Head of IT Infrastructure in Manchester

Responsible for defining and delivering the organisation’s infrastructure strategy, ensuring a secure, resilient, and scalable technology foundation that supports current and future business needs.

Role Overview

Provides strategic and operational leadership across core infrastructure services, including cloud platforms, networks, storage, operating systems, and database services. Directly accountable for the Database Administration (DBA) team and ensures high availability, performance, security, and effective lifecycle management of all infrastructure assets.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the IT infrastructure strategy, aligned to business objectives, technology roadmaps, and enterprise architecture principles.
• Lead the evolution of infrastructure platforms, including cloud, hybrid, and on-premise environments.
• Ensure infrastructure designs are secure, resilient, scalable, and cost‑effective.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and vendor solutions to support innovation and operational efficiency.
• Oversee day‑to‑day operation of infrastructure services, ensuring high availability, performance, and reliability.
• Ensure effective monitoring, incident management, problem management, and capacity planning.
• Establish and maintain infrastructure standards, operational procedures, and service documentation.
• Drive continuous improvement across infrastructure services and operational processes.
• Lead and manage the DBA function, ensuring robust database performance, availability, security, and integrity.
• Set strategy and standards for database platforms, including design, configuration, backup, recovery, and patching.
• Ensure effective capacity planning, performance tuning, and lifecycle management of database technologies.
• Develop DBA team capability, providing leadership, coaching, and performance management.
• Work closely with Information Security and Risk teams to ensure infrastructure and database environments meet security and compliance requirements.
• Ensure appropriate disaster recovery, backup, and business continuity solutions are in place and regularly tested.
• Identify and manage infrastructure risks, vulnerabilities, and technical debt.
• Contribute to infrastructure budget planning and cost management, including cloud spend optimisation.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and third‑party service providers.
• Ensure value for money and effective commercial management of infrastructure services.

Skills and Experience

• Proven track record of successfully leading and managing IT teams within a complex trading environment.
• Demonstrated experience in planning and executing IT infrastructure and system modernisation initiatives, with a focus on cloud and DevOps.
• Strong understanding of IT security principles and best practices, with experience in implementing robust cybersecurity measures.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic IT plans aligned with overall business objectives.
• Experience in a regulated environment, managing complex IT infrastructures and relevant technologies, is highly desirable.

Benefits

We offer all employees a comprehensive benefits package that focuses on their whole wellbeing, including hybrid working, competitive base salary, non‑contributory pension, discretionary bonus, health and dental cover, and other benefits that enhance financial, physical, social and psychological health.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are fully committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are made regardless of age, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, socio‑economic background, religion or beliefs, marital or caring status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We encourage and welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds. We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. Please let us know if you require any information in an alternate format or any other reasonable adjustments.