Director of IT

Winchester College seeks a highly technical, strategic, and experienced Director of IT to lead the College's IT infrastructure, services, and security across both Winchester College and Pilgrims' School. Reporting to the Bursar and serving as a member of the Senior Management Team, this role is responsible for driving the IT strategy, ensuring technical compliance, and providing outstanding service in a complex, full-boarding school environment.

The Role

The Director of IT provides strategic leadership, management, and technical direction for the entire IT function, focusing on security, stability, and service excellence.

Your key responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Strategy Development: Develop and deliver an IT strategy aligned with the educational philosophy, academic, and operational needs of both schools.
• Vision & Innovation: Monitor developments in technology and advise senior management on deploying new technologies to support College endeavours.
• Security Culture: Lead the development of a "secure by design" environment and establish a culture that prioritises information security among staff.
• Planning & Budget: Take the lead in the annual planning and budgeting process (revenue and capital), reporting monthly to the Bursar.
• Governance: Define and refine the governance process for IT direction, support, and management.

Management & Service Delivery

• Team Leadership: Provide outstanding leadership to the extended IT team, ensuring effective operation, training, and objective achievement.
• System Stability: Ensure the successful operation, stability, security, and reliability of all IT systems and networks.
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with safeguarding, data protection (GDPR), and health and safety policies, working with Legal Counsel on Data Protection arrangements.
• Process Improvement: Implement and update IT management processes (e.g., support, project management, disaster recovery) to deliver a programme of continuous improvement.
• Supplier & Asset Management: Manage external suppliers, procurement, contracts, and internal assets, including the audio-visual, mobile, and fixed telephone systems.
• Reporting: Produce a monthly Service Management Report documenting key metrics, outages, and performance.

About You

We are seeking a resilient, influential, and highly capable IT professional who can communicate effectively and execute strategic change.

Essential Professional Experience

• Senior Management: Experience operating at a Senior Manager level in an IT function, leading a team of professionals, ideally within the education sector.
• Technical Excellence: Qualified to degree level or equivalent.
• Change Management: Strong transformational and change management experience across education and enterprise IT.
• Compliance & Resilience: Experience in disaster recovery planning, ensuring high system availability, and implementing cyber resilience strategies.
• IT Service: Experience working within or implementing an ITIL environment (ITIL Expert or Master desirable).
• Project Methodologies: Experience with Agile, Prince 2, or other relevant project qualifications.

Personal Attributes

• Communication: A great communicator able to develop strong relationships with senior managers and users.
• Drive & Resilience: Highly resilient with the determination to successfully execute initiatives.
• Professionalism: Proactive, positive, and possessing a calm and credible professional presence.
• Flexibility: Comfortable switching from strategic to operational tasks. Flexible and prepared to work outside core hours when necessary.
• Focus: Possessing outstanding attention to detail and driven to achieve the highest levels of customer service.

What We Offer

• Start Date: April 2026 (sooner if available).
• Hours of Work: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, plus necessary hours to meet demands.
• Salary: Up to circa £80,000 per annum, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

How to apply

Only applications completed on the school website will be accepted. Please attach a full CV with your application.

For the full job description and to apply please see here: https://ce0527li.webitrent.com/ce0527li_webrecruitment/wrd/run/etrec179gf.open?WVID=8649143QPF&LANG=USA&VACANCY_ID=2826153v8q

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the recruitment process, please email recruitment@wincoll.ac.uk

Closing date for applications: Midnight, Thursday 27 November 2025

Please note that applications will be dealt with as they arrive. Winchester College reserves the right to appoint before the deadline passes.

Diversity and Inclusion

Winchester College is a truly international community that celebrates everyone's individuality, talents and potential and offers regular training and career development opportunities. We embrace diversity and inclusion in the workplace and are committed to promoting a fair and supportive environment for all our employees. We work hard to create a culture where different perspectives are valued and our staff feel valued for their individuality and share a sense of belonging. Our aim is to reflect the diverse nature of society and of our pupil body.

Safeguarding

Winchester College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children: applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, and obtaining an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services certificate. Staff will receive appropriate safeguarding training which is regularly updated.

Sustainability

Both staff and pupils at Winchester College are committed to being the most sustainable school possible.

We are seeking a resilient, influential, and highly capable IT professional who can communicate effectively and execute strategic change.

Essential Professional Experience

• Senior Management: Experience operating at a Senior Manager level in an IT function, leading a team of professionals, ideally within the education sector.
• Technical Excellence: Qualified to degree level or equivalent.
• Change Management: Strong transformational and change management experience across education and enterprise IT.
• Compliance & Resilience: Experience in disaster recovery planning, ensuring high system availability, and implementing cyber resilience strategies.
• IT Service: Experience working within or implementing an ITIL environment (ITIL Expert or Master desirable).
• Project Methodologies: Experience with Agile, Prince 2, or other relevant project qualifications.

Personal Attributes

• Communication: A great communicator able to develop strong relationships with senior managers and users.
• Drive & Resilience: Highly resilient with the determination to successfully execute initiatives.
• Professionalism: Proactive, positive, and possessing a calm and credible professional presence.
• Flexibility: Comfortable switching from strategic to operational tasks. Flexible and prepared to work outside core hours when necessary.
• Focus: Possessing outstanding attention to detail and driven to achieve the highest levels of customer service.

• Start Date: April 2026 (sooner if available).
• Hours of Work: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, plus necessary hours to meet demands.
• Salary: Up to circa £80,000 per annum, commensurate with qualifications and experience.