IT Director (nexfibre) in London

nexfibre is a £4.5 billion joint venture between Infravia Capital Partners, Liberty Global and Telefónica. It has been formed to deliver ultra-fast full fibre broadband to up to 7 million homes across the UK. Together with our strategic partner Virgin Media O2, we will create the first national scale competitor to BT Openreach and will provide consumers and businesses across the UK with better innovation and choice. We operate a wholesale business model; our customers are broadband ISPs and B2B resellers and customers. We do not operate a retail broadband business.

Job Purpose

Accountable for the IT strategy and roadmap, defining the guidelines and managing the delivery of a technology stack which is fit for purpose to support the evolving business strategy. Oversee and control the IT operations developed by specialists and partners, ensuring that the technology is best supporting business activity.

Key Accountabilities

• End to end responsibility for IT programme delivery, from planning through to design, development, integration, testing, and handover; including upfront engagement in scoping new initiatives to support business strategy and delivery of enabling IT Stack and IT operations within the scope of the portfolio. Will be responsible for ensuring that projects within their area adhere to project planning principles and are successfully delivered.
• Shaping and designing the IT strategy: accountable for supporting in the definition of guidelines and control of developing all aspects of the technology stack across architecture, deployment, workflow, delivery, operations, licensing, roadmaps, and in-life operations. Update and refine business cases for costs and benefits.
• Work with VMO2, our strategic operational IT partner, to align the needs and demands from nexfibre with the VMO2 delivery roadmap. Define clear requests and priorities from nexfibre to be included in the VMO2 roadmap within the defined quarterly governance and specific demand processes. Work through the governance and propose any improvements that help a faster.
• Understand the architecture and solutions proposed by VMO2 for providing nexfibre the IT capabilities required for its operation. Analyse them and provide feedback on any additional requirements from nexfibre.
• Overseeing impact and feasibility assessments for new and future requirements that provide cost-effective technical solutions and are produced with the required quality and timelines.
• Overseeing the definition and development of standards and guidelines, documentation and deployment working practices for the IT Stack which enable effective and efficient design output and integrate with architectural, technical heritage, security, industry, legislative and health and safety requirements.
• Overseeing the IT Programme implementation: oversee multiple projects for new / updated applications, and maintain a view of what’s important for the ongoing upkeep, and improvement of IT systems, including data and security requirements. Tracking the compliance with the objectives set and ensuring that quality agreements are addressed.
• Decision Making: Show leadership and be able to make decisions that are both tactical and strategic in nature. The strategy aspects of these decisions must consider multidimensional impacts beyond the near-term delivery dates.
• Programme Leadership: Provide leadership for these programmes through formal governance roles, e.g. on steering committees, and build and maintain trusted relationships with stakeholders as required. Provide programme expertise on key activities and deliverables e.g. business cases, cost estimates, programme plans, identification and mitigation of delivery risk.
• Overseeing technology partners compliance: will ensure IT delivery contracts with partners and vendors are in compliance with SLAs and delivered in line with strategic and financial aims. Successfully manage partners and suppliers that provide IT capabilities ensuring that the defined quality, timescales and costs are delivered and continually improved on.
• Validating the operating performance of the solutions provided by VMO2 to support the nexfibre business needs.
• Managing IT budget accountability: will manage the annual IT capital and operating expense budgets and be responsible for the review, audit, and prioritisation of all IT systems and applications.
• Leading a mindset of innovation: lead to identify innovative ways to enhance the IT architecture, and offering from solution design to through deployment.

About You

At nexfibre, we’re building a culture that attracts, develops, and retains top talent. Our values are Open, Fast, Simple. Our team is driven, high-performing, and thrives in a fast-paced, ever-evolving digital infrastructure industry. We’re looking for people who share our passion for connecting communities, driving innovation, and delivering the next generation of full-fibre networks across the UK. The successful candidate will bring the following attributes and skills:

Skills & Experience

• Deep IT expertise in relevant industry: have demonstrable experience and evidence of success in a senior information management role within the telecommunications and / or wholesale business areas.
• Comfortable with leading large programmes: will be familiar with the demands of large scale IT deployment programmes and be comfortable working at pace to conduct the wide range of activity required to deliver them.
• Proven experience and skills in the management of vendors, developing risk based commercial frameworks, managing and monitoring vendors, and vendor relationship management.
• Significant proven commercial skills and experience to be able to develop and challenge costs and benefits in business cases, including resource management, financial management, and budget management.
• Able to take decisions, assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks and can make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interest of the organisation.
• Advanced interpersonal skills. Being able to relate well to others, to dictate responsibilities, to offer constructive feedback, to influence and persuade, and to support and encourage others. Finds ways to motivate the team and earn their respect in order for them to work effectively and focused on delivery outcomes – ensuring met deadlines with quality.
• Demonstrates the gravitas and courage needed to build relationships and convey authority in order to resolve conflicts and maintain direction.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and be able to think quickly and adept about how to address problems as they come up and to learn from the issues so that the same problem do not arise again.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Industry leadership: constantly scanning the market to understand technology trends and how these may be incorporated to deliver value for our business.
• Experienced in dealing / communicating with the business on IT related matters in a clear and concise manner.

Education & Qualifications

Experience of operating at a senior management level preferably in a technical or project management related role.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and bonus scheme.
• 25 days' annual leave, plus the usual 8 UK Bank Holidays.
• Bupa private healthcare coverage.
• Access to wellbeing and mental health benefits such as the WeCare app, critical illness cover, dental & optical insurance.
• Pension contribution matched up to 10%.
• Access to our car benefit scheme via Tusker and our Cycle to Work scheme.
• Virgin Media / O2 discounts and offers.

Location

We are based in Paddington. The position is full time, hybrid with a minimum 3 days based in the office. Nexfibre is an equal opportunity employer.