Interim Head of IT

Smartsearch Recruitment; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking an Interim Head of IT to lead stability and service delivery within a UK manufacturing organization. The successful candidate will ensure the smooth operation of IT functions and collaborate with stakeholders. Ideal for an experienced IT leader specializing in operational continuity and transitional leadership. This is a 6-month hybrid contract based in Croydon with a salary of £90,000 - £110,000 pro rata.

Qualifications

• Experience in interim or contract leadership roles.
• Experience supporting manufacturing or multi-site environments.
• Calm and pragmatic leadership style.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for stable IT service delivery.
• Oversee IT governance and risk management.
• Support international operations and new site activity.

Skills

Proven experience operating at Head of IT or IT Director level

Strong understanding of enterprise IT landscapes

Confident managing internal teams

Comfortable balancing hands-on delivery with leadership

Job description

Interim Head of IT Salary £90,000 £110,000 pro rata for contract length 6-month FTC (with potential to extend) Hybrid working (Croydon)

We re supporting a global manufacturing organisation in the appointment of an Interim Head of IT / Senior IT Leader to provide leadership, continuity, and hands‑on support across the IT function.

This role is focused on operational stability and delivery. The successful candidate will ensure day‑to‑day IT operations run smoothly, key initiatives continue to progress, and the business is effectively supported across UK and international operations. This is not a large‑scale transformation role; the emphasis is on strengthening what is already in place and enabling the organisation to operate efficiently.

You will work closely with senior stakeholders across operations, finance, HR, and commercial teams, as well as with existing IT leadership, building trust quickly and providing calm, pragmatic direction.

Interim Head of IT Key accountabilities:

• Provide interim leadership of the IT function, ensuring stable and reliable service delivery
• Act as a senior escalation point and decision‑maker where required
• Oversee IT governance, risk management, cyber security, and system resilience at a practical level
• Ensure effective helpdesk and service desk coverage with responsive, dependable support
• Oversee core enterprise systems, infrastructure, networks, cloud services, and end‑user computing
• Support the continued integration of business activity and alignment of systems and processes
• Provide IT oversight to support international operations and new site activity
• Progress agreed IT projects and improvement initiatives without unnecessary disruption
• Work with senior stakeholders to prioritise IT activity in line with business needs
• Improve the use of existing systems and information to support better decision‑making
• Ensure clear documentation, knowledge transfer, and effective handover to support continuity

Candidate requirements:

• Proven experience operating at Head of IT, IT Director, or senior IT leadership level
• Background in interim, contract, or transitional leadership roles
• Experience supporting manufacturing, operational, or multi‑site environments
• Strong understanding of enterprise IT landscapes, including ERP and core business systems
• Confident managing internal teams and third‑party suppliers
• Comfortable balancing hands‑on delivery with leadership responsibility
• Calm, pragmatic, and people‑focused leadership style
• Able to build credibility and trust quickly within an established organisation

This is an interim opportunity for an experienced IT leader who enjoys providing stability, supporting teams, and ensuring effective IT service delivery within a complex, operational environment.

If you re available for a 6-month fixed‑term assignment and feel this aligns with your experience, please apply with your CV.

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