IT Business Operations Lead
Hours: Full time (37 hours each week, all year round)
Duration: Permanent
Salary: A GBP 32,515 a year + benefits
Location: Rotherham College, Rotherham (with occasional travel to other campuses within RNN Group)
Closing date: 08/06/2026
About the Role
Are you a technical leader who can balance high:level strategy with hands:on service delivery? At RNN Group, we are looking for an IT Business Operations Lead to act as the engine room of our IT function.
This isnt just a support role; its a vital partnership. You will serve as a key deputy to the Director of IT and Digital, bridging the gap between daily frontline workflows and the high:impact projects that drive our strategic roadmap. From managing complex vendor contracts to mentoring our 1st:line support team, you will be the glue that ensures our digital infrastructure is resilient, user:focused, and future:ready.
Why This Role?
* Operational Influence: Take the lead on the Groups service delivery, ensuring we dont just meet SLAs:we exceed them.
* Strategic Impact: Play a pivotal role in the execution of key IT projects, ensuring new technologies are tested and transitioned seamlessly into the business.
* Commercial Leadership: Own the IT contract portfolio, using your commercial acumen to manage vendor relationships and ensure maximum value for the Group.
What Youll Achieve
We need a versatile leader who can pivot from technical troubleshooting to commercial negotiation without missing a beat.
In this role, you will:
* Lead with Excellence: Oversee the day:to:day IT Support function, driving a culture where every service request is handled with professionalism and speed.
* Empower Users: Move beyond quick fixes by promoting self:help guidance and using data analysis to resolve underlying IT trends before they become problems.
* Manage Major Incidents: Act as the calm voice in a crisis, managing real:time communications across the Group Staff Portal during service outages.
* Partner and Deputy: Support the Director in departmental oversight, translating high:level goals into actionable plans for your team.
* Build Relationships: Act as a credible ambassador for IT, building strong links with students, staff, and external partners across all Group sites.
Is This You?
This role requires a unique dual:focus mindset. Youll need to be as comfortable reviewing a service level agreement (SLA) as you are leading a team through a technical outage.
You are the right fit if you can:
* Manage Conflicting Demands: You can juggle the high:frequency pressure of a busy helpdesk with the focused, long:term discipline required for contract management.
* Lead Under Pressure: You remain professional and positive when things go wrong, ensuring tasks are prioritized and escalated correctly.
* Pivot Seamlessly: You have the operational versatility to move from hands:on technical support to the administrative rigor needed for procurement and renewals.
* Communicate with Clarity: Whether its a high:quality service report or a crisis update during a system impact, your communication is always professional and timely.
You will...
You are an experienced IT professional with a proven track record of supervising high:performing helpdesk teams. You lead by example, ensuring your team delivers a white:glove service experience that is both professional and user:centric.
Your Experience and Skills:
* Technical Leadership: Extensive experience in IT helpdesk environments, offering expert guidance on first:line queries and complex technical issues.
* Project and Vendor Management: A strong background in supporting IT infrastructure or software projects, alongside the commercial ability to manage vendor relationships and contracts.
* Effective Communication: The ability to translate complex technical information into clear, actionable advice for a diverse range of stakeholders.
Qualifications:
* A