Director of IT Ops & Transformation
Location: Manchester or Leeds (Hybrid)
Salary: £130-140,000 per annum + Benefits
The Opportunity
A fast‑growing, ambitious technology business is looking for an exceptional Director of IT Ops & Transformation to take ownership of its group‑wide technology function at a pivotal moment. With major investment underway, a new leadership team in place and a bold strategic vision, this is a rare chance to shape the direction of an enterprise technology capability from the top.
Reporting directly to the CIO and engaging at board level, you will be the architect of a new operating model – one that transforms technology services into a genuine engine of growth. This is not a caretaker role. This is a platform for someone who wants to leave a lasting strategic legacy.
You will lead multi‑disciplinary teams spanning IT operations, service management, service desk, end‑user support and enterprise data – bringing together people, process and technology to deliver resilience, innovation and measurable business value at scale.
What You’ll Be Doing
People and culture will be at the heart of everything you do in this role. You will:
* Build, inspire and develop diverse, high‑performing teams across multiple disciplines – embedding a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and genuine care for people.
* Define clear career pathways and organisational structures that enable your people to thrive through periods of significant change.
* Lead through transformation, bringing teams with you rather than simply imposing change – communicating vision clearly, managing uncertainty well, and maintaining morale and momentum.
* Set the long‑term strategy and operating model for technology services, covering applications, platforms, data and infrastructure.
* Drive modernisation and automation programmes, making technology a strategic enabler rather than a constraint.
* Own enterprise data services, governance and analytics – enabling data‑driven decision making across the business.
* Manage significant budgets with rigour and commercial acumen, delivering savings and value without compromising service quality.
* Build and manage strategic vendor and partner relationships, negotiating at executive level and ensuring supplier ecosystems deliver real competitive advantage.
* Operate credibly at board and C‑suite level, aligning investment decisions to business objectives and managing risk effectively.
The Person We’re Looking For
We are looking for a transformational leader whose instinct is always to start with people. The ideal candidate will bring:
* A proven track record of building and leading large, diverse technology teams – ideally 50+ people – through periods of significant organisational and technology change.
* The ability to create structure where there is ambiguity: defining operating models, accountabilities and career frameworks that make teams cohesive and effective.
* A genuine passion for developing people, with demonstrable experience of growing talent, fostering inclusion and creating environments where individuals and teams do their best work.
* Senior leadership experience across technology services, IT operations and enterprise transformation in complex, commercial organisations.
* Board‑level gravitas and communication skills – the ability to translate technical complexity into compelling business narratives and influence at the highest levels.
* Hands‑on experience delivering major technology programmes, including ERP, CRM, ITSM or data platforms, with a strong grasp of programme governance and benefits realisation.
* Deep knowledge of infrastructure, service management best practice (ITIL), cloud and automation – alongside commercial rigour in managing budgets in the tens of millions.
* Experience in IT reseller, managed services or similarly complex, fast‑moving technology businesses is highly advantageous.
* Degree qualified; MBA or executive‑level certifications advantageous.
Why This Role?
This is a rare opportunity to join a business that genuinely believes in the power of its people. Leadership here is not just a title – it is an expectation. The organisation is investing heavily in technology and in the teams that deliver it, and you will have the mandate, the budget and the backing to make a real difference.
You will inherit a function ready to be transformed and a senior leadership team hungry for the kind of strategic, people‑first thinking that drives sustainable growth. If you have built high‑performing teams before, driven transformation at enterprise scale, and thrived in environments where the stakes are high and the pace is fast – this role was built for you.
To find out more or to apply in confidence, please get in touch with your CV and a brief note on your interest.
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