Head of IT
Role details
Job location
Tech stack
Job description
We are looking for a Head of IT to take ownership of the technology backbone of Ancient + Brave. As we scale across geographies and channels, our systems, data and infrastructure need to keep pace, and this is the role that makes that happen. You will set the technology strategy, own the architecture, run our outsourced partners, and ensure that everything from our ERP to our data warehouse to our cyber posture is fit for the next phase of growth.
This is a hands-on, strategically significant role with high visibility. You will be the most senior technology voice in the business, reporting into the Chief Operating and Financial Officer (COFO) and partnering closely with leaders across Finance, Operations, Commercial and People.
You will start with no direct team, leveraging a network of outsourced partners and specialists, and build a small in-house team over time as scale demands. If you are energised by shaping a tech function from a strong foundation rather than inheriting bloat, you will thrive here.
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING
- Own the IT strategy and technology roadmap for Ancient + Brave, translating commercial and operational priorities into a coherent plan for systems, data and infrastructure.
- Lead all aspects of IT infrastructure, including end-user computing, networking, telephony, and identity and access management, across the UK, US and EU.
- Own data protection and cyber security as a single accountability. Lead our cyber posture, maintain UK and EU GDPR compliance, hold the DPO relationship, and ensure we are demonstrably secure as we scale internationally.
- Maintain and improve our ERP (Priority), partnering with our implementation partner to drive performance and data quality. Lead the strategic review and, when the business is ready, the evaluation and implementation of any future ERP.
- Be architecturally responsible for the full technology stack - setting integration standards, integration patterns, and the data and security perimeters within which our systems (Shopify, Priority, Omnicommerce, marketing platforms, 3PLs, Amazon) operate.
- Lead the build of our data infrastructure, including the data warehouse, pipelines and reporting layer. Partner with Finance, Commercial and Operations to define requirements and ensure the output is trusted, accessible, and used.
- Manage our outsourced technology partners (ERPIQ, High Co, Newmans, Trust Keith and others), holding them to clear SLAs, commercial terms and delivery standards, consolidating where it serves the business.
- Own the IT budget end-to-end, providing the COFO with clear forecasts, cost transparency and return on investment, identifying savings as the stack matures.
- Build and lead a small in-house technology team over time, recruiting where the business case is clear and keeping the function lean, partnering with the People team to develop the right structure as we scale.
- Champion strong governance practices. Maintain the technology risk register, support the Audit Committee on cyber and data, and embed appropriate controls (change management, access reviews, incident reporting) without slowing the business down.
- Partner cross-functionally with leaders across the business, bringing pragmatic technology thinking to commercial problems and acting as a trusted advisor on system, data and process decisions.
- Reflect and champion Ancient + Brave's B Corp commitments in technology choices, considering sustainability, ethics and supplier alignment in vendor selection and architecture decisions.
Requirements
Do you have experience in Redshift?, * Significant experience in a senior IT or technology leadership role within a high-growth, multi-channel business. Consumer, DTC, e-commerce or FMCG experience is a strong advantage given our systems landscape.
- Genuine breadth across the stack - comfortable across infrastructure, ERP, middleware, data and cyber, with the technical depth to challenge partners and the commercial instinct to know when "good enough" is the right answer.
- Demonstrable ERP experience across multiple geographies: selection, implementation, optimisation or migration. Hands-on familiarity with Priority, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP Business One or similar.
- A strong track record of building data infrastructure from the ground up. Modern data warehouse experience (Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, Databricks or similar) and familiarity with BI and FP&A tooling.
- Deep working knowledge of cyber security and data protection, including frameworks such as Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001, SOC 2 and NIST. Confident on UK and EU GDPR. CISSP or CISM welcome but not essential.
- Proven ability to manage outsourced partners - you know how to write a good SLA, hold a partner to account, run a competitive tender and consolidate vendors when the case is clear.
- Architecture-minded but pragmatic. You can sketch the future state and also live with the realities of a scaling business where some things need to be fixed in flight.
- Commercially sharp. You bring clarity to complexity, can build a business case, and hold your own across the leadership team without retreating into jargon.
- Hands-on, lean and entrepreneurial. You enjoy operating without layers of structure and are at home in a business that values pace, judgement and ownership.
Benefits & conditions
Pulled from the full job description
- Employee discount
- Gym membership
- Employee assistance programme
- Company pension
- Private medical insurance
- Cycle to work scheme