Director of Information Technology

Southbank Centre; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cultural institution in London is seeking a Director of Information Technology to lead IT strategy and operations. You will drive innovation and ensure technology aligns with the organization's goals. Ideal candidates will have expertise in enterprise architecture and cybersecurity, along with strong leadership abilities. Benefits include generous pension contributions and enhanced leave policies.

Benefits

Generous pension contributions

28 days annual leave

Enhanced sick pay

Discounts at onsite vendors

Free employee wellness programs

Qualifications

• Proven track record in IT leadership and strategy implementation.
• Strong technical knowledge across diverse sectors.
• Experience in mentoring and empowering technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a long-term IT strategy.
• Ensure best-practice cybersecurity across systems.
• Oversee IT services and infrastructure for scalability.
• Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies like AI.
• Lead data governance and compliance with GDPR.

Skills

enterprise architecture design

system optimisation

cybersecurity frameworks

cloud platforms

data analytics

AI applications

excellent communication skills

Job description

Director of Information Technology, Salary circa £100k + Benefits

Location: Southbank Centre, London
Hybrid working: 3 days per week on site

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

About Southbank Centre

Southbank Centre is Europe’s largest arts centre and the UK’s fifth most visited attraction, occupying an 11-acre site in London’s vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames. As a charity, we are committed to being bold, innovative, and relevant—creating spaces where artists and audiences come together to experience extraordinary work.

We welcome applications from everyone. By attracting people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, we continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things.

About the Role

We are seeking a Director of Information Technology to lead our IT strategy and operations, driving innovation and efficiency across the organisation. This is a hands-on leadership role for a proven technologist who thrives on both strategic vision and practical implementation.

You will lead a high performing IT team, manage budgets, and ensure our technology investments deliver maximum impact. From optimising enterprise systems to integrating emerging technologies, you will play a key role in future-proofing Southbank Centre and enabling our three strategic pillars:

1. Developing our estate as a local and global cultural destination.
2. Building an engine of creativity—connecting artists and audiences, supporting wellbeing through the arts.
3. Fostering a resilient, diverse, and skilled workforce to sustain and grow income streams.

Key Responsibilities

• IT Leadership: Develop and implement a long-term IT strategy aligned with our organisational goals.
• Cybersecurity & Risk: Ensure best-practice cybersecurity across systems and infrastructure.
• Enterprise Architecture: Oversee IT services, platforms, and infrastructure for scalability and optimisation.
• Innovation: Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies such as AI to future-ready our IT environment.
• Data Governance: Lead data access and usage evolution while ensuring compliance with GDPR.
• Team & Budget Management: Mentor and motivate IT professionals and manage operational/capital budgets effectively.

What We’re Looking For

• Expertise in enterprise architecture design and system optimisation across a variety of sectors.
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks and cloud platforms.
• Experience in data analytics, BI tools, and governance.
• A credible technology leader, with the ability to mentor and empower technical teams.
• Excellent communication skills to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders.
• Knowledge of AI applications and ability to advise on emerging tech trends.

Why Join Us?

As well as working at one of London’s most exciting cultural destinations, you’ll enjoy:

• Generous pension contributions (up to 9%) from day one.
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with buy/sell options.
• Enhanced sick pay and family leave benefits.
• Discounts at onsite retail, food, and beverage vendors.
• Staff ticket offers and free entry to Hayward Gallery.
• Reciprocal discounts with other cultural organisations.
• Free yoga sessions and 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme.

Ready to lead technology innovation at Southbank Centre?

Apply now and help us shape the future of arts and culture - https://andersonquigley.com/job/aq3388/

For more information on this exciting opportunity, please contact Grace Tattersall at [e-mail] or [phone] or Elyse Turner-Pearce at [e-mail] or [phone].