At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering teams to modernise and enhance the University’s technology systems.
- Company: The University of Sheffield, a world-class institution with a diverse community.
- Benefits: 41 days annual leave, flexible working, generous pension, and various discounts.
- Other info: Join a culture of continuous improvement and be part of a supportive community.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on technology that supports students and staff at a prestigious university.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading engineering teams and strong understanding of cloud-native architectures.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 75000 £ per year.
The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university. We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits and join us to become part of something special.
In this role, you will lead the engineering functions within IT Services, with particular accountability for the student records system and its associated platforms along with infrastructure teams. Reporting to the CTO, you will be accountable for the technical quality, reliability, and modernisation of systems. The portfolio includes the University's core student records system, enterprise systems (primarily SAP), integration services, web platforms, DevOps, Networks and Platforms. You'll work closely with Architecture and Product colleagues to translate product roadmaps into technically sound, well-engineered solutions, ensuring the development teams deliver to agreed standards and timelines. This role requires proven experience leading engineering teams through technology modernisation programmes, with strength in cloud-native architectures, software engineering practices and managing complex integrations being particularly key. The successful candidate will be joining during IT Services' transition to product-led delivery, meaning they will need to drive technical modernisation whilst adapting their teams to new ways of working with Product and Architecture functions.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Define and communicate the Technology Vision for the development, integration, and operational technology estate, working closely with the CTO, Architecture, and Product teams.
- Own and deliver the technical roadmap that underpins product delivery across the University's digital services.
- Lead, manage and mentor the Heads of Enterprise Systems, Development, Networks and Platforms.
- Set the technical direction for these teams and ensure they have clarity of priorities, expected outcomes, and access to resources to achieve their goals.
- Drive the modernisation of the University's technology estate, including strategies for legacy system modernisation, adoption of cloud-native patterns as well as on-premise solutions where applicable and embedding modern software engineering practices across all teams.
- Work with Architecture to define and maintain technical standards, reference architectures, and technology governance.
- Ensure all development activity meets agreed standards for code quality, security, testing, and operational readiness.
- Work with Product to ensure technical feasibility and effort are well understood during roadmap planning and prioritisation.
- Provide credible technical input to product decisions and ensure delivery teams can execute against agreed plans.
- Establish and mature engineering practices across the development teams, improving deployment frequency, reliability, and time to value.
- Own the operational health of systems under the teams' responsibility, including working with Service and Infosec for incident response and service continuity.
- With Architecture, manage the integration landscape, ensuring reliable and well-governed data flows between student-facing systems, enterprise platforms, and third-party services.
- Define integration patterns and standards that support both current operations and future flexibility.
- Establish technology governance processes that balance delivery pace with university governance requirements, ensuring the CTO and relevant governance boards have appropriate visibility of technical debt, platform risks, and modernisation progress.
- Own the technical workforce strategy, including skills development, recruitment, and succession planning.
- Build a culture of continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and engineering excellence across the teams.
- Be a member of the IT Services Extended Leadership Team that works collectively to achieve strategic aims.
- Support Executive leaders in the delivery of strategy whilst working in partnership and collaboratively with colleagues to achieve those defined outcomes.
- As a member of staff, you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
- Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.
Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Essential
- Significant experience leading engineering teams, with a proven track record of delivering and operating complex, business-critical systems across full software lifecycles.
- Strong understanding of cloud-native architectures (AWS preferred), CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, and modern DevOps practices. Hands-on experience is desirable; credible technical judgement is essential.
- Experience with enterprise technology stacks e.g. Java, Oracle, Salesforce, Python, and SAP. Ability to make sound architectural and platform decisions across a diverse estate.
- Strong communication skills; the ability to distil and communicate complex technical concepts, proposals, risks, and trade-offs to colleagues and stakeholders at all levels, including non-technical audiences.
- Experience managing multi-year technology programmes, including making the case for investment in modernisation and demonstrating value to governance boards.
- Proven ability to establish credibility with senior stakeholders where you lack direct authority, particularly in federated or matrix organisations. Experience working effectively alongside Architecture and Product functions.
- Ability to think strategically and translate product and business goals into actionable technical plans. Proven expertise in managing technical debt, platform risk, and modernisation alongside feature delivery.
Desirable
- Experience leading integration programmes across complex system landscapes, including API design, event-driven architectures, and data governance across organisational boundaries.
Further Information
What we offer: A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more. Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles. Generous pension scheme. A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel. A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks). Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role. A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes. A range of generous family-friendly policies paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies support for those going through the menopause paid time off and support for fertility treatment and more. More details can be found on our benefits page: the URL could be found on the official site. We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process. We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. Our University Vision outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.
Deputy CTO in Sheffield employer: Diversity Dashboard
The University of Sheffield is an exceptional employer that prioritises the wellbeing and development of its staff, offering a competitive benefits package including generous annual leave, flexible working arrangements, and a strong commitment to professional growth. With a vibrant work culture that celebrates diversity and fosters collaboration, employees are encouraged to contribute to meaningful projects that have a positive impact on society. Join us in a dynamic environment where your skills will be valued, and you can thrive as part of a world-class institution.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy CTO in Sheffield
✨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 Diversity Dashboard 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 Diversity Dashboard 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.
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✨Direct Apply to Diversity Dashboard
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We think you need these skills to ace Deputy CTO in Sheffield
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 Diversity Dashboard.
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 Diversity Dashboard. 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 Diversity Dashboard
✨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.
