Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead IT strategy and digital transformation for cutting-edge biotech research.
- Company: Join a pioneering organisation in cell and gene therapy innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for personal and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in advancing scientific innovation and operational efficiency.
- Qualifications: Proven IT leadership experience in regulated industries and strong strategic vision.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
The IT Director is responsible for defining and delivering the organisation's technology strategy to support scientific innovation, GMP compliant manufacturing, and secure data management, ensuring that IT infrastructure, digital platforms, and data capabilities enable cutting-edge research, digital manufacturing, and collaboration across internal teams and external partners.
In addition, the IT Director will identify opportunities to leverage digital technologies, data platforms and automation to drive operational efficiency, scientific acceleration and cost optimisation. The role builds and maintains strong external partnerships (including suppliers, technology providers, platforms, academia and innovation partners/Collaborators) that enhance digital innovation and strengthen the organisation's IT capability.
The IT Director anticipates the commercial and organisational impacts of technology decisions, balancing innovation with risk, cost, operational readiness and long-term strategic value. The role leads a distributed IT function across four sites and holds accountability for a combined annual budget of approximately GBP 3.1m.
Key Responsibilities
- Strengthening communication and alignment between IT and business functions, improving transparency and stakeholder satisfaction
- Modernise the digital backbone supporting GMP facilities, including systems integration and data flows
- Achieve Cyber Essentials Plus certification and enhance overall cybersecurity posture
- Maximise return on investment from the IFS ERP platform through optimisation and adoption
- Sets clear, measurable IT goals linked to organisational strategy and external industry developments
- Ensure strategic plans adapt to evolving regulatory, cyber, manufacturing and digital technology landscapes
Key Accountabilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Develop and execute IT and digital strategy aligned to organisational goals
- Act as a trusted advisor to the executive team on technology and digital transformation
- Acts as a leader who looks beyond functional boundaries to align IT strategy with organisational, regulatory and industry drivers
- Provides thought leadership on emerging technologies relevant to advanced therapies, GMP digital systems and regulated biotech environments
- Demonstrates the ability to articulate a compelling long-term digital vision and translate it into actionable programmes for organisational benefit
- Connects complex technical and organisational issues to enable joined-up thinking and decision-making across CGT Catapult
- Takes a long term, strategic perspective on digital, data and infrastructure maturity within a regulated biomanufacturing context, anticipating future needs and shaping the roadmap accordingly
- Oversee IT systems and infrastructure across four sites
- Ensure high availability for GMP manufacturing, office environments and laboratory
- Support development of digital manufacturing capabilities and system integration
- Ensure compliance with GDPR, GxP, and ISO standards
- Lead cyber risk management and business continuity planning
- Drive data strategy across research and manufacturing
- Enable integration across MES, LIMS, and ERP systems
- Lead and develop a team of approximately 20 employees across four sites
- Own budget planning, forecasting, and cost optimisation
Experience
- Proven senior IT leadership experience
- Proven experience of leading major IT programmes within a regulated industry
- Experience delivering digital manufacturing or Industry 4.0 initiatives
- Experience in cell and gene therapy, biotech, or pharmaceutical sectors
- Experience in GMP or regulated environments
- Familiarity with IFS ERP, MES, and LIMS platforms
- Experience integrating IT and operational technology (OT)
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Highly motivated, pragmatic, and practical to support the mission of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult to accelerate the development of a commercial cell and gene-based therapy industry in the UK
- Desire and the personal drive to help push the cell and gene sector to be a commercial success
- Ambitious and driven, bringing a positive and proactive approach to delivering high-quality outcomes
- A positive attitude towards learning, personal and professional development
- Keeps up to date with professional knowledge, expertise and best practice
- Strategic and hands-on leadership, able to operate effectively across multi-site teams
- Strong decision-making capability with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Self-motivated and accountable, able to work independently, takes the initiative, and operates autonomously once objectives are set
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with strong emotional intelligence
- Exceptional influencing skills with the ability to secure alignment from senior scientific, GMP, operational and corporate stakeholders
- Builds strategic internal and external networks, using them to support digital transformation, strengthen cyber posture and advance organisational goals
- Communicates with authority, credibility and clarity at executive level, ensuring transparency, trust and shared understanding
- Collaborative, mission-driven, with the ability to build effective relationships and manage stakeholders confidently
- Inspires confidence and fosters followership by communicating clear priorities and a compelling vision for digital and IT excellence
- Committed to developing and empowering the team, identifying potential and coaching emerging leaders, fostering a high-performance culture through guidance, support and continuous improvement
- Role-models inclusivity, collaboration and values-driven leadership across multi-site teams
- Demonstrates resilience and the ability to lead calmly and constructively in high-pressure environments such as GMP operations, audits, cyber incidents or critical system outages
- Creates a culture of psychological safety within IT teams, encouraging openness, constructive challenge and continuous learning
- Empowers teams to make decisions and develop capability, stepping in strategically when needed, without creating dependency
- A good team player with a hands-on approach, and adaptable to new challenges
- Actively facilitates alignment across R&D, GMP manufacturing, QA, Finance, HR and Operations
- Proactively removes barriers, mediates conflicting priorities and fosters shared ownership of digital and data outcomes
- Expertise in regulated environments, including GxP, data compliance, and regulated digital systems
- Proficient in Microsoft Office packages and comfortable working across diverse digital tools
- Flexible, pragmatic, and quick to learn, adapting easily to evolving project needs and new challenges
- Willingness to travel
Education / Qualifications
- Degree in a technical, scientific, or business field (e.g. Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Biology, Biotechnology)
IT Director employer: Connected Places Catapult
Contact Detail:
Connected Places Catapult Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land IT Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its tech landscape. Understand their current projects and challenges, especially in areas like GMP compliance and digital transformation. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in contributing to their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your vision for IT strategy and how it aligns with the organisation's goals. Highlight your experience in leading major IT programmes and how you can drive operational efficiency and innovation.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our platform. Let’s get you that IT Director role!
We think you need these skills to ace IT Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight how your experience aligns with the IT Director role. We want to see how you can contribute to our tech strategy and support scientific innovation!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As an IT Director, you'll be leading a team and driving strategic initiatives. Use your application to demonstrate your leadership style and any successful projects you've managed in the past. We love seeing examples of collaboration and team empowerment!
Highlight Relevant Experience: Focus on your experience in regulated environments and digital transformation. Mention specific technologies or platforms you've worked with that relate to our needs, like IFS ERP or GMP systems. This will help us see your fit for the role!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Connected Places Catapult
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As an IT Director, you’ll need to demonstrate a deep understanding of technology strategies and digital transformation. Brush up on the latest trends in biotech, GMP compliance, and data management. Be ready to discuss how you’ve successfully implemented these technologies in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership across multiple sites. Prepare examples of how you've led teams, managed budgets, and driven strategic initiatives. Highlight your ability to inspire and empower others, as well as your experience in fostering a high-performance culture.
✨Align with Organisational Goals
Make sure you understand the organisation's mission and how the IT strategy supports it. Be prepared to discuss how you would align IT goals with business objectives, especially in the context of scientific innovation and operational efficiency.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in high-pressure situations, such as cyber incidents or system outages. Think of specific examples where you’ve successfully navigated challenges, demonstrating your resilience and decision-making capabilities.