Chief Information Technology Officer

Witt/Kieffer; City of Edinburgh, Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative research organization in the UK seeks a Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO) to lead their data and tech strategies. The CITO will establish security protocols, advise leadership on compliance, and oversee the management of sensitive research data. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in IT leadership within research or healthcare, ensuring the organization's initiatives are well-supported. This position requires occasional travel within the UK. Salary ranges from £100k to £150k annually.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior IT role, preferably in a research, academic, or healthcare setting.
• Strong understanding of research data management and privacy regulations.
• Experience leading complex IT projects and managing sensitive data.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the vision and strategy for data and technology needs.
• Ensure security, confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information assets.
• Act as a key advisor to senior leadership on data management and compliance.

Skills

Leadership in information technology

Research data management

Information security

Project management

Understanding privacy regulations

Digital health technologies

Job description

Location: Remote working – must be willing and able to travel to London, Edinburgh and elsewhere across the UK to support business needs.

Salary: £100k-£150k per annum depending on experience and qualifications

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) is a £62 million initiative, funded by UK Research and Innovation. Its aim is to generate a world-leading open science data platform and research resource through a new longitudinal population study.

The study will recruit at least 100,000 participants aged 8-18 years from across the UK and will follow their health and wellbeing for at least 10 years. This will create an unparalleled data resource for researchers worldwide, driving our understanding of this vital transition phase and how adolescent experiences impact health and wellbeing in later life.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO) will play a critical role in establishing and maintaining the vision, strategy and roadmap for the organisation’s data and technology needs. The CITO will ensure the security, confidentiality, integrity and availability of AHS’s business, research and information assets. They will procure infrastructure solutions for receiving and managing complex participant data and will lead a robust information security programme. The postholder will act as a key advisor to senior leadership on matters of data management, information security and compliance.

The successful candidate will be a leader with proven experience in a senior information technology role within a research, academic or healthcare setting. They will have a strong understanding of research data management, curation and analysis requirements, privacy regulations and digital health technologies and have been successful leading complex IT projects and managing sensitive data environments. Knowledge of trusted research environments will be essential.

This is a unique opportunity to shape a groundbreaking initiative that will transform our understanding of how young people grow and develop during adolescence – a period of significant physical, emotional and social change.

Applications should include the following:

• An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae; and
• A covering letter (of no more than two A4 pages) summarising your experience, attributes, and your view of your overall suitability for the role.

The closing date for applications is6 February 2026.