IT Director in Cheltenham

Set and deliver the technology vision that keeps Ecctis secure, scalable and ready for the future.

Ecctis Ltd is the UK’s trusted authority on international qualifications and skills.

We are a leading provider of solutions and services in international qualifications recognition, credential evaluation and global education systems.

We work with governments, institutions and individuals across the globe to provide trusted, research-based advice and digital services.

Overview

We are seeking an experienced IT leader to set and deliver our technology vision, driving secure, scalable and innovative digital services for a global audience.

Reporting to the COO, you will oversee infrastructure, cloud environments, enterprise applications, cybersecurity and development governance, ensuring alignment with business goals, compliance standards and stakeholder expectations.

This role is pivotal in ensuring our digital operations are efficient, secure, scalable and aligned with business goals and regulatory requirements.

You will lead a talented IT and Development team, foster a culture of innovation and security awareness, and act as a trusted advisor to the Executive Leadership Team on technology trends and risks.

Key responsibilities

• Strategic leadership
• Develop and execute the IT and information security strategy in alignment with the organisation’s overall strategic objectives.
• Lead digital transformation initiatives and promote innovation across business systems and platforms, including AI, automation and data analytics strategy.
• Stay abreast of the latest technologies and trends, acting as a key advisor to the Executive Leadership Team on IT and cybersecurity risks, trends and investments.
• Drive technology initiatives to support the organisation’s success.
• Support development of the Ecctis strategy and Annual Operating Plans to ensure successful delivery.
• IT operations management
• Oversee the delivery, maintenance and security of internal IT infrastructure, networks, applications, cloud environments, systems and services.
• Ensure high system availability, performance and support for a hybrid workforce.
• Manage IT budgets, resource planning, technical and system roadmaps, procurement and vendor management.
• Information security and compliance
• Establish and maintain robust cybersecurity policies, procedures and frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with relevant data protection laws, including UK GDPR, ISO standards, including ISO/IEC 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus and industry best practice.
• Lead incident response planning, security audits, risk assessments and remediation efforts.
• Represent Ecctis in external audits and compliance reviews.
• Development
• Set the strategic direction for software development.
• Ensure development efforts align with the organisation’s overall business objectives.
• Oversee the software development lifecycle to ensure timely, budget-compliant and high-quality delivery.
• Team leadership
• Lead and develop a high-performing IT and Development team, promoting continuous learning and innovation.
• Foster a culture of security awareness across the business through training and stakeholder engagement.
• Governance and reporting
• Prepare and present regular reports on IT performance, risks and project outcomes to the Board and senior management.

Essential experience and skills

• Proven experience in a senior IT leadership role, including managing information security functions and building and scaling teams.
• In-depth knowledge of IT infrastructure, cloud services, enterprise applications, development and security technologies.
• In-depth knowledge of Agile, SDLC, ITIL and COBIT frameworks.
• Strong understanding of data protection regulations, information security standards and cyber risk management.
• Demonstrable experience leading digital transformation and systems integration projects.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM, ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Implementer or Auditor, or similar.
• Experience working in regulated, public sector or educational environments.

Please note : All applicants must hold a current permit or visa showing their right to work in the UK.

This role profile is intended to give an overall indication of the duties and responsibilities of this role but is not exhaustive and the job holder may be asked to perform other duties, which reasonably align with the general remits of their role and level of responsibility.

As an Employee Ownership Trust, we do things a little differently from some other organisations.

Every one of our employees has a voice and our people are highly motivated and committed.

Our structure allows for our combined success as an organisation to be shared equitably across the Company.

The trust is indirect, meaning that eligible employees are not shareholders directly, however they are held ‘in-trust’ by the Trust’s Board of Directors.

EDI statement

Ecctis Ltd is committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity and connectedness.

The core of our work involves working internationally with individuals all over the globe with different backgrounds.

In recruiting for our organisation, Ecctis Ltd is an Equal Opportunities Employer, and welcomes the unique contributions you can bring; therefore, we specifically welcome applicants of all backgrounds, regardless of race, including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin, sex or gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, or disability.

We recruit purely on merit and skills.

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