Head of IT

Summary of the role:

The IT department at ArtsEd provides all IT services to the entire organisation.

The Head of IT has overall responsibility for all IT infrastructure and services, coordinating support and enabling business continuity and implementing IT solutions to meet evolving business requirements.

Providing leadership, direction, and management of the IT Services within ArtsEd, so that the institution is effectively supported in their delivery of educational ambitions.

To support the Senior Leadership Board in its implementation of ArtsEd’s educationally led IT Vision, IT Strategic Plans and Technical Strategy.

To lead the management of all IT resources and contracts, ensuring optimisation. To co-ordinate all IT activities to ensure the availability of systems, services and data to all stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement the institution’s IT vision and strategy in conjunction with the Senior Leadership Board and translating it into actionable goals.
• Provide leadership direction and management to the IT team.
• Accountable for the implementation, maintenance and smooth running of all IT services in use by the organisation
• Proactive monitoring of systems performance and identifying future opportunities and challenges in the IT landscape with the overview of developing mitigating strategies where appropriate.
• Maintain systems, network, and data security.
• Act as the third line engineer and coordinate escalation to third parties where required.
• Accountable for ensuring security vulnerabilities are identified and eliminated with strategic solutions
• Identifying and recommend new network, service management and technology solutions to improve efficiency and performance
• Directing the sourcing and implementation of new software, hardware and licenses in accordance with institution policy and fiscal responsibility.
• Responsible for monitoring and managing the IT budgets and provide regular budgetary information.
• Accountable for the management of IT systems within the organisation including deployment, development, and upgrading.
• Overseeing the development and enhancement of systems and integrating new systems with existing systems.
• To manage projects and programmes and oversee associated activities.
• Formulating and implementing business continuity and disaster recovery plans
• Providing expert advice and support as needed.
• Liaising regularly with the Institution’s Executive Team and the Senior Leadership Board, as well as other stakeholders as needed.
• To lead on the development of an IT structure that develops expertise and leverages synergies across the institution.
• Procure equipment as required.
• Undertake other duties, as necessary and where appropriate.

Key Tasks

• To ensure an asset register is maintained of all IT assets and work with the Finance Team to forecast the replacement of those assets according to an agreed life cycle.
• To maintain and update the IT risk register.
• To ensure maintenance contracts are in place for critical equipment and services and those service providers are effectively managed.
• Lead the application of information technology and support associated change programmes where required, to improve the management and delivery of curriculum and corporate services; this includes helping to manage the transition from paper records to digital systems.
• Ensuring written documentation is created and maintained to include user and system manuals, license agreements and all documentation relating to modifications and upgrades

Strategic 

• Able to develop agile and scalable solutions solving various business needs.
• Review and implement policy in practise.
• Can communicate complex issues to non-technical stakeholders.
• Develop strategy in-line with the school’s strategic plan.
• Report to the Senior Leadership Board, relevant subcommittees, and the Board of Trustees.

Leadership and Management

As a leader, it is essential that the post holder act as an excellent role model for the organisation, operating in accordance with corporate values and in line with the Staff Code of Conduct. Whilst not an exhaustive list it is anticipated that this will be achieved by ensuring:

1.Communication mechanisms are in place and effectively utilised throughout all areas of functional responsibility to ensure (internally and externally):

• effective reputation management
• sound conveyance of ArtsEd’s strategic plans and performance updates to secure staff engagement
• proactive networking

2.Effective financial management is in place to ensure delivery that is:

• in line with budgetary targets
• in accordance with the Institution’s financial regulations
• in support of income generation targets
• in support of the Institution’s efficiency targets

3.Individuals and all teams are led and developed to ensure:

• promotion of a positive, inclusive ethos with a shared commitment to practicing Equality of Opportunity and a shared commitment to challenging and preventing stereotyping and prejudice
• effective utilisation of staff resource
• functional commitment to effective performance
• collaborative, cross college working

4.Functional engagement in effective self-assessment, proactive participation in and in support of quality review processes, and that the area is well represented through inspections and audit processes

5.Functional operations take a proactive approach to risk management including:

• Promotion of high standards of health, safety and welfare
• Ensuring processes and practice afford for appropriate use and safeguards to protect data
• Effective distribution of tasks and activities to ensure workloads are managed fairly, and that processes are secure and protected from abuse or neglect
• Ensuring the mutual responsibilities to safeguard staff and learners are understood by all, who are required to maintain fluency with current procedures, structures and reporting processes

To Apply for the Role

Please email a copy of your CV together with a written supportive statement based on the person specification to hr@artsed.co.uk

Please note that applications without a personal statement will not be considered