Head of IT

Leadership and Management

Lead and develop a high-performing team, fostering accountability and continuous improvement.

Membership of internal programme/business boards, creating and delivering updates to senior stakeholders

Contributing and collaborating as a key part of the Digital, Data & Technology leadership team

Acting as the key IT contact for senior business stakeholders

Building strong relationships with suppliers (including procurement)

Managing budgets, resources, and IT governance requirements

Digital and Technology change

Driving forward SaaS and cloud infrastructure migration

Evolving IT into a modern scalable service function using self-service and automation

Improving the end user experience from IT provided tools including with AI (safe adoption, productivity enablement, guardrails and policy)

Cyber and Information Security

Acting as the senior operational owner for cyber and information security, with accountability for policy, standards, controls and incident readiness

Leading security operations including threat/vulnerability management, incident response, and risk assessment

Embedding security by design across cloud (Azure), SaaS, and end-user technologies

Technology Operations

Leading, mentoring, and developing an IT support and infrastructure team

Overseeing infrastructure (cloud and en-prem), networks, hardware, and end-user technology services

Ensuring high levels of system availability, reliability, and user satisfaction

Managing support for devices, connectivity, printers, collaboration tools, and business systems

Managing and improving support processes, SLAs, and operational performance metrics

Driving service excellence and managing escalated technical issues when needed

Strong experience across modern end-user and enterprise technologies, including:

Microsoft 365 (Entra ID/Azure AD, SharePoint, Intune, Defender, Active Directory)

Microsoft Azure (Virtual Machines, Azure SQL, networking and other cloud infrastructure)

Expertise in hybrid or cloud native environments

Office technology (networking, Windows environments, personal computing, mobile device management)

Security tools and services covering identity & access management, endpoint and cloud protection, SIEM/XDR, vulnerability management, and email/domain security

End-user tooling, including emerging AI-enabled productivity tools

Knowledge, skills and experience needed:

Proven experience in a Head of IT, Service Management / Service Delivery leadership role

Experience leading digital transformation or cloud modernisation programmes

Experience in owning cyber and information security with accountability for policy, standards, controls and incident readiness

Technically credible able to hold your own in conversations with developers, architects, and IT leadership

Experience driving continuous service improvement (CSI) and operational excellence

Track record of delivering service innovation and automation in a growing organisation

A confident communicator who can represent the IT function professionally at all levels, internally and externally

Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage incidents and complex service challenges

Commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality and secure handling of sensitive information

Strong people management experience, including leading, developing and motivating high-performing teams

Experience influencing decision-making at senior leadership and executive level

Strong leadership capability, balancing hands-on delivery with short- and long-term strategic vision

Outstanding communicator, with strong influencing, negotiation, and decision-making skills

Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, accessible language

Strong focus on ownership, accountability, and results delivery, with a proactive can-do attitude

Strategic and analytical thinker, able to see the bigger picture and set direction

High levels of integrity, professionalism, and ethical standards

Curious and adaptable, with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement

Willingness to be hands-on when needed, leading by example within the team

Salary: Circa £75,000 per annum, plus benefits

This is an exciting time to join as we are embarking on an ambitious Digital, Data and Technology (DDT) Programme to enable the organisation to reach its ambitious goal of raising £120m by 2033. This is a significant time for Technology in the organisation, the Technology Operating Model, Cyber Security initiatives, User Experience (e.g. AI, Microsoft tooling) and the Technology architecture (move from en-prem to SaaS and Azure) are all receiving significant investment and change.

The successful person will be a visible and approachable leader who enjoys balancing strategic thinking with hands-on IT operational management. You ll be comfortable working closely with senior stakeholders, leading technical teams, and ensuring a consistently high-level of service across the organisation. In addition, this is a time of change so leading and driving forward change evolving IT into a modern scalable service function. This role will have 3 direct reports (with teams) with responsibility for Operations & Infrastructure, Cyber & Information Security and End User Systems Management., Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals. This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD., About Alzheimer s Research UK: Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.