At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead IT and cybersecurity strategy, manage teams, and implement cutting-edge technologies.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company focused on innovation and operational excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, car allowance, bonus, and market-leading pension.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact by safeguarding critical systems and driving technological advancements.
- Qualifications: Proven IT leadership experience with expertise in cybersecurity and infrastructure management required.
- Other info: Onsite role in Stockport, ideal for strategic thinkers passionate about tech.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
Location: Stockport (onsite)
Package: Circa £75k + Car Allowance + Bonus + (Market Leading Pension) + Benefits
Opportunity Overview
Our client is seeking an accomplished Head of IT & Cybersecurity to lead and manage the strategic direction, security and IT infrastructure. This is a high-impact role responsible for safeguarding critical systems, driving innovation, and ensuring operational excellence across IT and cybersecurity functions. The ideal candidate will be a strong leader with technical expertise, capable of balancing security, IT performance, and team management. You will oversee internal teams, manage third-party vendors, and implement cutting-edge technologies, including AI, automation, and cloud solutions to enhance efficiency and mitigate risks.
Key Responsibilities
- Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing IT team, fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.
- Assess internal capability gaps and engage third-party experts, consultants, and managed service providers to deliver specialised solutions.
- Develop and execute a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements (ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR).
- Proactively monitor, detect, and respond to security threats, vulnerabilities, and breaches, leading incident response and forensic investigations.
- Conduct regular security audits, penetration testing, and risk assessments, implementing corrective actions to strengthen defences.
- Oversee firewalls, IDS/IPS, endpoint protection, encryption, and secure access controls to safeguard data and systems.
- Ensure compliance with data protection laws and industry best practices, maintaining robust security policies and staff training programs.
- Design, optimise, and maintain scalable, high-performance IT infrastructure, including LAN/WAN, cloud environments (Azure/AWS), and hybrid networks.
- Lead network upgrades, hardware/software deployments, and disaster recovery planning to ensure maximum uptime and resilience.
- Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies (AI, automation, zero-trust frameworks) to drive operational efficiency and cost savings.
- Identify and implement technology-driven business improvements, reducing manual processes through automation and intelligent system design.
- Partner with leadership to align IT transformation initiatives with long-term organisational goals.
- Manage ERP systems, cloud migrations, and enterprise software solutions, ensuring seamless integration and ROI.
- Negotiate and oversee vendor contracts, SLAs, and procurement, ensuring cost-effectiveness and service excellence.
Experience & Qualifications
- Proven track record in an IT leadership/management role, with expertise in cybersecurity, infrastructure, and preferably digital transformation.
- Network security (firewalls, VPNs, SIEM, zero-trust architecture).
- Cloud security (Azure, AWS, hybrid environments).
- Compliance frameworks (GDPR, ISO 27001, NIST).
- Experience managing ERP systems, IT budgets, and projects.
- Industry certifications (CISSP, CISM, CCNP, CEH, ITIL). Preferred.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate technical concepts into business value.
- Proactive problem-solver, adept at managing risks and driving continuous improvement.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, capable of influencing at board level.
- Commercial acumen, with a focus on delivering cost efficiencies and ROI.
Head of IT & Cybersecurity employer: Executive Recruit
Contact Detail:
Executive Recruit Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of IT & Cybersecurity
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the IT and cybersecurity fields. Attend industry events, webinars, or local meetups to connect with potential colleagues and leaders who can provide insights into the role and company culture.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills by sharing examples of how you've built and mentored teams in previous roles. Highlight any initiatives you've led that resulted in improved performance or innovation within your team.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on the latest trends in cybersecurity and IT infrastructure. Familiarise yourself with emerging technologies like AI and cloud solutions, as well as compliance frameworks such as ISO 27001 and GDPR, to demonstrate your expertise during discussions.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your strategic thinking abilities. Be ready to explain how you would align IT transformation initiatives with organisational goals, showcasing your understanding of both technical and business perspectives.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of IT & Cybersecurity
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in IT leadership and cybersecurity. Focus on your achievements in managing teams, implementing security strategies, and driving technological innovations.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for the role and the company. Mention specific experiences that align with the job description, such as your expertise in compliance frameworks and cloud security.
Highlight Leadership Skills: Emphasise your leadership abilities in both your CV and cover letter. Provide examples of how you've built and mentored high-performing teams, and how you've successfully managed third-party vendors.
Showcase Technical Expertise: Detail your technical skills related to network security, cloud environments, and compliance frameworks. Include any relevant certifications you hold, such as CISSP or ITIL, to strengthen your application.
How to prepare for a job interview at Executive Recruit
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of IT & Cybersecurity, demonstrating your leadership abilities is crucial. Prepare examples of how you've built and mentored high-performing teams in the past, and be ready to discuss your approach to fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.
✨Highlight Technical Expertise
Make sure to emphasise your technical knowledge in areas like network security, cloud environments, and compliance frameworks. Be prepared to discuss specific technologies you've implemented and how they contributed to operational excellence and risk mitigation.
✨Discuss Strategic Thinking
This role requires a strategic mindset. Be ready to explain how you've aligned IT initiatives with business objectives in previous roles. Share examples of how you've translated complex technical concepts into business value, showcasing your commercial acumen.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to manage risks. Think of situations where you've successfully handled security threats or led incident response efforts, and be ready to walk the interviewer through your thought process and actions.