Head of IT

• Innovation

We are creative and fearless in our work.

• Accountability

We take ownership of our work and lead from the front.

• Teamwork

We collaborate widely and build supportive environments.

Salary Circa £75,000 per annum

Contract type Permanent

Location Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6AD (Agile; approximately 2 days a week from our office)

Published

12 hours ago

Closing

in 19 days

This is a Permanent, , Full Time vacancy that will close in 19 days at 23:59 BST.

The Vacancy

This is an exciting time to join as we are embarking on an ambitious Digital, Data and Technology (DDT) Programme to enable the organisation to reach its ambitious goal of raising £120m by 2033. This is a significant time for Technology in the organisation, the Technology Operating Model, Cyber Security initiatives, User Experience (e.g. AI, Microsoft tooling) and the Technology architecture (move from en-prem to SaaS and Azure) are all receiving significant investment and change.

The successful person will be a visible and approachable leader who enjoys balancing strategic thinking with hands-on IT operational management. You’ll be comfortable working closely with senior stakeholders, leading technical teams, and ensuring a consistently high-level of service across the organisation. In addition, this is a time of change so leading and driving forward change evolving IT into a modern scalable service function. This role will have 3 direct reports (with teams) with responsibility for Operations & Infrastructure, Cyber & Information Security and End User Systems Management.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership and Management

• Contributing as a key part of the Digital, Data & Technology leadership team
• Acting as the key IT contact for senior business stakeholders
• Building strong relationships with suppliers (including procurement)
• Managing budgets, resources, and IT governance requirements

Digital and Technology change

• Driving forward SaaS and cloud infrastructure migration
• Evolving IT into a modern scalable service function using self-service and automation
• Improving the end user experience from IT provided tools including with AI (safe adoption, productivity enablement, guardrails and policy)

Cyber and Information Security

• Acting as the senior operational owner for cyber and information security, with accountability for policy, standards, controls and incident readiness
• Leading security operations including threat/vulnerability management, incident response, and risk assessment
• Embedding security by design across cloud (Azure), SaaS, and end-user technologies

Technology Operations

• Leading, mentoring, and developing an IT support and infrastructure team
• Overseeing infrastructure (cloud and en-prem), networks, hardware, and end-user technology services
• Ensuring high levels of system availability, reliability, and user satisfaction
• Managing support for devices, connectivity, printers, collaboration tools, and business systems
• Managing and improving support processes, SLAs, and operational performance metrics
• Driving service excellence and managing escalated technical issues when needed

Technology Expertise

Strong experience across modern end-user and enterprise technologies, including:

• Microsoft 365 (Entra ID/Azure AD, SharePoint, Intune, Defender, Active Directory)
• Microsoft Azure (Virtual Machines, Azure SQL, networking and other cloud infrastructure)
• Expertise in hybrid or cloud native environments
• Office technology (networking, Windows environments, personal computing, mobile device management)
• Security tools and services covering identity & access management, endpoint and cloud protection, SIEM/XDR, vulnerability management, and email/domain security
• End-user tooling, including emerging AI-enabled productivity tools

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Proven experience in a Head of IT, Service Management / Service Delivery leadership role
• Experience leading digital transformation or cloud modernisation programmes
• Experience in owning cyber and information security with accountability for policy, standards, controls and incident readiness
• Technically credible — able to hold your own in conversations with developers, architects, and IT leadership
• Experience driving continuous service improvement (CSI) and operational excellence
• Track record of delivering service innovation and automation in a growing organisation
• A confident communicator who can represent the IT function professionally at all levels, internally and externally
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage incidents and complex service challenges
• Commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality and secure handling of sensitive information
• Strong people management experience, including leading, developing and motivating high-performing teams
• Experience influencing decision-making at senior leadership and executive level
• Strong leadership capability, balancing hands-on delivery with short- and long-term strategic vision
• Outstanding communicator, with strong influencing, negotiation, and decision-making skills
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, accessible language
• Strong focus on ownership, accountability, and results delivery, with a proactive “can-do” attitude
• Strategic and analytical thinker, able to see the bigger picture and set direction
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, and ethical standards
• Curious and adaptable, with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement
• Willingness to be hands-on when needed, leading by example within the team

The closing date for applications is the 21st June 2026, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

The Company has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years. We have a vast number of employees, and provide support to clients from all over the country. Recently, the company has won multiple workplace environment awards and has an outstanding record of employee satisfaction.

The Benefits

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The Values

• Innovation

We are creative and fearless in our work.

• Accountability

We take ownership of our work and lead from the front.

• Teamwork

We collaborate widely and build supportive environments.

The Charity

Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.

There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.  Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

The Benefits

It is important to offer a range of benefits which are designed to meet both the organisational and individual needs, are market competitive and designed to attract and retain employees.

For more details on working for Alzheimer's Research UK click here.

Holiday entitlement

Healthcare

Sick pay

Pension

Cycle to work scheme

Family friendly policies

Learning & development

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