STARK UK – Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
STARK UK is a leading building materials distributor in Northern Europe looking for an impact‑oriented technology CTO to drive major change and elevate technology’s role within an industry leader.
With a transformation over the past two years, the CTO will shape the future of the team, instill the right culture and ways of working and support the change required for technology to underpin continued growth in the UK business.
What You'll Be Doing
The CTO is responsible for driving holistic technology change across STARK UK. This includes leading a comprehensive review of all systems, developing a future‑state technology strategy, ensuring that the technology architecture is aligned with business needs, formulating and executing plans to refine, process, and leverage untapped data assets, leading the design thinking around re‑platforming core systems, evaluating and optimising third‑party technology partnerships (e.g., Microsoft, Cognizant, Salesforce), making compelling business cases for technology investments, collaborating with the technology team, and supporting change to strengthen relationships with key business stakeholders.
Requirements and Responsibilities
* Technology Strategy & Architecture: Lead a comprehensive review of systems and develop a future‑state strategy; design and improve technology architecture aligned to business needs.
* Core Systems Modernisation: Lead design thinking around re‑platforming core systems, ensuring scalability, reliability and alignment with business objectives.
* Vendor & Partner Management: Evaluate and optimise third‑party technology partnerships, ensuring value for money and alignment with strategic goals.
* Business Case Development: Make compelling, fact‑based business cases for technology investment, securing necessary budgets.
* Team Leadership: Collaborate with and lead the technology team, flexing size as needed, and fostering a high‑performance culture.
* Stakeholder Engagement: Evangelise change and strengthen relationships with key business stakeholders, ensuring technology is seen as a strategic enabler.
Technical Expertise
* Broad technology background spanning infrastructure, platforms, architecture, data and transformation.
* Experience leading technology change from legacy to modern environments, including re‑platforming and integration of new technologies.
* Proven ability to design and implement technology architecture aligned to business strategy.
* Experience evaluating and optimising third‑party technology partnerships.
Leadership & Strategy
* Experience operating at CTO level in similarly sized international organisations, or one level below in larger enterprises.
* Track record as a change agent, leading significant transformation and modernisation initiatives.
* Strategic thinker, creative problem solver and challenger of the status quo.
* Strong communication skills to influence and build partnerships across the UK and group.
* Self‑motivated, resilient and credible as a potential successor to the CIO in 2–3 years.
Methodologies & Compliance
* Familiarity with ITIL, Agile and DevOps practices.
* Knowledge of cybersecurity principles and compliance frameworks (e.g., ISO 27001, GDPR).
* Experience with business continuity and disaster recovery planning.
Education & Experience
* Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related field (Master’s preferred).
* Significant experience in technology leadership roles, ideally with international exposure.
Benefits
* Competitive salary
* Company car
* Discretionary bonus
* Private medical
* Retirement savings plan
* Life assurance
* Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave for anyone expecting or adopting a child
* Wide range of voluntary benefits including holiday buying, discounted gym membership, car salary sacrifice scheme, Cycle2Work, Benenden Healthcare and more.
* Access to health and wellbeing services including online GP appointments and mental health support
* WorkPerks – a platform with hundreds of discounts via Reward Gateway
Why STARK?
We're proud to be part of STARK Building Materials UK and dedicated to providing top‑quality products and exceptional service to our customers. We're a friendly and collaborative team, passionate about what we do and committed to doing it well.
Next Steps
If you’re ready to take your career to the next level and join a team that delivers great service, we want to hear from you. Apply today!
Where a role is advertised as full‑time, we are open to discussing part‑time and job share options during the application process. If you require additional support as part of the application and interview process, we are happy to provide reasonable adjustments to help you be at your best.
Stark Building Materials UK is a Ban the Box employer and will consider the suitability of applicants with criminal convictions on a case‑by‑case basis.
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