Head of IT - Up to £65,000 - Southampton
Principal IT is working with a well‑known and industry‑leading MSP who provide IT services to businesses that are looking for an experienced Head of IT to join their team. This is a hands‑on leadership role, responsible for overseeing all aspects of infrastructure, cybersecurity, networking, and business systems, while managing a talented in‑house IT team. You'll also play a key role in the organisation's roadmap to AI implementation, ensuring that IT strategy and operations are aligned with wider business objectives.
As Head of IT, you will be responsible for the strategic direction, management, and delivery of IT services across the business. You will ensure the security, resilience, and efficiency of systems while developing the team and driving continuous improvement across technology functions.
Core Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Escalation
* Act as the highest technical escalation point for the service desk and field engineers
* Troubleshoot complex issues across networking, cloud, security, and endpoint systems
* Provide guidance on best practices, architecture decisions, and solution design
* Mentor engineers and support their technical development
Project Delivery & Technical Implementation
* Lead technical projects: migrations, deployments, upgrades, cloud transitions
* Scope and design solutions in collaboration with account managers
* Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to technical standards
Security & Compliance
* Oversee implementation of security tools (EDR, MFA, XDR, backup, etc.)
* Maintain compliance with frameworks (Cyber Essentials, ISO, NIST)
* Conduct risk assessments and recommend improvements
Client Engagement
* Act as a trusted technical advisor for key clients
* Attend technical review meetings and present environment health insights
* Translate technical concepts into business‑focused recommendations
Process & Workflow Improvement
* Develop and refine SOPs, runbooks, and escalation workflows
* Improve documentation quality and ensure knowledge is shared
* Identify opportunities for automation and efficiency gains
About You
We’re looking for a proven IT leader, ideally within the MSP space, who can combine technical credibility with strong people management and strategic thinking.
Technical Skills
* Strong understanding of Microsoft 365, Azure AD/Entra, Intune, Windows and network environments
* Networking fundamentals (VLANs, firewalls, routing, VPNs)
* Backup/BCDR technologies
* Endpoint security and XDR/EDR platforms
* Virtualization (Hyper‑V, VMware)
* Scripting/automation (PowerShell preferred)
Leadership & Soft Skills
* Excellent communication and client‑facing presence
* Ability to mentor and upskill junior engineers
* Strong problem‑solving and analytical thinking
* Calm under pressure, especially during incidents
* Ability to balance technical depth with business context
Essential Experience
* Previous experience in a CTO, Head of IT, IT Manager, or Senior IT Leadership role
* Strong background in infrastructure, networking, and cyber security (Fortinet)
* Experience in managing and leading system integrations or migrations
* Knowledge of Cyber Essentials + 27001/9001 and wider security best practices
* Strong stakeholder management and leadership skills, with the ability to operate effectively at all levels of the business
The Package
If successful, our client is offering a salary of up to £65,000, a favourable holiday allowance, company bonus scheme, hybrid working and more.
How to Apply
If you are interested in hearing more about this Head of IT vacancy or in applying for the role, please email me or contact Principal IT directly on LinkedIn.
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