Job Advert
Do you have significant senior IT leadership experience, ideally in education, training, or multi‑site service organisations?
Do you thrive in fast‑paced, high‑growth environments where change is constant?
Can you shape a culture that not only supports performance but drives it?
Impact Futures Group has a brand new opportunity for a talented and strategic individual to join our team as IT Director. The role is hybrid, a blend between working from home and travelling occasionally for meetings.
The Role
The IT Director will lead the strategic development and delivery of technology across the organisation, ensuring digital systems, infrastructure, and innovation effectively support the mission of an independent training provider. This role will drive digital transformation to enhance learner engagement, improve operational efficiency, and position the organisation as a sector leader in technology‑enabled education and training.
The IT Director will be responsible for the relationship with our managed service provider. The postholder will oversee the development of robust IT infrastructure, modernise core business systems and support the finance function to implement core finance systems and platforms.
What You Will Be Doing
Technology & Digital Transformation Strategy
- Develop and implement a comprehensive IT and digital transformation strategy aligned with organisational goals.
- Lead innovation in the use of digital technologies to enhance learner experience, engagement, and outcomes across all training delivery models.
- Identify and adopt emerging technologies that strengthen teaching, learning, assessment, and employer engagement.
- Position the organisation as a market leader in the use of digital tools within an independent training provision.
Learner Experience & Digital Engagement
- Strengthen the organisation’s digital learning ecosystem, ensuring learners have access to intuitive, accessible, and effective digital platforms.
- Oversee enhancement of learner‑facing systems including LMS/VLE platforms, learner portals, communication tools, and digital assessment technologies.
- Collaborate with curriculum and operational leaders to embed technology into learner journeys and improve digital inclusion.
Infrastructure & Systems Leadership
- Oversee the design, resilience, security, and scalability of the organisation’s IT infrastructure.
- Lead the development and optimisation of core enterprise systems, including finance, HR, MIS, CRM, and reporting platforms.
- Ensure all systems are integrated, efficient, secure, and capable of supporting organisational growth.
IT Service Management, MSP Oversight & Capability Building
- Act as the strategic lead for all IT services delivered through our managed service provider (MSP) arrangements and external technology partners.
- Own the relationship with the MSP, ensuring performance, service levels, security standards, and value for money are consistently delivered and continuously improved.
- Define clear service expectations, KPIs, and governance frameworks for outsourced IT operations, including helpdesk support, infrastructure management, and system administration.
- Lead regular service reviews with the MSP, holding providers accountable for delivery, incident resolution, and continuous improvement outcomes.
- Ensure effective coordination between internal stakeholders and external IT providers to maintain seamless service delivery across all sites and users.
- Manage IT budgets related to outsourced services, ensuring cost control and strategic investment in line with organisational priorities.
- Oversee the integration of MSP‑delivered services with wider digital transformation initiatives, ensuring alignment with learner experience and operational needs.
- Provide strategic oversight of IT capability development within the organisation, acting as the senior technology leader without direct line management of an internal IT team.
Cybersecurity, Compliance & Governance
- Ensure robust cybersecurity frameworks, data protection compliance, and disaster recovery planning are in place.
- Maintain compliance with GDPR, safeguarding data requirements, and sector‑specific regulatory standards.
- Establish governance frameworks for technology procurement, risk management, and digital change delivery.
Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management
- Act as the senior technology advisor to the executive team and board on digital opportunities, risks, and investments.
- Lead organisational change initiatives relating to technology adoption and digital transformation.
- Build strong partnerships with vendors, consultants, and sector technology networks.
The Benefits
- 25 days holiday plus public and bank holidays
- Buy an additional 5 days annual leave
- Birthday day off
- Christmas Shut down with three days paid leave
- Volunteer day
- Wellbeing day
- Enhanced Sick Pay
- BUPA Healthcare Cashback plan
- Enhanced Maternity paid leave
- Enhanced Paternity paid leave
- Grandparent paid leave
- Bereavement paid leave
- Life Assurance
- Refer a friend bonus (£1,000)
- Electric Car Scheme
- 3% pension contribution using pension provider NEST/ optional salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Shopping discount & cash back platform
- Employee Financial Wellbeing support
- Employee Assistance Helpline
- Company events and social gatherings
- Appreciation gifts
About You
Essential Experience
- Significant senior IT leadership experience, ideally in education, training, or multi‑site service organisations.
- Proven track record of leading digital transformation and implementing technology strategy.
- Experience overseeing enterprise systems including HR, finance, MIS, and cloud infrastructure.
- Demonstrable success in improving customer or learner digital experience through technology.
Essential Knowledge & Skills
- Strong understanding of digital learning technologies and learner engagement platforms.
- Knowledge of cybersecurity, GDPR, and IT governance best practice.
- Strategic thinker with strong project and change management skills.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills at executive level.
- Ability to translate technical solutions into business value.
Desirable
- Experience within apprenticeship, vocational education, or independent training provider sectors.
- Familiarity with FE sector funding/reporting systems and learner data platforms.
Relevant professional qualifications (e.g. CIOB, ITIL, Prince2, Microsoft, AWS, CISSP).
About Us
- Impact Futures Group is one of the UK’s largest independently owned training providers, delivering apprenticeships and vocational qualifications.
- Our expertise is underpinned by our Ofsted Grade 2 “Good” accreditation, and learner‑centric delivery is at the heart of our continual operational evolution to ensure our learners receive an outstanding learning journey.
- We are the 23rd best large employer in the UK and the 6th best education provider.
- We have been awarded a prestigious 2‑star accreditation for being an outstanding company to work for.
- We are an Equal Opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitability qualified persons regardless of their race, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.
- We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role.
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