Head of Information and Communication Technology Operations

Consult; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service pension (30%)

Generous benefits

Job summary

Security Industry Authority seeks a hands-on Head of ICT Operations for a pivotal Digital Change Programme. The role is a fixed-term contract (9–12 months) based in London or Manchester with hybrid working (two days in the office).

You will lead a 10–12 strong team, own Service Desk, Cloud & Infrastructure, and M365, and ensure secure, resilient ICT services during transformation. You will manage suppliers, oversee an operational budget of £4–5m, and drive cybersecurity, risk, and data

Qualifications

• Senior operational leadership experience in ICT/IT
• Strong track record of leading technology teams
• Excellent stakeholder management and supplier governance

Responsibilities

• Oversee ICT operations including Service Desk, Cloud & Infrastructure, and M365 to ensure secure, resilient, and user-focused services.
• Lead cybersecurity, risk management and compliance across the ICT estate; manage budgets and SLAs.
• Drive the Digital Change Programme during a major transformation and stand up new Manchester office services.
• Manage outsourced suppliers, release/deployment management, incident/change/problem processes.
• Champion service management discipline and alignment with Data & Digital Strategy.
• Support governance, budget of c.£4–5m and ensure value-for-money across initiatives.

Job description

Head of ICT Operations

Fixed-Term Contract (9–12 months)

£70,001 plus generous Civil Service pension (30%) and other benefits

London or Manchester (hybrid working, 2 days per week in the office)

We're looking for a hands-on technology leader to take charge of ICT operations during a pivotal period of digital change at the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

The SIA is in the middle of an ambitious Digital Change Programme, and we need an outstanding technology leader to make sure our operations do more than keep pace. We want them to lead the way.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Technology, Data & AI, the Head of ICT Operations will lead a talented team of 10–12 technologists. You’ll own the services that power the organisation: Service Desk, Cloud & Infrastructure and M365. Your job is to keep them secure, resilient and focused on users while transformation happens all around you. You'll also play a key role in standing up technology services for a new Manchester office, including local service desk provision.

This is a broad, senior operational role. You'll manage outsourced suppliers against SLAs and value-for-money standards, oversee an operational technology budget of c.£4–5m, and hold accountability for cybersecurity, risk management and compliance with data legislation across the SIA's ICT estate. You'll bring tight service management discipline with experience in incident, change and problem resolution, while contributing to the wider Data & Digital Strategy.

We're looking for someone with a strong track record of leading and motivating technology teams, deep expertise in network management and secure infrastructure design, and solid grounding in information security, risk and compliance frameworks. You'll be a confident stakeholder manager, comfortable negotiating with senior partners and driving performance from third-party providers, with proven experience of release and deployment management and building robust cybersecurity practices.

If you're an experienced ICT operations leader ready to take on a high-impact interim role at the heart of a major transformation programme, we'd love to hear from you.