At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead IT disaster recovery and continuity efforts to keep our university running smoothly.
- Company: Join UEA, a forward-thinking university focused on digital enhancement and resilience.
- Benefits: Enjoy 44 days annual leave, flexible working options, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Access to personal development resources and a vibrant campus community.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the university's digital infrastructure and service excellence.
- Qualifications: Significant experience in IT disaster recovery and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 66535 - 66535 £ per year.
Head of IT Disaster Recovery & Continuity (ALC1629)
Salary up to £66,535 per annum, dependent on skills and experience.
- Vacancy type: Indefinite
- Function: Management and Senior Administrative (ALC)
About the Role
IT and Computing Services. Head of IT Disaster Recovery & Continuity. Ref: ALC1629. Salary up to £66,535 per annum, dependent on skills and experience.
Make UEA more resilient, lead the recovery capability that keeps learning, teaching and research running.
We’re hiring a Head of IT Disaster Recovery & Continuity to build and lead our university-wide ITDR capability: policy and governance, assured recovery plans, end‑to‑end testing, Saa S assurance, and the dashboards that give leaders confidence in our resilience.
You’ll work across ITCS and the wider university, shaping roadmaps that align with business RTO/RPOs and our Digital Strategy.
- Impact you’ll have
- Establish and chair the ITDR governance group, set policy & lifecycle, define roles, and maintain recovery dashboards/heatmaps and risk registers.
- Align IT recovery to business BIAs, validate RTO/RPOs, communicate capabilities/constraints, and drive risk acceptance or remediation where gaps exist.
- Define and socialise failure modes (incl. cyber and data‑centre scenarios), scope what we will/won’t recover from, and embed this into testing and plans.
- Orchestrate an ITDR testing programme and build recoverability into change, incident and risk processes.
Oversee Saa S recovery assurance and cloud concentration risk, integrating supplier evidence into continuity reporting.
- What you’ll bring
- Significant enterprise‑scale experience across ITDR/BCM and broad technologies (applications, data, networks, infra, security, service management).
- Proven leadership: governance, stakeholder engagement, vendor management, ITIL best practice; ability to translate complex risk and recovery topics for non‑technical leaders.
- Strength in analysis, change and business case development; confident setting RTO/RPO with the business and evidencing them through testing.
- (Nice to have) ISO 22301, CBCP, CISSP, TOGAF/SABSA; HE sector familiarity.
- Why UEA, why now
UEA’s Digital Strategy aims to optimise organisational development through digital enhancement (Aim 4) and strengthen our digital infrastructure & capabilities (Aim 5).
This role is pivotal to secure‑by‑design operations and service excellence across a digitally connected campus.
This full‑time post is available on an indefinite basis.
UEA offers a variety of flexible working options and encourages applications from individuals who would prefer a flexible working pattern including annualised hours, compressed working hours, part time, job share, term‑time only and/or hybrid working.
Benefits include
- 44 days annual leave inclusive of Bank Holidays and University Customary days (pro rata for part‑time).
- Family and Work‑life balance policies including hybrid working and considerable maternity, paternity, shared parental leave and adoption leave.
- Generous pension scheme with life cover for dependants, plus incapacity cover.
- Health and
Wellbeing: discounted access to Sportspark facilities, relaxation rooms, 320 acres of rolling parkland, wellbeing walks, Wellbeing Ambassador network, on‑campus medical centre including NHS Dentist, Occupational Health and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
- Campus Facilities: Sportspark, library, nursery, supermarket, post office, bars and catering outlets.
- Exclusive shopping discounts to help cut the cost of household bills, childcare salary sacrifice scheme, Cycle to Work scheme and public transport discounts.
- Personal Development: unlimited access to Linked In Learning courses, specialist advice and training from our Organisational Development and Professional Learning Team.
The University holds an Athena Swan Silver Institutional Award in recognition of our advancement towards gender equality.
Further Information
For further information, including the Job Description and Person Specification, please see the attached Candidate Brochure.
For an informal discussion about the post please contact Steve Kirkvia email Stephen. P. Kirk@uea. ac. uk.
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Head of IT Disaster Recovery & Continuity (ALC1629) in Norwich employer: UEA
UEA is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation in wildlife biology and microbiome research. With flexible working arrangements, generous benefits such as 34 days of annual leave, and a strong focus on personal development, employees are empowered to grow their skills while contributing to meaningful scientific advancements. Located in a vibrant academic community, UEA provides unique opportunities for collaboration and engagement with leading researchers in the field.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of IT Disaster Recovery & Continuity (ALC1629) in Norwich
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what UEA values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges UEA might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
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Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at UEA!
✨Direct Apply to UEA
Let's not forget to apply directly through the UEA website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of IT Disaster Recovery & Continuity (ALC1629) in Norwich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at UEA.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at UEA. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at UEA
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
