Head of IT

Police Federation of England and Wales; Leatherhead; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A public service organization in Leatherhead is seeking a Head of IT to lead the IT strategy and ensure exceptional service delivery. The role demands a combination of strategic vision and hands-on leadership, overseeing IT operations, managing the IT budget, and driving transformation initiatives. Strong experience in IT leadership, project delivery, and team management is essential. Benefits include flexible and hybrid working options, competitive salary, and professional development support.

Benefits

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Competitive salary

Private healthcare

Enhanced pension contribution

Onsite free lunches

Free onsite gym

26 days holiday

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Proven track record in a senior IT role (Head of IT, Senior IT Manager etc.).
• Strong knowledge of IT infrastructure, enterprise systems, cloud solutions, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary, diverse teams, fostering professional growth.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive IT strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing multidisciplinary IT team.
• Establish IT policies, maintain regulatory compliance, oversee cybersecurity and disaster recovery.

Skills

Senior IT Leadership Experience

Technology Expertise

Budget Management

Project Delivery & Transformation

Strategic & Hands-On Leadership

Team Leadership & Development

Stakeholder Management

Process Improvement & Automation

Communication Skills

Job description

Head of IT

Application Deadline: 6 February 2026

Department: IT

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: HQ - Leatherhead

Reporting To: Operations Director

Description

As Head of IT, you will lead the organisation's technology and digital strategy, ensuring that the team deliver exceptional service and operational excellence. This is a hands‑on leadership role, requiring a balance of strategic vision and hands‑on management, ensuring IT systems underpin design, engineering, production and all support functions within the organisation, combining technical expertise with a strong focus on people development, collaboration, and innovation within vona tight budget.

You will lead our established Service Delivery, Infrastructure & Security and Application teams and seek to continuously improve the in‑house IT function by identifying new and improving processes and initiatives to support our growing organisation.

Your remit will include developing and maintaining the organisation's IT strategy, aligning technology initiatives with business goals, and driving innovation to optimise processes and deliver business value. You'll act as a strategic partner to other departments, identifying and implementing digital solutions that support their operations.

The role involves managing the evolving design, implementation, and maintenance of IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, and databases, while ensuring systems are scalable and reliable to support future growth. You'll also be responsible for hardware and software asset management, cybersecurity strategy, governance and regulations.

You'll manage the IT budget, oversee vendor relationships, and lead IT projects from planning through to execution. Collaboration with cross‑functional teams will be key as you implement organisation‑wide software solutions and systems, identify challenges and opportunities, and execute change management strategies.

Regular management information reporting on performance, system uptime Bird ticket volumes, security incidents, and project progress to senior leadership is expected. You'll also play a vital role in coaching and developing rising talent within the IT team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and high performance to keep the team up to date with the latest technologies and industry trends.

Our organisation operates with high demands on service availability, high security and compliance and therefore this position requires a blend of technical knowledge, leadership ability, and strategic insight to navigate the complexities of the digital age, in line with our organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning: Develop and Execute IT Strategy – Define and implement a comprehensive IT strategy aligned with business objectives, driving operational efficiency and innovation across the organisation.
• Stakeholder Management: Partner with key stakeholders to support the delivery of transformational change initiatives.
• People Leadership: Lead and develop a high‑performing team – Inspire, manage, and mentor a multidisciplinary IT team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. Ensure that the team is equipped to meet the organisation's technology and stakeholder needs.
• Governance, Compliance & Risk Management: Establish IT policies, maintain regulatory compliance, oversee cybersecurity, disaster recovery and business continuity planning.
• Budget Management: Oversee the IT budget, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to support strategic initiatives while maintaining cost efficiency.
• Overall management of day‑to‑day IT operations across the organisation; ensuring projects are delivered, day‑to‑day operations run smoothly and excellent levels of service are maintained.
• Overall management of IT infrastructure, enterprise systems, cloud services, networks, cybersecurity and data management, ensuring high availability, security and performance.
• Drive transformation initiatives: Lead large‑scale IT projects, including system upgrades, process improvements and automation, balancing hands‑on delivery with strategic oversight.
• Collaborate with stakeholders: Partner with senior leadership, business units and external technology providers to ensure IT solutions support business goals and enable data‑driven decision‑making.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Senior IT Leadership Experience: Proven track record in a senior IT role (Head of IT, Senior IT Manager etc).
• Technology Expertise: Strong knowledge of IT infrastructure, enterprise systems, cloud solutions, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
• Budget Management: Strong vendor and budget management experience, experienced in cost optimisation.
• Project Delivery & Transformation: Demonstrated success delivering large‑scale IT projects and driving transformation initiatives.
• Strategic & Hands‑On Leadership: Ability to balance long‑term IT strategy with hands‑on operational oversight and team management.
• Team Leadership & Development: Experience leading multidisciplinary, diverse teams, fostering professional growth and high engagement.
• Stakeholder Management: Skilled at collaborating with senior leaders, business units and external partners to deliver impactful technology solutions.
• Process Improvement & Automation: Experience streamlining operations, improving processes and implementing technology‑driven efficiencies.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication, capable of engaging local teams and international stakeholders.

Benefits

We offer multiple benefits to our HQ employees including: flexible working, hybrid working, competitive salary, life assurance, private healthcare, enhanced pension contribution, enhanced leave, employee assistance program, onsite free lunches and refreshments, free onsite gym, free onsite parking, 26 days holiday (increasing with length of service), mental health clinics, support for continuous professional development, employee discounts and more….