IT Manager

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £36,000 - £40,000 per annum, pro rata depending on experience (based on a full-time equivalent salary of £45,000 - £50,000)

Hours: Part-time, 30 hours per week

Location: Hybrid working with a minimum of one day per week at our Putney, London (SW15) office plus regular travel to our services across London and the Midlands.

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, achieve their potential and have a bright future. St Christopher's is a leading children's charity with a long history of providing high-quality fostering services, children's homes and innovative leaving care support across the UK. Everything we do is centred around helping children and young people build brighter futures. We are particularly committed to supporting those who cannot remain with their families or foster carers, ensuring they have the opportunities, stability and support they deserve. We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ages and faiths. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced IT Manager to oversee and develop our IT infrastructure, ensuring our systems remain secure, reliable and fit for the needs of the charity. Following a significant organisational structural change, you will have the opportunity to input into a review of the IT resourcing and will support the implementation of any resulting changes. You will be responsible for maintaining and improving our IT and communications infrastructure while delivering an excellent service to colleagues across the organisation. Working closely with your team, external managed service provider and stakeholders, you'll ensure technology enables our staff to provide the best possible support to children and young people. This is a varied role combining operational oversight, supplier management, cyber security, infrastructure management and service delivery.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Managing and developing the organisation's IT infrastructure across multiple UK sites.
• Ensuring colleagues have reliable IT equipment, connectivity and systems to work effectively.
• Supporting technology that enables young people in our homes to safely access education, communication and online services.
• Leading the IT helpdesk to deliver an excellent customer-focused support service.
• Maintaining robust cyber security, disaster recovery and business continuity arrangements.
• Managing IT budgets and ensuring value for money from suppliers and technology investments.
• Supporting ICT projects and driving continuous improvement across the organisation.
• Providing occasional out-of-hours support for critical ICT incidents.

Our IT Environment:

You'll oversee and support an established Microsoft-based infrastructure including:

• Windows Server (physical and virtual VMware environments, to be retired)
• Hybrid Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD migration)
• Windows 10/11 laptops and desktops
• Multi-site WAN infrastructure across the UK
• Microsoft 365, including Exchange Online and SharePoint
• WatchGuard firewalls
• DrayTek routers and web filtering
• Unifi network switches
• Mimecast email security and archiving
• 3CX VoIP telephony (currently under review)
• Third-party applications including ADP, Raiser's Edge, ClearCare, Charms, Access Finance and SolarWinds Service Desk

About You

We are looking for someone who combines strong technical expertise with excellent leadership and communication skills. You should have:

• Experience managing an IT department or IT infrastructure.
• Experience administering Active Directory (on-premises), Microsoft 365 and Azure, including Exchange.
• Experience managing multi-site IT environments and WAN connectivity.
• Knowledge of business continuity, disaster recovery and cyber security best practice.
• Experience managing an IT helpdesk, ideally using SolarWinds or a similar service desk platform.
• Experience leading and developing staff.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience managing IT budgets and delivering value for money.
• A flexible approach with the ability to travel occasionally to services across London and the Midlands, and provide out-of-hours support for critical ICT incidents when required.

What we Offer

• Competitive salary: £36,000 - £40,000 per annum.
• A friendly working environment at a values-led charitable organisation.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.
• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.
• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK both in store and online.
• Discretionary funded training programs for you to explore and attain new and relevant skills.
• Employee awards based on performance and length of service.

How to Apply

To apply, please complete our application form along with a supporting statement outlining how you meet the criteria listed in the Person Specification. Please note that applications without a supporting statement will not be considered. Please note we review applications as they are received, so early application is encouraged.

Safer Recruitment

St Christopher's is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be subject to thorough screening, including DBS checks. Please note that it is against the law to apply for work with Children/Young People if you are barred from working in Regulated Activity and if your name is added to a Children Barred List. All shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.