Head of Digital Systems Development

First Choice Homes Oldham; Oldham; Hybrid; GBP 73,000; Full time

Job summary

A housing association in Oldham is seeking a Head of Digital Systems Development to lead the digital transformation and ensure technology aligns with strategic goals. Your role includes managing an IT team, enhancing service delivery, and implementing innovative solutions. The ideal candidate has significant senior management experience, strong leadership skills, and a passion for technology. The role offers a competitive salary and hybrid working options.

Benefits

Competitive salary £73,000 per annum

37-hour working week with hybrid working options

30 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Defined contribution pension scheme

Healthcare cash plan

Private health insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted gym membership

Qualifications

• Significant experience working at senior management level successfully leading an IT team.
• Proven experience managing technology and system changes within a complex organisation.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational delivery of the Digital Systems team, providing guidance and support.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and collaboration.
• Ensure robust service levels and performance standards are achieved.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Problem-solving

Strategic thinking

Customer service focus

Tools

NEC housing systems

Housing mobile applications

Scheduling systems

Job description

Head of Digital Systems Development

Location: Oldham, Hybrid.

Reporting to: Director of Digital and Technology

Responsible for: ICT Systems Development and Systems Service Delivery Teams.

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) have a fantastic opportunity for a Head of Digital Systems Development to lead and shape the future of our digital systems, ensuring our technology enables us to deliver outstanding services for our customers and colleagues.

This is a full time, hybrid role where you’ll split your time between home and our friendly and collaborative office in the centre of Oldham.

The impact you’ll make

In this role, you’ll provide leadership and direction to the our Systems Teams, ensuring high performance, strong governance, and continuous improvement. You’ll oversee technical change delivery and ensure systems and processes are resilient, efficient, and aligned to FCHO’s strategic goals.

You’ll also play a key role in delivering our Digital and Technology Strategy, supporting transformation and innovation across the organisation while fostering a positive, collaborative culture where colleagues are inspired to perform at their best.

You will :

• Lead the operational delivery of the Digital Systems team, providing guidance and support as needed.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and collaboration across teams and departments.
• Ensure robust service levels and performance standards are achieved and maintained.
• Execute the Digital and Technology Strategy, supporting business needs and the delivery of the Corporate Plan.
• Identify and implement innovative solutions that maximise return on investment and improve business performance.
• Partner with the Project Management Team to ensure projects are effectively supported and aligned with business requirements.
• Foster a proactive, can-do team culture focused on delivering excellent customer service and outcomes.
• Contribute to strategic decision-making, ensuring alignment with FCHO’s Corporate Plan.

Our ideal candidate

You’re an authentic, credible, and experienced digital leader with the technical expertise and people skills to deliver meaningful change. You’ll bring strategic thinking, resilience, and a passion for innovation, alongside a strong customer service focus.

You will have :

• Significant experience working at senior management level successfully leading an IT team.
• Proven experience managing technology and system changes within a complex organisation.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to inspire, motivate and develop teams.
• A track record of delivering large-scale technical or digital projects.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving capability, with a risk-aware mindset.
• Experience working in the Housing Sector with Housing management systems including NEC housing, housing mobile applications and scheduling systems.

Why Join FCHO?

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) is a housing association providing safe, affordable, and high-quality homes across Oldham and the surrounding areas. We own and manage over 11,500 properties and have the highest regulatory (G1 / V1) Governance rating. Every day, we’re proud to make a real difference in our communities.

Our work is guided by our Big Plan , focused on providing homes we’re proud of, supporting people to thrive, and creating a great place to work. We care deeply about our customers, our colleagues, and our communities and we’re committed to delivering services we can be proud of while improving the lives of people across Oldham.

We need great people to work with us - it’s an exciting time to join as we work towards out big ambitions, supporting the growth and prosperity of our local region.

What’s in it for you?

We offer a fantastic range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance and career development:

• Competitive salary £73,000 per annum
• 37-hour working week with hybrid working options
• 30 days’ annual leave plus one company shutdown day and 8 bank holidays
• Option to purchase additional annual leave
• Defined contribution pension scheme (up to 10% employer contribution)
• Death in service benefit
• Healthcare cash plan covering dental, optical, and physiotherapy treatments
• Private health insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offering 24-hour confidential support
• 24/7 worldwide GP access through Doctorline
• Access to our colleague benefits platform for discounts and wellbeing tools
• Discounted gym membership
• Professional subscriptions paid (where essential for the role)
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and sick pay
• On-site wellbeing room and café
• Long Service Awards

Interested?

If you’re ready to lead the digital future of FCHO and make a real difference through technology, we’d love to hear from you.

Please submit your application before 25 / 11 / 2025

Inclusion and accessibility

We are committed to building an organisation that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills & are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. As an equal opportunities employer, FCHO is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective colleagues and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us.

We care that you have a great experience with us at FCHO and if you need us to make any reasonable adjustments to make your experience smoother, please let us know & we’ll do all we can.