Senior IT Manager

Cobalt is working with a privately owned real estate investment and operating business to appoint a Senior IT Manager who will take ownership of technology across its growing UK platform.

With an established hospitality portfolio and a substantial pipeline of purpose-built student accommodation developments, the business is entering an important period of growth.

The Senior IT Manager will have the opportunity to improve existing technology operations while shaping the systems, security and infrastructure needed for future sites.

The organisation

The business invests in and operates assets across the hotel and purpose-built student accommodation sectors, working with established international brands and third-party operating partners.

Its development pipeline will bring several new sites into operation over the coming years, creating an opportunity to influence how technology supports both the customer experience and wider business operations.

You will work closely with senior leadership and teams across Development, Projects, Commercial, Operations, Marketing and Finance.

The role and responsibilities

The Senior IT Manager will take end-to-end responsibility for the day-to-day technology environment, managing outsourced partners while retaining accountability internally.

Key responsibilities include

• Owning the relationship with the outsourced IT managed service provider, covering service levels, escalations, performance and commercial value.
• Overseeing IT operations across Head Office and operational sites, including Microsoft 365, hardware, user lifecycle management and business systems.
• Leading the organisation's IT security and governance, including Cyber Essentials certification, ISO 27001 alignment, risk management and data protection requirements.
• Managing technology vendors, contracts, licences and renewals, ensuring strong commercial control and avoiding unnecessary spend or renewal risk.
• Leading technology readiness for new site openings, including connectivity, hardware, system integrations, customer-facing technology and post-launch support.
• Supporting websites, booking technology, Share Point, the company intranet and the controlled rollout of Claude and other AI tools.
• Providing clear reporting to senior leadership on technology performance, projects, risks, expenditure and suppliers.
• The skills needed and requirements

Cobalt is looking for an IT professional who can combine technical understanding with organised supplier management and commercial judgement.

You should bring

• A strong working knowledge gained in an IT Manager, Senior IT Manager or comparable technology leadership position.
• Experience managing an outsourced IT managed service provider and holding suppliers accountable for service and commercial performance.
• A working knowledge of Microsoft 365 alongside Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001 principles, GDPR and data protection requirements.
• Experience managing IT contracts, licences, renewals, budgets and vendor relationships.
• The ability to manage technology projects involving multiple internal teams, suppliers and operational sites.
• Clear communication skills, with the ability to report technology performance and risks to senior stakeholders.

Experience within hotels, hospitality, property or another multi-site environment would be advantageous rather than essential.

Exposure to franchise technology environments, third-party operators or new-site technology mobilisation would also be useful.

Experience with AI tools in a business environment is welcomed but is not required.

For a Senior IT Manager looking for broad ownership, this role offers exposure to operational IT, cyber security, new-site launches and emerging technology within a growing organisation.

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