At Keystone, we rely on modern, secure and scalable IT services to support our business and teams across Europe. As we continue to grow, we are looking for a hands-on Head of IT to own our IT strategy, security posture and service delivery, while remaining close to the underlying technology. The ideal candidate combines strong technical experience in Microsoft 365 and SaaS environments with leadership capability and is comfortable balancing strategic ownership with hands-on technical responsibility. The role will play a key part in simplifying, standardising and improving IT services following recent growth, with a focus on pragmatism, security, and operational effectiveness rather than large-scale transformation. Our organisation operates in a hybrid model, with flexible activity-based hubs in multiple European locations and a remote workforce elsewhere.
This is a player–coach role. While the Head of IT will provide clear leadership, governance and direction, they will also act as the primary technical authority for Microsoft 365, identity and device management, working closely with an external MSP and internal first-line support.
The role will be based from our Sheffield or Stockholm hub and will require some travel between other Keystone locations in Europe.
Responsibilities
Team Leadership
1. Lead a small internal IT team across multiple locations, providing direction, coaching and technical oversight, while leveraging an external MSP for day-to-day operational support. Foster a collaborative and innovative team culture, ensuring team members align with the strategic IT vision.
Strategic Planning
2. Define and maintain a clear IT strategy and roadmap focused on stability, security, scalability and user experience within a SaaS-first environment. Collaborate with executive leadership to align IT centralisation efforts with overall business objectives.
Technology Integration
3. Own the architecture, standards and guardrails for Microsoft 365, identity, device management and core SaaS platforms, ensuring consistency, security and maintainability.
4. Act as the internal technical authority for Microsoft 365, including Entra ID, Intune, security configuration and governance.
5. Implement best practices for data security, system scalability, and performance optimization.
MSP and Service Management
6. Own the relationship with the managed service provider, including scope definition, performance management and escalation.
7. Ensure a clear division of responsibilities between internal IT, MSP and third parties.
8. Maintain oversight of day-to-day IT operations without being drawn into routine ticket resolution.
Project Management
9. Develop and implement change management strategies to minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth transition for end-users.
10. Oversee and prioritise IT projects and improvements, ensuring they are well scoped, delivered effectively, and aligned with business priorities.
11. Establish project timelines, milestones, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of initiatives.
Budget and Vendor Management
12. Agree and manage an IT services budget across cloud, hardware, software, telecoms and infosec categories.
13. Take ownership of Microsoft licensing strategy and optimisation, ensuring cost-effective use of M365 and SaaS platforms.
14. Evaluate and negotiate contracts with external vendors and service providers
15. Ensure vendor relationships are optimized to meet the organisation's goals and standards.
Security and Governance
16. Own the organisation’s IT security posture and risk management in collaboration with the MSP.
17. Define and maintain security standards, policies and baseline configurations.
18. Act as the primary point of accountability for information security and audit readiness.
Performance Monitoring and Reporting
19. Establish monitoring mechanisms to track the performance and effectiveness of IT services.
20. Prepare regular reports for executive leadership, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and areas for improvement.
Qualifications
21. Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
22. Strong experience in a senior 2nd line, systems engineering or technical lead role, with demonstrable leadership or team/project ownership experience. Strong project management skills and experience leading large-scale IT initiatives.
23. Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft 365, identity and access management, endpoint management and SaaS platforms. Experience working with managed service providers and operating in a hybrid internal/MSP delivery model.
24. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate at all levels of the organization.
25. Relevant certifications (e.g., ITIL, PMP, CISSP) are a plus.
Application instructions
If you are a technically strong IT leader who enjoys owning both direction and delivery, and who wants to shape a modern, pragmatic IT function while remaining hands-on with Microsoft 365, we would love to hear from you.
Please send us your application by hitting the button "Apply here!".
We are looking for someone who can start as soon as possible.
About Keystone Education Group
Keystone is trusted by more than 100 million prospective students every year to help them make one of the most important decisions of their lifetimes, namely, which educational program to attend.
At Keystone, we help students find the right education to pursue their dreams, whether they are seeking higher education, wanting to expand their knowledge through a course, or upskilling as a professional.
For education institutions, we offer an end-to-end solution across the entire student recruitment value chain, providing tech-powered student marketing and recruitment services to over 5,500 institutions in more than 190 countries. We aim to help institutions reach, engage, recruit and enroll students at scale, without compromising on providing a quality student experience.
Keystone is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.
Benefits
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