Head of IT and Platform Development

The Head of IT and Platform Development will take end-to-end responsibility for the technical strategy, systems architecture, platform development, deployment, and ongoing support of MES’s digital infrastructure.

This is a hands-on leadership role, ideal for someone who combines deep technical capability with strong strategic oversight and operational delivery skills. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, high-trust environment and will be instrumental in scaling our technology function to meet future growth. A significant focus of this role will be to identify and implement opportunities to embed Artificial Intelligence into our platform to enhance automation, decision-making, data processing, and client engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, deployment, and maintenance of MES’s core web-based platform, built primarily using Node.js, React.js, and PostgreSQL.
• Architect and oversee scalable cloud infrastructure using AWS (including EC2, RDS, S3, IAM, etc.).
• Spearhead the design and integration of AI-powered features into the MES platform, including automation, data analysis, document processing, and user-facing tools.
• Define and execute IT strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Manage DevOps pipelines, CI/CD processes, security controls, and performance monitoring.
• Collaborate with leadership to prioritise development roadmaps and technical investments.
• Ensure robust cybersecurity standards, data integrity, and disaster recovery protocols.
• Manage and mentor in-house developers or external contractors as the team expands.
• Oversee internal IT systems and provide strategic recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Maintain documentation, technical standards, and compliance with relevant data and financial regulations.

Key Requirements

Essential:

• Proven experience in a senior IT or development leadership role.
• Strong hands-on experience with Node.js and React.js for backend and frontend development, PostgreSQL for relational database design and optimisation and AWS services and infrastructure management.
• Familiarity with or interest in AI tools, frameworks, and APIs (e.g. LLMs, machine learning models, natural language processing).
• Deep understanding of web application architecture, security best practices, and RESTful APIs.
• Experience with deployment pipelines, Git-based version control, and issue tracking tools.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and project management skills.

Desirable:

• Experience within the financial services or regulated environments .
• Understanding of GDPR, ISO 27001, or other security/compliance frameworks.
• Prior work integrating AI features or tools into operational platforms.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to shape and lead MES’s technology roadmap from the ground up.
• A collaborative, supportive team culture that values innovation and initiative.
• Hybrid working flexibility and autonomy.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• A chance to make a meaningful impact in a company committed to digital excellence in financial services.