Head of IT

Reporting directly to the Facilities Management and Infrastructure Director, this role is working on a full time, permanent basis.

We recognise that skills, experience, and potential come in many forms, and we encourage you to apply if you see a strong alignment between your abilities and this opportunity – even if you don’t check every box. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and value different perspectives and backgrounds.

Your duties and responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Lead Manchester Central's technology strategy, roadmap and IT operations, ensuring technology services support the organisation's commercial, operational and strategic objectives.
• Oversee business systems, integrations, automation and venue technologies, ensuring solutions are secure, effective and deliver measurable business value.
• Maintain accountability for technology security, resilience and service performance, including cyber security, business continuity, disaster recovery and major incident management.
• Provide strategic leadership for event technology services, ensuring reliable delivery of customer-facing connectivity, digital solutions and revenue-generating technology products.
• Manage key technology suppliers, contracts and budgets, ensuring value for money, strong service delivery and effective stakeholder relationships.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Significant senior‑level IT leadership experience, with responsibility for technology strategy, infrastructure, business systems and service delivery.
• A strong understanding of cyber security, risk management, governance, data protection and business continuity within a complex operational environment.
• Experience delivering business systems, integrations, automation initiatives and digital transformation programmes that improve organisational performance.
• Proven success managing third‑party suppliers, technology contracts and budgets, with strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and translate technical concepts into business outcomes.

You must:

• Demonstrate the ability to lead and develop high‑performing technical teams while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Be capable of making informed decisions in high‑pressure situations, including managing major incidents and complex technical challenges.
• Have strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to balance operational requirements, risk and commercial considerations.
• Be committed to maintaining high standards of governance, security and compliance across all technology services and projects.
• Be flexible in supporting the needs of a live events venue, including participation in out‑of‑hours escalation and business continuity arrangements where required.

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