Head of IT Solution Delivery in Ashford

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Starting Salary: £78,429 (pro-rata for part-time vacancies)

Part/Full Time:Full Time

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Mon-Fri

Strategic technology leadership at the heart of modern policing

We are looking for an accomplished and forward-thinking technology leader to join our IT Senior Management Team as Head of IT Solutions. This is a highly influential role, leading the software development, application management and solutions support teams responsible for an estate of more than 500 solutions used by over 14,000 officers and staff across Kent Police and Essex Police.

The role

As Head of IT Solutions, you will provide strategic direction and leadership across the full solution lifecycle—from development and implementation through to management, support, improvement and retirement. You will ensure that critical operational and organisational systems remain functionally fit, performant, secure, resilient and centred on the needs of the people who use them.

You will be the Senior IT Lead for several major programmes that will shape the future of policing across both forces, initially including:

• Intelligent and Strategic Automation—using automation and artificial intelligence responsibly to improve services, productivity and operational outcomes.
• Enterprise Resource Management—enabling modern, efficient and integrated corporate services.
• Data Transformation—helping the forces treat data as a strategic asset and deliver trusted insights for operational and organisational decision-making.
• A broad portfolio of other operational and organisational enabling solutions that underpin effective policing every day.

Leadership and influence

As a member of the IT Senior Management Team, you will contribute to the day-to-day running and future direction of the department. You will influence technical strategy, investment and priorities; work closely with senior force stakeholders, partners and suppliers; and ensure that solutions align with local, regional and national policing requirements.

You will lead, support and inspire colleagues within your immediate remit and across the wider IT department. You will create an environment in which people can perform at their best, develop their skills and work collaboratively to deliver reliable services and meaningful change.

The role is central to delivering the forces’ agreed Digital (IT) Strategy and its aim to:

“Empower Kent Police and Essex Police through effective, user-centred, performant and secure technology that drives innovation, enhances operational excellence and transforms policing for the future.”

You will turn this ambition into practical outcomes by ensuring that our solutions provide the right functionality, strong performance and security, value for money and the best possible user experience.

What you will bring

• Significant senior leadership experience within a complex, technology-enabled organisation.
• Proven ability to engage, influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders, suppliers and partners, translating complex technical issues into clear business outcomes and recommendations
• Experience of leading substantial technology portfolios and strategic transformation programmes.
• The ability to translate organisational priorities into clear technology direction and deliverable outcomes.
• A strong understanding of software development, application management, service support and modern delivery practices.
• Confidence in managing suppliers, risk, resources and competing priorities.
• A collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the ability to build trusted relationships and inspire high-performing teams.
• A clear commitment to secure, resilient, user-centred services and continuous improvement.
• A commitment to public service values, the Police Code of Ethics and creating an inclusive working environment, promoting fairness, respect, diversity and equality in decision-making, leadership and service delivery.

This is an opportunity to lead technology services of genuine scale and public value. Your leadership will directly support officers and staff, strengthen operational capability and help transform policing for the future. If you are motivated by complex challenges, purposeful innovation, can bring value and enthusiasm to the role and want an opportunity to make a lasting difference, we would welcome your application.

We offer an inclusive and flexible working environment, you will have significant autonomy across your working day in terms of location, working to the forces’ home based working topologies and travelling to your teams across both counties and wider as your role requires.

For any questions, please contact Fiona Brown (CIO) Fiona.brown@kent.police.uk

Depending on your current vetting level and security clearances, you may be required to complete additional vetting information during the recruitment process.

Kent Police and Essex Police welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, or employment status.

Please let us know if you require extra support at any stage of the application process, or for further information regarding this position, please email us at recruitment.business.services@ecis.police.uk stating ‘Application Support and Adjustments’ in the title of your email. Alternatively, you can call us on 01245 452833. Where appropriate we will make adjustments to the selection process, working arrangements and/or the working environment provided it is reasonable in all the circumstances to do so.

If you’re not from the UK, you must be a resident in the UK and have lived here continuously for the last three years. You must also be free from restrictions with indefinite leave to remain. If you’re from the UK you must have lived here continuously for the last three years. This doesn’t apply to those serving abroad in the British Armed Forces.

Essex Police is a Disability Confident Leader, we:

• have subjected our Disability Confident self-assessment to externalchallenge and validation
• are taking an active leadership role in encouraging and helping otheremployers on their journey to becoming Disability Confident.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusionare central to the values of our organisation. At Essex Police we value and embrace the unique experiences, identities and abilities that each of us bring to our roles. We strive to empower everyone to bring their authentic self openly and safely to work.

Through the dedicated commitment of our support networks, DE&I team and wider HR departments, we are on a journey to embed our DE&I commitments, ensuring Essex Police is an employer of choice; where everyone feels included.

Essex Police and Kent Police are an equal opportunities employer. Communications may be recorded for monitoring purposes.