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 in Bury employer: Alpine Fire Engineers Ltd
As a Trainee Health, Safety & Environment Officer, you will join a dynamic team dedicated to fostering a culture of safety and compliance within a supportive work environment. Our company prioritises personal development, offering extensive training opportunities and a generous holiday purchase scheme, ensuring that you can grow your career while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. With a commitment to employee well-being and a collaborative atmosphere, we are an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the health and safety sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of IT in Bury
✨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 Alpine Fire Engineers 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 Alpine Fire Engineers 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 Alpine Fire Engineers Ltd!
✨Direct Apply to Alpine Fire Engineers Ltd
Let's not forget to apply directly through the Alpine Fire Engineers 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 IT in Bury
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 Alpine Fire Engineers 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 Alpine Fire Engineers 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 Alpine Fire Engineers 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.
