Job Description

About the team we are recruiting to

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.


Coventry City Council's ICT & Digital service is a busy, vibrant and innovative service responsible for delivering key enabling and transformational services for the wider organisation, city and external partners.


In a nutshell we provide the organisation with the digital technology, be that laptops or systems, to enable people to do their jobs in a modern and efficient way. We support over 5500 corporate users and their PC's, roughly 400 servers (the machines that run our corporate systems), roughly 300 systems and all the relevant infrastructure components that make all the above work and remain secure. In addition to this we offer ICT support services to a significant number of school staff.


Our work spreads beyond the Council and to the wider City and region through our Digital Coventry strategy. This is a strategy which looks outside of the organisation and to how Digital technology and innovation promotes Coventry as a place to live, learn, work, innovate and do business. This strategy is directly linked with the Council Plan and supports many of the vision statements aligned with "Globally connected", "Locally committed" and "Delivering our priorities".


If you think Digital and local government might be a bit "old school", think again. Innovation is at the heart of everything we do and, as a service, we are currently working on programmes of activity which include 5G, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, ChatBots, Process Automation, Connected Autonomous Vehicles.....the list goes on.


We are part of the national LocalGov Digital movement that has the aim to aid the delivery of better, cheaper local services by councils across the country, through the re-design of services around the capabilities the internet and digital technology provide.


What is the job role?

As a Senior Systems Management Officer at Coventry City Council's, you'll be an integral part of our Systems Team within Digital Services, making sure our information systems run smoothly and supporting everything from schools to libraries and beyond. You'll lead a talented team, manage a variety of systems (from cloud platforms to traditional on premise-based system), and play a part in shaping how technology supports our services.


You'll be hands-on with planning, problem-solving, and making improvements always looking for ways to deliver great value and keep things secure and reliable. You'll also work closely with colleagues, partners, and suppliers, making sure everyone gets the support they need.


Key aspects of the role include:

Leading and developing a team of systems management professionals. Overseeing the lifecycle of information systems, including planning, implementation, and support. Managing budgets and third-party contracts to deliver value for money. Ensuring high standards of service delivery, security, and compliance. Providing expert support for Office 365 and other core technologies. Driving continuous improvement and innovation in ICT services.

If you're passionate about technology, enjoy leading others, and want to make a real difference to the community, this could be the perfect next step for you!

All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.

Who are we looking for?

We're looking for someone who's proactive, detail-oriented, and passionate about using technology to make a real difference. If you have a strong background in managing IT systems or application services whether that's client-server software, web applications, or cloud platforms you could be a great fit.


You'll need to be a confident communicator, able to lead and inspire a team, and comfortable working with a wide range of people from technical colleagues to suppliers and service users. Strategic thinking, planning, and documentation skills are important, as is the ability to manage budgets and third-party contracts.


We value people who are natural problem-solvers, thrive in dynamic environments, and enjoy collaborating to deliver high-quality services. If you're committed to continuous improvement, customer care, and want to help shape the future of digital services in Coventry, we'd love to hear from you.


We are particularly keen to hear from candidates who have supported Microsoft 365 services in the past including SharePoint, PowerApps and Microsoft Teams.


Hands on experience of managing complex IT contracts will be an advantage but is not essential.


We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are especially keen to hear from those who share our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the One Coventry values.



If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

- As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

Members of the Armed Forces and veterans Are currently in care or have previously been in care If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.


Interview date(s): Thursday 5th February 2026


About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.



At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.


To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.


If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies


Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.


Our Values are:


Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent. Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best. Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one. Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve. Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents. * Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.