Head of Corporate IT, Security & Audit

Business area and team

The Corporate IT department plays a critical role in managing, maintaining and strategically evolving the technology ecosystem which underpins our rapidly growing business. The department is focused on ensuring a modern, secure, and reliable technology estate is in place, which is aligned to our business needs, ultimately driving an exceptional employee experience to facilitate efficiency, collaboration, and client success.

The Role

The Head of Corporate IT, Security & Audit plays a critical role in our organization, providing strategic leadership and direction for all Information Technology (IT) functions. You will be responsible for overseeing the entire IT infrastructure, ensuring its smooth operation, security, and alignment with our overall business goals.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Strategic IT Leadership:
• Develop and implement a comprehensive IT strategy aligned with the organization’s overall business objectives.
• Identify and prioritize IT initiatives that drive innovation, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
• Stay up to date on emerging technologies and assess their potential impact on the organization.
• Advise senior management on IT investments and resource allocation.
• IT Infrastructure Management:
• Oversee the entire IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, storage, security systems, and software applications.
• Ensure the availability, performance, scalability, security, audit, and information security across of all the IT systems.
• Develop and implement IT policies, procedures, and standards.
• Manage and monitor IT vendors and service providers.
• IT Team Leadership:
• Lead, motivate, and mentor a high-performing IT team.
• Recruit, hire, and develop talented IT professionals.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation within the IT department.
• Manage IT team performance and ensure accountability for meeting objectives.
• Security Governance and Risk Management:
• Develop and manage information security audit and assurance programs.
• Assess the security of third parties and vendors.
• Implement risk management strategies to mitigate threats.
• Manage vulnerability scanning and penetration testing cycles.
• Engage with prospects or clients as needed on security engagements.
• Audit Reporting and Compliance
• Ensure continuous compliance in necessary ISO and SOC audits
• Build robust audit reports for senior management and external parties
• Ensure adherence to security standards and best practices.
• Project Management:
• Lead and manage the implementation of major IT projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and meet all project requirements.
• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, and budgets.
• Manage project risks and dependencies.
• Communication and Collaboration:
• Communicate effectively with all levels of management and staff regarding IT initiatives, policies, and procedures.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure IT solutions align with business needs.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders across the organization.

Key Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (Master’s degree a plus).
• 10+ years of experience in a progressive IT leadership role.
• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful IT strategies.
• Strong understanding of IT infrastructure, including networks, security (information security), and various software applications.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in project management methodologies.

Required Education and Experience

• Understanding of the organisation’s business goals: IT initiatives should align with and support the overall business objectives. An IT Director should have a strong grasp of the organization’s mission and strategic direction.
• Translating business needs into IT solutions: Effectively bridging the gap between business requirements and the development of technological solutions is a key responsibility.
• Budget management: Experience in managing IT budgets effectively, allocating resources strategically, and justifying IT investments to leadership is essential.
• ITIL/ITSM: experience (ideally certification) in ITIL best practices/implementation
• Audit: information security experience aligned to ISO27001 and SOC 2
• Supplier Management: experience in contract & supplier management