IT Systems & Data Operations Lead

Forward Institute; City Of London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Forward Institute seeks an IT systems manager to run the engines behind our data, tools and platforms as we scale. You will own IT service delivery, data quality and platform automation, ensuring compliant, secure operations across Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Notion and Salesforce.

You will shape practical workflows, manage external IT relationships, and push AI-assisted improvements to keep systems reliable and responsive to the organisation’s rapidly changing needs.

Qualifications

• Experience in IT operations and systems administration.
• Strong data governance and data quality discipline.
• Ability to design and implement automation across multiple platforms.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and IT service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Provide IT support, access management and service delivery.
• Own platform administration and basic troubleshooting across core systems.
• Establish data standards and run routine audits; enable AI-assisted improvements.
• Design and implement automations to connect systems and streamline processes.
• Lead DPIA readiness, retention routines and data protection governance.
• Oversee information architecture, naming conventions and documentation.
• Lead readiness review of SharePoint & Notion and supervise AI-assisted knowledge retrieval tests.
• Coordinate rollout of new platforms including user training and change communications.

Skills

IT operations

Systems administration

Data governance

Automation

Data management

Vendor management

Tools

Microsoft 365

SharePoint

Notion

Salesforce

Zapier

Job description

Forward Institute seeks an IT systems manager to run the engines behind our data, tools and platforms as we scale. You will own IT service delivery, data quality and platform automation, ensuring compliant, secure operations across Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Notion and Salesforce.

You will shape practical workflows, manage external IT relationships, and push AI-assisted improvements to keep systems reliable and responsive to the organisation’s rapidly changing needs.