IT Manager

We're looking for an IT manager who brings a calm, thoughtful approach to managing risk, shaping secure systems, and supporting the organisation through meaningful digital change. You'll combine strong technical insight with a collaborative style, helping colleagues navigate complex issues with clarity and confidence. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys improving systems, strengthening resilience, and building productive relationships across teams and partners., You will be responsible for ensuring Estyn's compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements in relation to information security, business continuity, disaster recovery, and technology assurance. They will also oversee change projects, including migration of systems and services to cloud-based platforms, ensuring best practice in cyber security and alignment with government standards such as Cyber Essentials. Key tasks include:

• Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of Estyn's IT compliance framework, ensuring alignment with government policies, NCSC guidance, and relevant legislation.
• Work closely with the Inspection Operations and Quality Assurance Manager to ensure the smooth running of our critical IT systems.
• Oversee the organisation's business continuity and disaster recovery planning, ensuring plans are up to date, tested regularly, and effectively communicated to staff.
• Act as Estyn's lead for Cyber Essentials compliance, coordinating assessments, remediation activities, and certification.
• Manage and deliver change projects involving migration of services into the cloud, ensuring security, cost-effectiveness, and minimal disruption to business operations.
• Lead IT procurement exercises, including specification development, tendering, supplier evaluation, and contract award.
• Manage Estyn's IT service desk to ensure the delivery of a high-quality, customer-focused service that supports the organisation's operational and strategic needs.
• Ensure robust contract and supplier management, providing challenge to proposed solutions, monitoring delivery against agreed KPIs, managing risk, and achieving value for money.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, Welsh Government Digital colleagues, and external suppliers, ensuring shared understanding of risk, compliance obligations, and delivery expectations.
• Provide assurance and regular reporting to senior leadership and the Audit and Risk Committee on IT risk, compliance, procurement activity, and resilience.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and staff awareness in cyber security, IT resilience, and procurement practice.
• Line management of the Knowledge & Information Systems Officer

• A proven experience in IT risk management, compliance, or assurance roles within the public or regulated sector.

• Demonstrable understanding of cyber security standards, including Cyber Essentials and NCSC guidance.

• Strong experience in business continuity and disaster recovery planning, including testing and evaluation.

• Track record of delivering IT change projects, including migration to cloud services (e.g., Microsoft 365 and Azure).

• Strong contract management experience, including supplier performance monitoring, risk management, and ensuring value for money.

• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate technical and commercial issues clearly to non-technical audiences.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to prioritise and manage complex workloads.

• Understanding of data protection, GDPR, and information governance best practice. It is desirable that you have:

• Professional qualifications relating to IT service management (e.g. ITIL), project management and delivery (e.g. Agile), Cybersecurity and compliance.

• Ability to work through the medium of Welsh., + Communicating and Influencing

• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service, Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Alongside your salary of £45,974, ESTYN contributes £13,318 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Competitive salary and incremental points meaning that you will normally reach the maximum of the pay scale within two/three years of joining us.
• Generous holiday entitlement - 41 days away from work each year (made up of 31 days of annual leave, plus 10 public/privilege holidays (pro-rated for those who work part-time).
• Flexible working - We operate a flexi-time system, giving you the freedom to shape your working day in a way that suits you and meets business needs.
• Support for your wellbeing - We provide an hour of wellbeing time per week (pro-rated) for staff. We also provide an employee assistance programme, free annual health checks, seasonal flu jabs, a free eye care scheme and access to Health Insurance Plans through Civil Service Healthcare.
• Support for your family life - generous family friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption leave.
• Tax-free savings - Access to a cycle to work scheme.
• Special offers and discounts - Access to a range of discounts and exclusive offers through the Civil Service Social Club - Sports and Leisure, the Civil Service Motoring Association, the Civil Service Insurance Society and the Charity for Civil Servants.