Head of Information Technology

Cross Rental Services; Andover; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Company pension

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Corporate eyecare scheme

Job summary

Cross Rental Services in Andover seeks a Group Head of Information Technology to own the IT function and partner with the CFO in a high-growth HVAC hire business. You will shape the technology roadmap, governance, and security while aligning IT with commercial growth.

You will lead a hands-on, strategic IT team, evaluate tech stacks, manage budgets and vendor contracts, and drive resilience across the organisation. The role is based at our Andover headquarters.

Qualifications

• Experience leading IT in mid-sized or scale-up businesses.
• Proven ability to deliver a multi-year IT strategy and roadmap.
• Strong governance, security, risk management and operational resilience.
• Budgeting, vendor management and contract negotiation experience.
• Experience with cloud, ERP, cybersecurity, and automation.

Responsibilities

• Own the full IT strategy & multi-year roadmap.
• Bring commercial accountability to IT plan with cost optimisation and ROI.
• Design and enforce IT governance, policies, risk frameworks.
• Lead vendor selection, contract negotiation and SLA enforcement.
• Assess current systems and implement the optimum tech stack (cloud, ERP, security, automation).
• Deliver disaster recovery, business continuity and zero-downtime operations.
• Act as trusted advisor to the CFO – Board reporting.

Skills

IT leadership

Strategy & architecture

Governance & compliance

Budgeting & cost control

Vendor management

Cloud & ERP selection

Cybersecurity & resilience

Tools

AWS/Azure

ERP systems

ISO 27001

Job description

Group Head of Information Technology

Andover

Cross Rental Services are looking for experienced Group Head of Information Technology, to own the full IT function and act as the strategic partner to the CFO in a high-growth, PE-backed HVAC hire business.

This is a pivotal, hands‑on leadership role – we need a commercially astute IT strategist who will assess our current landscape, define and deliver a technology roadmap, and embed best‑in‑class governance, security, risk management and operational resilience.

We’re looking for a proven IT leader with who has built or transformed IT functions in mid‑sized or scale‑up environments. You’ll bring deep expertise in strategy, architecture, cyber security, budgeting, vendor management, contract negotiation. Plus the ability to evaluate and recommend the optimum tech stack (cloud, ERP, cybersecurity, automation) that will future‑proof the business.

Relevant certifications (CISSP, CISM, CIPP, ITIL, TOGAF) are desirable but secondary to demonstrable impact.

The Role

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious, strategic IT expert capable of planning and delivering the development of the infrastructure supporting business growth. The incumbent will be up‑to‑date with the latest digital opportunities relevant to a business of Cross Rental’s type and size.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, this is a full‑time permanent role to lead our IT function based our Andover headquarters.

About Cross Rental Services:

Cross Rental Services is the UK & Ireland’s leading specialist asset rental business, delivering cutting‑edge HVAC, refrigeration and catering hire solutions. Having experienced significant growth over the past 10 years, our team operates across multiple UK sites in a fast‑paced, operationally complex environment.

We are relentlessly focused on our customers and take pride in long‑term partnerships with some of the country’s leading retailers, government bodies, facilities managers and process manufacturers. Our critical solutions enable them to achieve their own goals with peace of mind that they are supported in all their HVAC and refrigeration requirements.

Guided by our core values—Respect, Accountability, Teamwork, Commitment, and Integrity—we offer a dynamic workplace where innovation and impact thrive.

What You’ll Do:

• Own the full IT strategy & multi year roadmap, aligning technology with commercial growth
• Bring commercial accountability to IT plan with, cost optimisation, system streamlining and ROI justification
• Design and enforce IT governance, policies, risk frameworks (ISO 27001, GDPR, cyber resilience)
• Lead vendor selection, contract negotiation and SLA enforcement
• Assess current systems and implement the optimum tech stack (cloud, ERP, security, automation)
• Deliver disaster recovery, business continuity and zero-downtime operations
• Act as trusted advisor to the CFO – Board reporting, translating tech into business impact

What We’re Looking For:

• IT leadership in mid‑sized or scale‑up environments
• Proven track record building IT functions from scratch or transforming immature ones
• Deep expertise in strategy, architecture, governance, and commercial delivery
• Ability to evaluate and recommend tech stacks (you define the tools – AWS/Azure, ERP, etc.)
• Strong financial acumen – budgeting, Capex/Opex, vendor ROI

What we offer:

• Competitive salary with car allowance.
• 25 days’ holiday + bank holidays, company pension, private medical insurance, life assurance & corporate eyecare scheme.
• Opportunity to drive system & efficiency, improve customer experience and own the IT strategy
• Continued learning & development supporting your career progression.

Our Mission:

• We are customer centric. That means we provide excellent and agile service, which is right first time, every time.
• We are trusted partners. That means our customers trust us to work with them to solve complex engineering problems with precision.
• We are innovators. That means we use our expertise to grow our business, constantly looking for opportunity to innovate and improve.
• We are one team. We aim to grow talent by fostering pride and passion in the business, developing our people through education and having fun.

Cross Rental Services is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We adhere to ISO standards for health & safety, environment, and quality. Join us and help deliver extraordinary results!