Head of Applications

OFG Education; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

OFG Education is seeking an experienced Head of Applications in Manchester to own the group-wide enterprise application estate and integration capabilities. You will lead a team of Application Managers and Integration Engineers, bridging technology and business priorities to deliver secure, reliable, and cost-effective solutions.

Reporting to the Chief Architect, you will drive vendor governance, multi-site roadmaps, and stakeholder communications, ensuring alignment with school MIS systems and

Qualifications

• Experience leading IT applications in education.
• Ability to align technology with business goals.
• Strong vendor and contract management capabilities.
• Experience with low-code automation tools (Power Automate).
• Knowledge of MIS platforms (iSAMS, Arbor, Bromcom, SIMS).

Responsibilities

• Own the Group Application portfolio with clear ownership and lifecycle roadmaps.
• Conduct landscape reviews for system rationalisation and investments.
• Oversee acquisition and deployment of new applications with procurement.
• Lead the Integration function and Power Automate workflows.
• Define designs, data flows and support models for projects.
• Manage relationships with application and integration suppliers.

Skills

Education sector IT leadership

Enterprise application leadership

Vendor governance

Stakeholder management

Low-code automation

Education

ITIL v4 / PRINCE2 / Agile certifications

Tools

iSAMS

Power Automate

Job description

In 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the sixth year running

Title: Head of Applications

Location: Manchester (Hybrid - Occasional UK and world-wide travel may be required)

Salary: £65,000 per annum

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Please note: UK applicants only | No sponsorship available

About Us

At OFG Education, we believe every student deserves an education designed around who they are. Through high expectations, deep expertise and truly personalised education, we help students realise their potential and prepare for successful futures.

Building on more than 20 years of experience, we are bringing our approach to more students and communities around the world. Across the UK, Iberia and the Gulf, our schools combine the strength, expertise and high standards of an international education group with the individuality of each school and the communities they serve.

Whatever your role, joining OFG Education means contributing to our shared ambition: empowering every student to succeed through truly personalised education.

About the Role

We're looking for an experienced, commercially minded Head of Applications to join our growing Group IT team.

Reporting directly to the Chief Architect, this is a high-visibility, impactful role where you will take strategic ownership of our group-wide enterprise application estate and integration capabilities. Leading a team of Application Managers and Integration Engineers, you will bridge the gap between technology and business priorities, ensuring our applications remain secure, reliable, supportable, and cost-effective.

We’re looking for a proactive, strategic tech leader who excels at vendor management, team development, multi-site application roadmapping, and translating complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders to deliver sustainable change.

What You'll Be Doing

• Own the Group Application portfolio, ensuring clear technical/business ownership, support models, data classifications, and lifecycle roadmaps.
• Conduct landscape reviews to identify opportunities for system rationalization, remediation, retirement, or investment.
• Work with project teams to assess business requirements for new applications before procurement begins.
• Oversee implementations, upgrades, releases, migrations, and decommissioning.
• Lead the Integration function, ensuring solutions and Power Automate workflows are designed, developed, monitored, and supported to approved architecture standards.
• Ensure projects produce proportionate designs, data flow diagrams, and support models.
• Manage operational relationships with strategic application and integration suppliers, overseeing service reviews and contract renewals.
• Contribute to budget setting, forecasting, and commercial negotiation to actively manage software licensing and platform costs.
• Lead, mentor, and build a capable team of Application Managers and Integration Engineers.
• Define and report on service KPIs, operational risks, application availability, and incident trends.

About You

You’ll be a seasoned technology leader who thrives in complex multi-site environments and enjoys aligning technical capabilities with business goals.

Essential Experience & Skills:

• Education Sector Experience: Proven track record in an IT or Application Leadership role within the Education sector (e.g., Independent Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, or FE/HE).
• Core Systems: Strategic or operational experience overseeing school Management Information Systems (MIS), specifically iSAMS (or equivalent enterprise MIS platforms like Arbor, Bromcom, or SIMS).
• Application Leadership: Significant experience leading enterprise application support, business systems, or integration engineering teams.
• Commercial & Vendor Governance: Strong track record in supplier negotiation, contract due diligence, and software cost/licensing control.
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical and commercial concepts for non-technical leadership.
• Experience with low-code automation tools, specifically Microsoft Power Automate.
• Exposure to complementary education technology tools (e.g., CPOMS, assessment platforms, or SEN tracking software).
• ITIL v4, PRINCE2, or Agile certifications.
• Experience driving software integrations between core school MIS and central enterprise HR/Finance systems

What You'll Bring

• A collaborative and strategic approach to technology governance.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong technical acumen balanced with commercial awareness.
• A genuine passion for using technology to improve outcomes for young people.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS check.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of suitable applications is received. Outcomes First Group is committed to a fair, thorough, and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. While we aim to keep applicants informed, we do not accept liability for any loss of earnings or costs incurred due to delays or changes in compliance processes. All stages are subject to safeguarding checks and statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.