IT Network Director in Cambridge

This is an exciting time to join as we are embarking on an ambitious Digital, Data and Technology (DDT) Programme to enable the organisation to reach its ambitious goal of raising £120m by 2033. This is a significant time for Technology in the organisation, with the Technology Operating Model, Cyber Security initiatives, User Experience (e.g. AI, Microsoft tooling) and the Technology architecture (move from on-prem to SaaS and Azure) all receiving significant investment and change.

The successful person will be a visible and approachable leader who enjoys balancing strategic thinking with hands-on IT operational management. You will be comfortable working closely with senior stakeholders, leading technical teams, and ensuring a consistently high level of service across the organisation. In addition, this is a time of change, so leading and driving forward change to evolve IT into a modern scalable service function. This role will have 3 direct reports (with teams) with responsibility for Operations & Infrastructure, Cyber & Information Security and End User Systems Management.

• Leadership and Management
• Lead and develop a high-performing team, fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
• Membership of internal programme/business boards, creating and delivering updates to senior stakeholders.
• Contributing and collaborating as a key part of the Digital, Data & Technology leadership team.
• Acting as the key IT contact for senior business stakeholders.
• Building strong relationships with suppliers (including procurement).
• Managing budgets, resources, and IT governance requirements.
• Digital and Technology change
• Driving forward SaaS and cloud infrastructure migration.
• Evolving IT into a modern scalable service function using self-service and automation.
• Improving the end user experience from IT provided tools including with AI (safe adoption, productivity enablement, guardrails and policy).
• Cyber and Information Security
• Acting as the senior operational owner for cyber and information security, with accountability for policy, standards, controls and incident readiness.
• Leading security operations including threat/vulnerability management, incident response, and risk assessment.
• Embedding security by design across cloud (Azure), SaaS, and end-user technologies.
• Technology Operations
• Leading, mentoring, and developing an IT support and infrastructure team.
• Overseeing infrastructure (cloud and on-prem), networks, hardware, and end-user technology services.
• Ensuring high levels of system availability, reliability, and user satisfaction.
• Managing support for devices, connectivity, printers, collaboration tools, and business systems.
• Managing and improving support processes, SLAs, and operational performance metrics.
• Driving service excellence and managing escalated technical issues when needed.
• Technology Expertise
• Strong experience across modern end-user and enterprise technologies, including:
• Microsoft 365 (Entra ID/Azure AD, SharePoint, Intune, Defender, Active Directory).
• Microsoft Azure (Virtual Machines, Azure SQL, networking and other cloud infrastructure).
• Expertise in hybrid or cloud native environments.
• Office technology (networking, Windows environments, personal computing, mobile device management).
• Security tools and services covering identity & access management, endpoint and cloud protection, SIEM/XDR, vulnerability management, and email/domain security.
• End-user tooling, including emerging AI-enabled productivity tools.
Knowledge, skills and experience needed:
• Proven experience in a Head of IT, Service Management / Service Delivery leadership role.
• Experience leading digital transformation or cloud modernisation programmes.
• Experience in owning cyber and information security with accountability for policy, standards, controls and incident readiness.
• Technically credible — able to hold your own in conversations with developers, architects, and IT leadership.
• Experience driving continuous service improvement (CSI) and operational excellence.
• Track record of delivering service innovation and automation in a growing organisation.
• A confident communicator who can represent the IT function professionally at all levels, internally and externally.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage incidents and complex service challenges.
• Commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality and secure handling of sensitive information.
• Strong people management experience, including leading, developing and motivating high-performing teams.
• Experience influencing decision-making at senior leadership and executive level.
• Strong leadership capability, balancing hands-on delivery with short- and long-term strategic vision.
• Outstanding communicator, with strong influencing, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, accessible language.
• Strong focus on ownership, accountability, and results delivery, with a proactive 'can-do' attitude.
• Strategic and analytical thinker, able to see the bigger picture and set direction.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, and ethical standards.
• Curious and adaptable, with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
• Willingness to be hands-on when needed, leading by example within the team.
Additional Information:

Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.

Salary: Circa £75,000 per annum, plus benefits.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, particularly from those in the global majority, those with disabilities, men and those from the LGBTQIA+ community.