Head of IT
School of Geography and the Environment, South Parks Road, Oxford
Are you an experienced IT leader looking for an exciting opportunity to drive
innovation and shape IT strategy in a world-leading academic environment? The
School of Geography and the Environment (SoGE) at the University of Oxford
is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking Head of IT to lead its IT
operations and strategic development.
About the Role
As Head of IT, you will have overall responsibility for the management and
development of SoGE's extensive IT infrastructure, supporting over 700 users
across the School and its three renowned research centres:
Environmental Change Institute (ECI)
Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment (SSEE)
Transport Studies Unit (TSU)
You will oversee a cutting-edge IT environment, including:
550+ workstations (PCs & Macs)
3 virtualised server clusters (Windows & Linux)
5PB of mirrored data storage
7000-core High-Performance Computing facility
100Gbps+ resilient networking across multiple datacentres
Key Responsibilities
Lead the strategic development of IT systems, ensuring world-class
computational performance and storage solutions.
Oversee IT security, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning.
Develop innovative IT solutions to support cutting-edge research and
teaching.
Manage and mentor a team of IT professionals, including specialists in
infrastructure, research computing, and frontline IT support.
Collaborate with University-wide IT teams, championing best practices and
innovation.
Negotiate with third-party suppliers to ensure cost-effective procurement
of IT services and solutions.
About You
We are looking for an IT leader with:
Significant managerial experience leading IT teams in a complex
organisation.
Strong technical expertise in IT infrastructure, security, and high-
performance computing.
Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to
influence at all levels.
Excellent communication skills, capable of translating technical concepts
for non-technical stakeholders.
A track record of delivering innovative IT solutions in a research-
intensive environment.
Why Join Us?
As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees' well-being, and this is
reflected in the range of benefits we provide, including:
Flexible Hybrid Working: A work setup that combines office and remote
work.
Excellent Contributory Pension Scheme: We help you plan for your future.
Generous Annual Leave: 38 days of annual leave.
Comprehensive Childcare Services: We support your family needs.
Family Leave Schemes: Ensuring work-life balance.
Cycle Loan Scheme: Promoting eco-friendly transportation.
Membership to Various Social and Sports Clubs: Be part of vibrant
communities.
Discounted Bus Travel and Season Ticket Travel Loans: Making your commute
more affordable.
Opportunities to contribute to sustainability initiatives and community-
building efforts.
Support for continued, life-long learning and career development.
The University also hosts a multitude of social groups and sports clubs for
those seeking more than just a great place to work.
Hybrid working: on agreement with Head of Administration and Finance
Working hours : occasional attendance of works outside normal business
hours
Join us and help shape the future of IT in one of the world's leading academic
institutions.
Application Process
You will be required to upload a cover letter/supporting statement which
details how you meet each of the selection criteria, a CV and the details of
two referees as part of your online application.
The closing date for applications is Friday 28th February 2025 at 12:00
noon , interviews will be held in the week commencing 17th March.
Contact Person : Vacancy ID : 177970
Contact Phone : Closing Date & Time : 28-Feb-2025 12:00
Pay Scale : STANDARD GRADE 10 Contact Email : [email protected]
Salary (£) : Grade 10 £64,228 - £74,191 per annum, with possible
extension to £78,376 – plus an Oxford University Weighting of £1,500 a year
(pro rata)