Job Description

Head of IT Operations
The Head of IT will lead Isio's IT Operations technical teams (Infrastructure, ServiceDesk and Admin Systems Support) and their managers at an ever-growing technology focused business. These teams support a business-critical estate running exclusively on Microsoft technologies including Microsoft 365 and Azure hosting and audited and certified to ISO 27001 standards. This role will report into the Chief Technology Officer and requires a close working relationship with internal teams including Information Security, Development and Project delivery, and external suppliers for additional services or technical resources.
This role can be based in either our Belfast or Birmingham city centre office with a hybrid workstyle.
Key Responsibilities


Provide strategic and operational leadership for the four IT Operations teams
Team/Line management for the four managers and their staff, including performance reviews, coaching and objectives setting.
Ensure end to end performance and availability of a fully Azure-hosted environment
Contribute to architectural designs and best practices for new or existing IT systems
Provide technical guidance and oversight for the four IT Operations teams and the wider business
Project delivery for a range of projects, either delivered solely within the teams or in support of wider business objectives
Supplier Management and Cost Management for cloud hosting and third-party IT services
Implement process management best practices within the IT Operations teams, including the roll out of Jira and Confluence across the wider IT department
Delivery of Cyber Security improvements and operational activities, following industry standards and best practices
Maintain ISO 27001 certification including delivery of day-to-day activities and providing support during audits
Oversee a culture of continuous improvement, identifying and implementing improvements to enhance service levels and improve internal & external user experiences
Collaborate with development & information security teams to implement and maintain stable, secure and performant IT systems
Identify and agree clear areas of responsibility and segregation of duties between the IT Operations Teams and wider technology department, with the Head of Development to build an effective production deployment process
Ensure a successful integration of IT systems and services for businesses acquired by Isio
Identify opportunities and implement solutions to automate manual or repetitive activities including the introduction of Infrastructure as Code for deploy and build tasks
Participate in Isio's CAB to ensure effective governance of changes being deployed to production systems.
Manage a subset of Isio's Information Assets ensuring that appropriate levels of access, resilience and business continuity are maintained.

Experience/Competencies:

Essential:
Strong experience developing and leading technical teams in mid-size or larger IT driven businesses
Strong experience with public cloud platforms (Azure preferred), including cloud native components such as Entra ID, App Services, Storage, Backups, Conditional Access, Front Door, Load Balancers.
Strong experience implementing & managing Microsoft 365 productivity solutions
Design and implementation of Information & Cyber Security controls
Use of standard security solutions and tooling including mail flow, endpoint security, web application firewalls & SIEM
Experience of Jira & Confluence for agile work management & documentation
Experience managing penetration tests and subsequent remediation
Technical background in infrastructure technologies, including Microsoft Server, Active Directory/Entra ID, DNS, DHCP
Great communication and problem-solving skills with the ability to work under pressure.
Ability to communicate with stakeholders effectively that have varying levels of technical knowledge.
Experience in managing a range of suppliers.
Management of key stakeholders at all levels in a typical corporate environment.
Desirable:
Experience working within or implementing industry standard security and compliance standards, e.g. ISO 27001, SOC2, Cyber Essentials Plus
Experience working with outsourced providers for engineering & technical resources as well as systems/services.
Experience working in a regulated industry, e.g. telecoms, financial services, utilities.
Experience working with internal software development teams
Experience automating repetitive or complex manual activities to improve efficiency
Experience implementing system monitoring tools, e.g. SolarWinds, New Relic, Datadog etc
Microsoft Certifications in relevant fields, e.g. Microsoft MCSE/A
Networking Certifications, e.g. Cisco CCNA/P or equivalent
Experience of acquisitions and integration/standardisation of IT systems
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Demonstrated Commitment to our Core Purpose
Power in Partnership: We work in partnership with our clients & each other - building open and trusted relationships. Working together allows us to deliver the best for our clients.
Future Focus: We want to push our industry forward by solving problems in better ways that benefit both our clients & society.
Strength in Difference: We work with diverse perspectives to find better solutions. Working with differences makes us stronger.
People First: We recognise that pensions is a people business. People are the source of Isio's expertise and it is people's lives that we affect through our advice.

What we offer you
Isio is a people business, and we're committed to helping our great colleagues gain a wide variety of experience, significant development opportunities and progression through the business. The variety of work that'll be available to you will enable you to do this.
we offer Isio - Careers & Benefits.

About Isio
Isio was 'born' in 2020 from the sale of KPMG UK's Pension Practice to a private equity firm. An industry-leading challenger, we provide diverse expertise spanning Pensions, Investment, Benefits and Wealth to give clients an integrated experience.
Isio is built by challengers, innovators and forward-thinkers, grounded around a vision which strives to deliver greater financial confidence for everyone. We empower and develop those who join us - valuing curious minds and giving people the freedom to outperform. Known and respected for our agility, we harness specialist experience, bold thinking and the desire to push the boundaries of what we can achieve for our clients, from small to blue chip, public to private.
At Isio, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and diverse workplace, in which our colleagues feel they belong, regardless of background or difference. We uphold the values of respect, fairness, and inclusion in our actions and decisions. We believe that by adhering to these principles, we will create a stronger, more innovative, and supportive environment for all, as well as ensuring that the advice and support we provide to our clients is more creative, more insightful and leaves a lasting impact.
We have offices across the UK and many of our roles offer a hybrid, flexible approach to work to help create a work-life balance that works for you. Isio Group is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

If you think you may require a reasonable adjustment to be made for any reason at any stage of your recruitment process, please email hrrecruitment@ISIO.com

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