Head of IT

Head of IT

Bury Full-Time 42000 - 84000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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About Alpine Group: Alpine Group (including Alpine Fire Engineers and DAS Fire) is a fast growing, award winning leader in fire detection and suppression systems — designing, delivering and maintaining complex solutions across logistics & distribution, aerospace, automotive, pharmaceuticals, high hazard and other specialist environments. We’re proud to be recognised among The Sunday Times Best Places to Work (2025), reflecting our focus on wellbeing, values and a high performance, people first culture.

Location: Bury (Greater Manchester) as the primary base, with occasional travel to other UK sites.

The Opportunity: As we scale, we are strengthening our in-house IT capability. This role will take responsibility for defining and delivering our IT roadmap — ensuring that our systems, data, and services keep pace with business growth and support a great colleague and client experience. You’ll manage the day-to-day IT operations (largely delivered by partners), oversee vendors, work with internal stakeholders to prioritise projects, and guide continuous improvement across infrastructure, applications, and security. This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role with direct visibility to the leadership team, ideal for someone who enjoys balancing strategy with execution.

Core Responsibilities

  • Set & deliver the technology strategy.
  • Own the multi-year IT roadmap aligned to business goals (growth, M&A, European expansion), covering applications (ERP), data & analytics, infrastructure & cloud, end user experience, and service excellence.
  • Translate business goals (growth, M&A, European expansion) into clear IT initiatives and delivery plans.
  • Track progress and communicate updates, risks, and investment needs to leadership.
  • Ensure IT services run smoothly and meet agreed SLAs, working closely with our IT & NetSuite Support Manager.
  • Coordinate MSPs and vendors to maintain uptime, connectivity, device lifecycle management, and user support.
  • Negotiate IT supplier contracts, SLAs and commercial terms that balance value, performance and risk.
  • Lead our security posture and drive ‘secure by design’ across identity, devices, data and SaaS applications.
  • Run risk management, change control, disaster recovery, incident response and supplier assurance.
  • Partner with Finance and Operations to enhance NetSuite and adjacent SaaS platforms.
  • Support automation, integration, and reporting initiatives that improve efficiency and decision-making.
  • Mature our Microsoft 365 stack and uplift device management, collaboration, and information protection.
  • Oversee connectivity, resilience, and the path to cloud first (where it adds value).
  • Build and manage the IT budget (opex/capex), forecast, and track ROI on change initiatives.
  • Continuously optimise cost-to-serve, licensing and operational efficiency.
  • Ensure a great colleague experience with IT (clear SLAs, self-service, knowledge, training).
  • Lead change communications and occasional training for new tools and initiatives across the business.
  • Contribute to knowledge sharing and training to improve digital confidence across the business.
  • Line manage and grow the internal IT team - coach, mentor, set goals and foster a high trust, high standards culture.
  • Rare, but from time-to-time critical activities may require work outside standard hours (e.g., incidents, projects). We plan to avoid it, and we recognise it when it occurs.

What You’ll Bring:

Essential

  • Track record leading IT in a multi-site, service/engineering or industrial setting at Head of IT / IT Manager / CTO level.
  • Strong hands on knowledge and experience across: Microsoft 365/Entra/Intune/Defender; enterprise networking; identity & access; endpoint security; device lifecycle; backup/DR.
  • Experience with ERP/NetSuite or similar enterprise SaaS; data integration/reporting; process automation.
  • Security & governance, vendor/commercial management, budgeting and Board engagement.
  • Strong communicator, able to translate technical issues into business language.

Desirable:

  • Exposure to industrial, engineering, or construction environments – strong project base.
  • Experience supporting technology change through business growth or acquisitions.
  • ITIL, PRINCE2/Agile, and relevant Microsoft/Security certifications.

Working Pattern: Hybrid: We offer flexibility in remote working; however, regular on-site presence at Bury is essential to succeed in this role (team leadership, Board engagement, site collaboration).

Travel: Occasional travel to UK sites and, in line with growth plans, periodic travel within Europe.

Rewards & Benefits: Competitive salary (c.£60k DOE) plus benefits. Industry leading benefits package. Hybrid working with meaningful flexibility, balanced with on-site collaboration. An award-winning workplace with strong leadership and a supportive, values led culture.

Reporting Line: Reports into the CEO. Direct line management of internal IT roles, including the IT & NetSuite Support Manager.

Head of IT employer: Alpine Fire Engineers Ltd

Alpine Group is an exceptional employer, recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work (2025), thanks to our commitment to employee wellbeing and a people-first culture. Located in Bury, Greater Manchester, we offer a hybrid working model that promotes flexibility while ensuring strong collaboration on-site. With a focus on professional growth, competitive salaries, and an industry-leading benefits package, we empower our employees to thrive in a dynamic environment that values innovation and teamwork.
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Contact Detail:

Alpine Fire Engineers Ltd Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of IT

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even hit up LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Head of IT role.

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your hands-on experience with Microsoft 365, ERP systems, and security governance. They want to see how you can bring value to their team.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by researching Alpine Group and their tech needs. Understand their business goals and think about how your IT roadmap can align with their growth plans. This will show them you're not just another candidate, but someone who truly gets their vision.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our award-winning culture at Alpine Group.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of IT

IT Strategy Development
IT Roadmap Management
Vendor Management
Microsoft 365
Enterprise Networking
Identity and Access Management
Endpoint Security
Disaster Recovery
ERP/NetSuite Experience
Data Integration and Reporting
Process Automation
Security Governance
Budget Management
Strong Communication Skills
Team Leadership

How to prepare for a job interview at Alpine Fire Engineers Ltd

✨Know Your Tech Inside Out

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Microsoft 365, ERP systems like NetSuite, and security protocols. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented these technologies in past roles and how they can benefit Alpine Group's growth.

✨Align with Business Goals

Understand Alpine Group's business objectives, especially around growth and European expansion. Prepare to explain how your IT strategy can directly support these goals, showcasing your ability to translate technical initiatives into business value.

✨Showcase Leadership Skills

As a Head of IT, you'll need to lead a team and manage vendors. Be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed teams, fostered a high-performance culture, and navigated challenges in multi-site environments.

✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently

Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. This will be crucial when discussing IT strategies with the leadership team. Use examples from your experience to demonstrate your communication skills and ability to bridge the gap between tech and business.

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