Job Description – Head of IT
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About Alpine Group:
Alpine Group (including Alpine Fire Engineers and DAS Fire) is a fast growing, award winning, leader in fire detection and suppression systems — designing, delivering and maintaining complex solutions across logistics & distribution, aerospace, automotive, pharmaceuticals, high hazard and other specialist environments.
We’re proud to be recognised among The Sunday Times Best Places to Work (2025), reflecting our focus on wellbeing, values and a high performance, people first culture.
Location: Bury (Greater Manchester) as the primary base, with occasional travel to other UK sites.
The Opportunity:
As we scale, we are strengthening our in-house IT capability. This role will take responsibility for defining and delivering our IT roadmap — ensuring that our systems, data, and services keep pace with business growth and support a great colleague and client experience.
You’ll manage the day-to-day IT operations (largely delivered by partners), oversee vendors, work with internal stakeholders to prioritise projects, and guide continuous improvement across infrastructure, applications, and security.
This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role with direct visibility to the leadership team, ideal for someone who enjoys balancing strategy with execution.
Core Responsibilities
Set & deliver the technology strategy
* Own the multi-year IT roadmap aligned to business goals (growth, M&A, European expansion), covering applications (ERP), data & analytics, infrastructure & cloud, end user experience, and service excellence.
* Translate business goals (growth, M&A, European expansion) into clear IT initiatives and delivery plans.
* Track progress and communicate updates, risks, and investment needs to leadership.
IT Operations & Service
* Ensure IT services run smoothly and meet agreed SLAs, working closely with our IT & NetSuite Support Manager.
* Coordinate MSPs and vendors to maintain uptime, connectivity, device lifecycle management, and user support.
* Negotiate IT supplier contracts, SLAs and commercial terms that balance value, performance and risk.
Security, risk & governance
* Lead our security posture and drive ‘secure by design’ across identity, devices, data and SaaS applications.
* Run risk management, change control, disaster recovery, incident response and supplier assurance.
Applications & data
* Partner with Finance and Operations to enhance NetSuite and adjacent SaaS platforms.
* Support automation, integration, and reporting initiatives that improve efficiency and decision-making.
Infrastructure & workplace technology
* Mature our Microsoft 365 stack and uplift device management, collaboration, and information protection.
* Oversee connectivity, resilience, and the path to cloud first (where it adds value).
Budgeting & value management
* Build and manage the IT budget (opex/capex), forecast, and track ROI on change initiatives.
* Continuously optimise cost-to-serve, licensing and operational efficiency.
Change, training & communications
* Ensure a great colleague experience with IT (clear SLAs, self-service, knowledge, training).
* Lead change communications and occasional training for new tools and initiatives across the business.
* Contribute to knowledge sharing and training to improve digital confidence across the business.
Leadership
* Line manage and grow the internal IT team - coach, mentor, set goals and foster a high trust, high standards culture.
Out of hours
* Rare, but from time-to-time critical activities may require work outside standard hours (e.g., incidents, projects). We plan to avoid it, and we recognise it when it occurs.
What You’ll Bring:
Essential
* Track record leading IT in a multi-site, service/engineering or industrial setting at Head of IT / IT Manager / CTO level.
* Strong hands on knowledge and experience across: Microsoft 365/Entra/Intune/Defender; enterprise networking; identity & access; endpoint security; device lifecycle; backup/DR.
* Experience with ERP/NetSuite or similar enterprise SaaS; data integration/reporting; process automation.
* Security & governance, vendor/commercial management, budgeting and Board engagement.
* Strong communicator, able to translate technical issues into business language.
Desirable :
* Exposure to industrial, engineering, or construction environments – strong project base.
* Experience supporting technology change through business growth or acquisitions.
* ITIL, PRINCE2/Agile, and relevant Microsoft/Security certifications.
Working Pattern :
* Hybrid: We offer flexibility in remote working; however, regular on-site presence at Bury is essential to succeed in this role (team leadership, Board engagement, site collaboration).
* Travel: Occasional travel to UK sites and, in line with growth plans, periodic travel within Europe.
Rewards & Benefits :
* Competitive salary (c.£60k DOE) plus benefits.
* Industry leading benefits package.
* Hybrid working with meaningful flexibility, balanced with on-site collaboration.
* An award-winning workplace with strong leadership and a supportive, values led culture.
Reporting Line :
* Reports into the CEO
* Direct line management of internal IT roles, including the IT & NetSuite Support Manager.