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Director of Technology | Higher Ed Partners UK
Shape the digital future of higher education
At Higher Ed Partners (HEP), we help universities expand access to world-class education through innovation, technology, and meaningful partnership. As student expectations evolve and digital ecosystems grow ever more complex, we’re embarking on the next chapter of our growth — and we need a bold technology leader to drive it. This is a career-defining opportunity to lead, modernise, and transform the technological backbone of a mission-driven organisation scaling online higher education.
Why This Role Matters
As Director of Technology, you won’t just maintain IT — you’ll reimagine it. You will set the strategic direction for HEP’s technology landscape, spanning systems, integrations, security, and vendor partnerships. Reporting to the COO, you will combine commercial acumen with technical mastery to create a resilient, scalable, and cost-effective IT ecosystem that powers the entire student journey. If you’re energised by transformation, optimisation, and leading teams through change, this is the role for you.
What You’ll Lead
* Define and deliver HEP UK’s IT strategy in alignment with growth objectives.
* Lead internal IT and outsourced providers to ensure top-tier performance.
* Build secure, scalable systems that underpin the student lifecycle
* Advise the COO and Executive Team on risks, opportunities, and investment priorities.
* Champion automation, smart tooling, and digital optimisation, particularly in Enrolments and Marketing.
* Drive technology-enabled change to improve efficiency, experience, and outcomes.
* Own the IT budget, oversee CAPEX/OPEX, and optimise spend.
* Lead vendor negotiations, contracts, and performance management.
* Streamline systems, reduce costs, and deliver measurable ROI.
* Oversee CRM (Salesforce), LMS, CMS, SIS, cloud tools, and partner portals
* Ensure seamless, accurate data flow across marketing, admissions, support, finance, and academic teams
* Lead due diligence and integration for new university partners and system migrations.
* Ensure GDPR compliance, cyber resilience, and operational security
* Own data governance, access control, continuity planning, and incident response
* Manage audits, pen testing, and organisation-wide security training.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
* Act as a strategic IT partner for senior leaders across all business functions
* Set SLAs and deliver outstanding internal IT service.
* Develop, inspire, and grow internal teams and external providers.
What Makes You Successful
* Data-driven: Uses analytics to inform strategy and optimise performance
* Strong communicator: Translates complexity into clarity and influence
* Commercially minded: Balances innovation with cost discipline and vendor accountability
* Adaptive leader: Excels in dynamic, scaling environments
* Strategic & hands-on: Sets vision while solving problems in real time
* Collaborative operator: Builds strong partnerships across teams and geographies
* Exceptional people leader: Inspires teams and nurtures growth and transformation
Experience That Sets You Apart
Required
* IT leadership experience in digital-first, service-based, or scaling organisations
* Strong commercial capabilities: budgeting, procurement, vendor negotiation
* Hands‑on experience with cloud/SaaS systems, integrations, and CRM/marketing platforms (e.g., Salesforce)
* Strong understanding of GDPR and operational security
* Experience supporting cross-functional teams in complex or partner‑led environments
Preferred
* Experience in regulated sectors (education, healthcare, finance)
* Familiarity with student lifecycle systems or EdTech platform
* Experience in hybrid or geographically distributed organisations
Why Join HEP?
* Impact: Shape the technology that enables world-class education
* Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme - Employer 6% contribution
* Wellbeing: Care and Connect programme & free flu jabs
* Professional Development: Significant investment in learning and career growth
* Perks & Discounts: HigherPerks retail and store discounts
Our Values At HEP, guide everything we do
* Integrity: We act honestly, fairly, and with respect
* Innovation: We pursue creativity, improvement, and excellence
* Results: We take accountability and deliver measurable impact
* Teamwork: We collaborate, support, and succeed together
Ready to lead the tech that powers the next generation of online higher education?
HEP is a Disability Confident and equal opportunity employer. HEP evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability status or any other legally protected characteristic
Seniority level
Director
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Information Technology, Project Management, and Engineering
Industries
Higher Education
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