At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape ESco's technology strategy and multidisciplinary team.
- Company: Join an established UK business focused on innovation in publishing and charity sectors.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, extra annual leave, and your birthday off.
- Other info: Hybrid role with a modern office in a peaceful rural setting.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on technology direction in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Significant technical leadership experience and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
ESco is an established, independent UK business providing subscription, membership and supporter management services across the publishing, membership and charity sectors. As we continue to evolve and invest in our technology capability, we’re looking for an experienced Head of Technology to join our Senior Leadership Team and help shape ESco’s future technical direction. This is a senior role combining technical leadership, strategic thinking and commercial awareness. It is not a traditional, infrastructure-focused Head of IT position. We’re looking for someone who can take a broad view across software, systems, data, AI and business processes and bring these together into a clear and deliverable technology strategy.
You’ll lead a multidisciplinary technology team and work closely with senior leaders across the business. You’ll provide technical direction, shape solutions and help us make smart decisions about how technology can continue to support our clients, our people and our long-term ambitions. For the right person, this is an opportunity to have genuine ownership and influence over the technology direction of an established business at an exciting point in its development.
What you’ll do
- Develop, own and deliver ESco’s technology strategy and roadmap
- Lead, support and develop our multidisciplinary technology team
- Provide technical direction across software development, systems and the wider technology environment
- Work with colleagues across the business to translate commercial and operational priorities into effective technology solutions
- Guide and constructively challenge proposed solutions, architecture and technology choices
- Shape our approach to software development, integrations, data, cloud technologies and technical resilience, working closely with our Head of Risk and Compliance where appropriate
- Lead ESco’s AI and automation strategy, building on our existing capabilities to embed intelligent, connected and scalable solutions across our client services, systems and internal operations
- Help prioritise technology investment by balancing business value, cost, risk and long-term suitability
- Contribute technical expertise to significant client and commercial discussions
- Turn agreed plans into action and take responsibility for delivering meaningful, sustainable change
What we’re looking for
- Significant technical leadership experience within a software or technology-led environment
- Experience of leading and developing a multidisciplinary technology team
- Strong current knowledge of modern software development, architecture and engineering best practice
- A strong understanding of APIs, integrations, databases and cloud technologies
- The technical credibility to guide, support and constructively challenge experienced developers and other technology specialists
- The ability to translate complex technical thinking into clear, commercially sound decisions
- Experience of developing a technology roadmap and taking responsibility for its delivery
- A pragmatic approach to balancing technology, people, cost, security, risk and opportunity
- The confidence and experience to contribute effectively as part of a Senior Leadership Team
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to bring people with you through change
- Previous hands-on software development experience would be beneficial but is not essential. Experience within the subscription, membership, publishing or charity sectors would also be advantageous.
Just as importantly, we’re looking for someone who fits with our team and ethos. Our culture is built around being open and honest, working with integrity, being commercially minded, being passionate about what we do and working in genuine partnership. We take our work seriously, but not always ourselves!
Why ESco?
- Genuine ownership over the technology direction of an established independent business
- A place on the Senior Leadership Team
- An experienced and committed team, with the opportunity to make a visible difference
- Additional annual leave linked to length of service, plus your birthday off
- A modern, purpose-built office in a peaceful rural setting
- An Investors in People employer committed to its people and their development
The details
- Location: Wethersfield, Essex. This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office. Candidates must therefore be able to travel regularly to our rural location, which is not well served by public transport.
- Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week
- Contract: Permanent
- Salary: A competitive senior-level package, dependent on experience. Salary expectations will be discussed at the initial stage of the recruitment process.
Head of Technology in Wethersfield employer: In Publishing
ESco is an excellent employer, offering the chance to lead and shape the technology strategy of a well-established independent business in a tranquil rural setting. With a strong commitment to employee development and a culture that values openness and integrity, you will have genuine ownership over your work and the opportunity to make a significant impact within a supportive Senior Leadership Team. Enjoy additional annual leave linked to service and a modern office environment, all while being part of a passionate team dedicated to delivering meaningful change.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Technology in Wethersfield
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at In Publishing or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to In Publishing.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like In Publishing.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like In Publishing that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Technology in Wethersfield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at In Publishing.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at In Publishing and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at In Publishing
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If In Publishing uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
