideally Hyper-V.
- Strong knowledge of Microsoft desktop and server technologies, including Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Exchange, clustering and failover.
- Strong networking knowledge, including IP addressing, VLANs, routing, failover technologies, ACLs and core protocols such as TCP, UDP, HTTPS, SSL and TLS.
- Good understanding of cyber security methods, controls and best practice.
- Experience with firewalls, high availability, wireless technologies, backup systems and monitoring tools.
- Strong Microsoft 365, Share Point and One Drive knowledge.
- Ability to create clear documentation, audit trails, procedures and technical records.
- Professional IT certifications such as Microsoft, Cisco, HPE or equivalent.
- Experience with AI-enabled technologies.
- Knowledge of Apple systems, IP telephony, SAN/NAS, Power Shell, scripting, mobile device management, SIEM, Syslog or monitoring tools
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Information Technology in Cambridge
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what 4square Recruitment Ltd values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges 4square Recruitment Ltd might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at 4square Recruitment Ltd!
✨Direct Apply to 4square Recruitment Ltd
Let's not forget to apply directly through the 4square Recruitment Ltd website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Information Technology in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at 4square Recruitment Ltd.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at 4square Recruitment Ltd. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at 4square Recruitment Ltd
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
