Head of IT and Security

We are looking for a Head of IT and Security to hold accountability for ensuring the reliable operation of our technology infrastructure and the robust security and integrity of our proprietary forensic science data and operational labs to enable us to deliver this mission at scale.

The Opportunity: Strategy, Scalability, Reliability & Performance

Reporting directly to the Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO), the Head of IT and Security is a pivotal leadership role responsible for defining and executing the global IT and Security strategy. This is a role for an experienced leader who can elevate a talented team and ensure the reliability, scalability, and performance of a global corporate technology infrastructure.

You will have complete ownership of the strategy, people and process for our IT and security function, ensuring alignment with the organisation's overall business objectives, global expansion plans, and core values., Leadership & Strategy

• Define and execute the global IT and Security strategy.
• Directly manage and mentor the IT managers and their support teams in London and Dunedin, fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and high performance.
• Act as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert for all critical IT and Security issues, reporting directly to the CPTO.
• Manage the departmental budget, controlling costs while ensuring strategic investment in tools and infrastructure that support our forensic and data integrity needs.

Security Operations & Data Integrity

• Accountability for the end-to-end security posture of the organisation, including the full lifecycle of security controls: evaluating, changing, implementing, and maintaining them across cloud and on-premise environments.
• Establish and enforce rigorous security controls to protect our core intellectual property (forensic methods) and the integrity of scientific data used for origin verification.
• Develop and maintain robust security policies, incident response plans, and disaster recovery procedures tailored to a data-intensive business.
• Lead efforts to continuously assess and mitigate risks related to supply chain data, endpoints, and the corporate network, ensuring compliance with relevant data handling and quality standards.
• Champion security awareness and training programs that are engaging, informative, and tailored to maintain a great employee experience and foster a security-minded culture.

IT Operations & Infrastructure

• Oversee the reliability, scalability, and performance of the global corporate technology infrastructure, with a strong focus on the Microsoft 365 ecosystem (including Entra ID, Intune, Defender suite, SharePoint, etc.).
• Provide strategic oversight for the dedicated IT infrastructure supporting our operational labs and R&D facilities, ensuring high availability and specialized support for scientific applications and equipment.
• Direct all corporate IT support functions (1st and 2nd Line Support), ensuring timely and effective resolution of technical issues for all 250 employees globally.
• Drive continuous improvements in IT service delivery through automation, process optimisation, and the introduction of modern IT Service Management (ITSM) best practices.

The IT & Security Environment

• Work Style: We operate a hybrid model, requiring a minimum of three days per week in our London office to maximise collaboration and leadership presence.
• Core Technologies: Microsoft 365 ecosystem (including Entra ID, Intune, Defender suite, SharePoint, etc.), Cisco
• Team: A distributed IT function, which includes dedicated support teams in London, UK and Dunedin, New Zealand (supported by an MSP), with plans for strategic growth., * Paid Leave- 35 days (inclusive of public holidays)
• Birthday Off
• Volunteering Leave Allowance
• Enhanced Parental Leave
• Life Insurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Pension
• Monthly Wellbeing Allowance
• Breakfast, Snacks, Friday lunch & Barista Coffee Machine in the office
• Learning Portal with over 100,000 assets available to support professional development
• Hybrid working set-up (Farringdon, London)
• Plenty of friendly 4-legged pets in the office!

• 5+ years in a senior leadership role (e.g., Head of, Director) accountable for both IT and Security operations, preferably within a global organisation of similar size (150-500 employees).
• Demonstrable experience in developing and implementing a holistic cybersecurity strategy in a cloud-native environment.
• Deep technical proficiency in managing and securing the Microsoft 365 platform.
• Proven experience leading and mentoring distributed IT teams, including line managers, focusing on service delivery and support excellence.
• Critical experience supporting specialised operational technology (OT) or R&D labs with dedicated on-premise IT infrastructure, understanding the unique demands of scientific or forensic environments.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with a track record of balancing robust controls with usability to enable a productive workforce.

Desirable Attributes

• Security Certifications such as CISSP or CISM.
• IT Service Management certification (e.g., ITIL).
• Experience with ISO 27001 (Information Security Management) or similar compliance frameworks that emphasise data integrity and chain of custody.

Oritain is the global leader in product verification, with locations in Auckland, Dunedin, London, Singapore and Washington D.C.