Head of Digital Solutions

Canterbury Christ Church University; Canterbury; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A modern UK university seeks a Head of Digital Solutions to lead and transform its digital infrastructure. The role requires expertise in enterprise IT leadership, with responsibilities that include strategic oversight, technology alignment, and team development. Candidates should have significant experience in digital transformations and be skilled at integrating technology with university needs. This is an opportunity to influence the technological future of the university with competitive benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Occupational pension scheme

Access to university facilities

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in leadership of digital transformations.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into strategic direction.
• Experience in collaborating across design, architecture, and delivery teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for digital solutions at the university.
• Align technology strategy with service design and enhance user experience.
• Oversee the architecture and design of scalable, secure digital solutions.
• Drive infrastructure modernization with a focus on efficiency and security.

Skills

Enterprise-scale IT leadership

Digital transformation

Collaboration

Technical governance

Data architecture

Cyber security

Job description

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Are you a visionary digital leader ready to shape the technological future of a modern UK university? We're seeking a Head of Digital Solutions to lead the design, development and delivery of the University's digital infrastructure, ensuring our systems, platforms and services empower staff and students alike.

As a senior leader within our IT & Digital Directorate, you'll define how our technology landscape evolves - from cloud strategy and data integration to end user computing, networks and enterprise systems. You'll bring together people, processes, and technology to create a cohesive, secure and future-ready digital environment.

What You'll Do:

• Provide strategic leadership for the university's digital solutions, working with the Director of Digital Architecture to define a clear vision and roadmap for our digital platforms, networks, systems, and cloud services.
• Align technology with service design, collaborating closely with our Digital Design team to ensure our IT solutions enhance user experience and unlock opportunities through innovation and emerging technologies.
• Oversee architecture and design, ensuring that our digital solutions are scalable, secure, and sustainable, supporting long-term institutional goals.
• Lead and develop a talented team, fostering a culture of innovation, learning, and collaboration while ensuring resources are effectively prioritised and managed.
• Drive infrastructure modernisation, adopting modern, efficient, and secure approaches to cloud, networking, and systems management.
• Champion integration and interoperability, ensuring our systems work seamlessly together, enabling better data flow, automation, and insight across the university.
• Provide strong technical governance, embedding standards, security, and resilience across all digital solutions.
• Shape and support digital projects, ensuring internal and external teams deliver high-quality, sustainable outcomes aligned with our design principles and strategic objectives.

About You

You're an experienced technology leader who understands how to balance strategic vision with hands‑on delivery. You have deep knowledge of digital infrastructure, enterprise systems and cloud technologies, and you know how to lead multidisciplinary teams through transformation and growth. You're just as comfortable discussing data architecture and cyber security as you are engaging stakeholders to shape shared digital goals.

You'll be someone who:

• Brings substantial experience in enterprise‑scale IT or digital transformation leadership.
• Understands the power of collaboration between design, architecture, and delivery teams.
• Can translate complex technical concepts into clear, strategic direction.
• Thrives in a university or complex public‑sector environment, aligning digital capabilities to organisational purpose.

Why Join Us?

At Canterbury Christ Church University, we're investing in our digital future - modernising our infrastructure, improving digital experiences and unlocking the potential of data and technology to transform how we work, teach and learn. You'll join a forward‑looking team with the autonomy to shape meaningful change, working in a supportive environment that values innovation, creativity and people.

If you're ready to lead a capable team and make a lasting impact on the digital foundations of a university community, we'd love to hear from you.

Flexible & Connected Working

We are committed to supporting flexible methods of working wherever possible. Campus attendance will vary on a day‑to‑day basis and across the year, but must purposefully align to the needs of our students, staff, and stakeholders. It is expected that there will be a relatively even balance between time spent on and off campus, but in most cases the work location will be determined by the service required or the tasks/activities being undertaken.

How to Apply

Start date for applications: Tuesday 14th October
Closing date for applications: Friday 31st October
Interviews are to be held: TBC- November 2025

If you require further information regarding the post please feel free to contact Andrew Chenery, ([e-mail]) (strictly no agencies, thank you) quoting reference number REQ05890.

A full application including a cover letter detailing your experience alongside a CV is required for applications to be considered.

Please note, Canterbury Christ Church University reserve the right to bring the closing date of this position forward where a high volume of applications is received.

Benefits of Working at CCCU

Canterbury Christ Church University is located in the world famous Cathedral city amongst stunning history and heritage. Canterbury is a thriving international destination, with many students and staff choosing to study and work here, making this historic, cosmopolitan city vibrant and culturally diverse.

Our staff enjoy competitive salaries and a great working environment with a number of benefits ranging from the occupational pension scheme to use of the University's facilities including the library and fitness centre. We are strongly committed to equality and recognise the value of a diverse workforce.

We offer generous holiday entitlements plus eight bank and public holidays, as well as discretionary days over the Christmas period.

Additional Information

Canterbury Christ Church University truly welcomes fresh perspectives and new voices. We want you to bring the real you to work, so we are committed to building a genuinely inclusive working environment where everyone is welcomed and where everyone can have a true sense of belonging. Our spirit of community will help us to eliminate discrimination and will enable us all to thrive in a culture that is underpinned by fairness and justice. We therefore seek people to join us who will proactively support and shape this aim and contribute in their own unique way. If this is you, then we are waiting to hear from you. #yourCCCU

Our University is deeply committed to shaping sustainable futures as a key part of its mission and values. If you share this passion, we encourage you to join us in making CCCU a more socially and environmentally conscious, sustainable place to study and work

Employment Visa Clarification: According to the UK Government Points Based System, this position does not fulfil the requirements for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route application.

Please ensure you include contact details of two employment referees in your application, one of which must be your current/ most recent line manager.

Please note applications must be made online via the University website; details sent directly via email cannot be considered.

Prior consideration will be given to applicants in the University's redeployment pool. No agencies, thank you.

For more information about this role, please view the job description via the attachments link above.

Location: Canterbury, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1QU