Chief Information Officer | Technology Transformation | Major UK Care Organisation in Slough

We're very proud to be a retained search partner for a major UK care organisation to appoint its first true Chief Information Officer. This is a high-impact transformation role with board-level visibility, executive sponsorship and a genuine mandate to modernise technology across a complex, mission-led organisation.

The successful candidate will inherit a diverse technology estate and lead a multi-year transformation programme focused on integration, digitisation, data, AI and operational effectiveness. There are good platforms already in place and meaningful investment underway. However, there are also legacy systems that need replacing, integration challenges that need solving and opportunities to create far greater alignment between technology investment and operational outcomes.

The organisation is looking for a technology leader who can bring clarity, direction and execution to this journey. This is not a role for someone who wants to sit above the detail. They need a CIO who is comfortable rolling up their sleeves, leading from the front and taking ownership of delivery. You'll be expected to set the strategy, but also help make it happen. Working closely with your team, suppliers and operational stakeholders, you'll drive programmes forward, solve problems, remove obstacles and ensure investment translates into tangible business outcomes.

• Define and deliver the long-term technology strategy and roadmap
• Drive integration across care, rostering, HR, payroll and finance platforms
• Reduce technical debt and improve operational resilience
• Progress digital transformation initiatives across frontline services
• Shape the practical application of AI, automation and assistive technology
• Build stronger data foundations, governance and supplier partnerships

Based in either London or the Midlands, with the ability to travel regularly across the UK as required.

The key filter for this role is not sector experience. It is the nature and scale of the problems you have solved. The strongest candidates will be able to say:

• "I inherited a fragmented technology estate operating across a complex organisation."
• "I made the difficult decisions around architecture, integration, modernisation and investment priorities."
• "I delivered meaningful change while maintaining business continuity and bringing non-technical stakeholders with me."

That experience is highly transferable. Whether your background sits within care, housing, logistics, financial services, professional services, education or another operationally complex environment, the underlying challenge is often the same. If you have successfully led that type of transformation before, this role is likely to resonate.

• Proven experience leading enterprise-wide technology transformation in complex UK organisations
• Strong technology strategy, enterprise applications and systems integration expertise
• Experience modernising legacy estates and delivering large-scale change programmes
• Ability to influence at board and executive level
• Strong stakeholder management skills across operational and non-technical audiences
• A collaborative, low-ego leadership style with a strong bias towards delivery
• Experience managing significant technology budgets and investment programmes
• Knowledge of AI, automation, data strategy and modern digital operating models

Roles like this do not come along often. This is not a steady-state CIO position focused on maintaining existing systems. It is a genuine transformation mandate with the backing, visibility and investment required to make a lasting impact. You'll have:

• Direct partnership with the executive team and board
• Significant influence over technology strategy and investment decisions
• The opportunity to modernise a complex technology estate
• Strong organisational appetite for change
• The chance to improve services that directly impact people's lives
• A highly visible transformation programme with long-term significance

Most importantly, this is an opportunity to leave something better than you found it. If you're the type of technology leader who thrives in complexity, enjoys building consensus around change and wants to see a direct connection between technology decisions and real-world outcomes, we'd welcome a confidential conversation.