Strategic ICT Manager

Holte School; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Collaborative working environment

Professional development opportunities

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Job summary

Holte School in Birmingham is seeking an ICT leader to review, modernise and develop the school's technology estate, with the autonomy to shape the ICT strategy, lead major infrastructure projects and build a high-performing ICT team. The role reports to the Strategic Business Manager and focuses on delivering secure, reliable systems for staff and students.

The successful candidate will manage networks, servers, cloud services and devices, drive cyber security initiatives, ensure safeguarding

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing ICT infrastructures in an education setting.
• Experience leading and developing ICT teams.
• Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft 365, cloud technologies, networking, cybersecurity and device management.
• Experience with budget management, procurement and supplier contracts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a clear ICT vision and strategy aligned with school improvement priorities.
• Lead, support and develop the ICT team, fostering a culture of high performance, accountability and excellent service.
• Manage and continuously improve the school's ICT infrastructure, including networks, servers, cloud services, telephony, cybersecurity and end-user devices.
• Oversee ICT projects from planning through to implementation, ensuring delivery within agreed timescales and budgets.
• Ensure reliable, secure and resilient ICT systems that meet the needs of staff, students and stakeholders and are compliant with statutory requirements.
• Lead on cyber security, business continuity and disaster recovery planning.
• Manage relationships with external suppliers, contractors and support providers.

Skills

ICT infrastructure

Team leadership

Project management

Microsoft 365

Cloud technologies

Networking

Cybersecurity

Device management

Budget management

Procurement

Supplier contracts

Tools

Microsoft 365

Cloud platforms

Networking hardware

Job description

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in reviewing, modernising, and developing an established but ageing ICT infrastructure, creating a technology environment that is secure, reliable and fit for the future. Working closely with senior leaders, they will have the autonomy to shape the school's ICT strategy, lead major infrastructure and improvement projects and build, develop, and lead their own high-performing ICT team.

Reporting to the Strategic Business Manager, you will be responsible for developing and delivering the school's ICT strategy, leading a dedicated ICT team, managing technology infrastructure and ensuring compliance with all relevant statutory and safeguarding requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a clear ICT vision and strategy aligned with school improvement priorities.
• Lead, support and develop the ICT team, fostering a culture of high performance, accountability and excellent service.
• Manage and continuously improve the school's ICT infrastructure, including networks, servers, cloud services, telephony, cybersecurity and end-user devices.
• Oversee ICT projects from planning through to implementation, ensuring delivery within agreed timescales and budgets.
• Ensure reliable, secure and resilient ICT systems that meet the needs of staff, students and stakeholders and are compliant with statutory requirements.
• Lead on cyber security, business continuity and disaster recovery planning.
• Manage relationships with external suppliers, contractors and support providers.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Significant experience of managing ICT infrastructures within an education setting or similar organisation.
• Experience of leading and developing ICT teams.
• Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft 365, cloud technologies, networking, wireless infrastructure, cybersecurity and device management.
• Experience of budget management, procurement and supplier contract management.

The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of:

• The Department for Education's Digital and Technology Standards for Schools and Colleges and their application within an educational setting.
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) requirements relating to online safety, monitoring, filtering, cyber security and safeguarding technologies.
• Relevant legislation and guidance relating to data protection, GDPR, information security and cyber resilience.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a strategic thinker with strong operational delivery skills.
• Has exceptional leadership and people management abilities.
• Is committed to high standards of service and continuous improvement.
• Can build positive relationships with all stakeholders including children.
• Is proactive, resilient and solutions-focused.

We offer:

• A collaborative and supportive working environment and Governing Board
• Opportunities for training and professional development
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing access to a free and confidential 24/7 wellbeing helpline, and confidential counselling sessions delivered by qualified professionals.

Holte School is an oversubscribed, diverse, multi-racial, 11-18 community school and are one of only 8 schools across the country to be recognised as a 'National IQM Inclusion Champion' school. The school is on a shared site with both a primary and a special school. The school's ethos emphasises high quality teaching to achieve excellence and enable our students to maximise their potential. We have the highest expectations around behaviour and standards, and this is achieved through working alongside passionate and dedicated colleagues who share this vision.

Our young people are proud of the school and their community, and have high aspirations that we see reflected in their conduct and engagement. We also actively promote staff wellbeing, supporting colleagues in what is a challenging yet rewarding profession.

Please take the time to read our latest Ofsted Report (October 2023) which can be found on our school website. We hope this inspires you to visit us, as it is only by stepping into our school and meeting our students and staff, that you are able to appreciate the special place we believe this school to be.

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for the role.

Holte School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Successful candidates will be subject to all necessary pre-employment checks in line with the KCSIE guidance, including an enhanced DBS; Prohibition check; Childcare Disqualification (where applicable); qualifications (where applicable); medical fitness; identity and right to work. All applicants will be required to provide two suitable references. It is a requirement for all shortlisted candidates to complete a self-declaration of their criminal record and to undergo a general online search carried out by the school.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Which means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.