Head of IT

Crimson; Henham; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job description

Head of IT

Location: Henham, Stansted

Reports to: Finance Director

Role type: Full-time, permanent

Salary: £80k+ dependent on experience, + bonus + benefits

Crimson is actively looking for a commercially savvy Head of IT to join Planteria Group. You will be accountable for overseeing the organisation’s IT strategy and architecture, operations, projects, and security. This strategic and hands-on leadership role ensures the smooth and efficient functioning of our IT systems, aligns IT initiatives with business objectives, and drives digital transformation to enhance operational efficiency and business growth.

The Head of IT will work closely with cross-functional teams, senior leadership, and third-party vendors to ensure IT delivers measurable business value. Additionally, this role is responsible for defining the strategic long-term business roadmap, creating contingency plans, and ensuring that IT development and architecture meet key business performance and improvement criteria. The ideal candidate will possess a balance of technical applications background with excellent leadership skills to drive innovation, process improvement, and ensure strong stakeholder alignment and expectation management.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. IT Strategy & Leadership: Develop and implement an IT strategy aligned with business goals to drive growth, efficiency, and cost optimisation. Advise senior leadership on IT Strategy and IT investments that will deliver business value. Lead and develop the IT team, fostering a high-performance culture that supports collaboration and innovation.
2. IT Operations & Support: Oversee the day-to-day IT operations, ensuring optimal performance, security, and user satisfaction. Ensure IT service desk functions efficiently, resolving issues promptly and delivering a high level of customer service. Manage IT infrastructure, networks, and cloud environments to ensure resilience, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Report against service levels by measuring team performance against key performance metrics.
3. IT Project Management & Digital Transformation: Lead IT projects, including ERP upgrades and enhancements, automation initiatives, and new technology implementations. Define project scope, budgets, and timelines, ensuring initiatives deliver measurable business outcomes. Work closely with business units to identify opportunities where technology can enhance efficiency and profitability.
4. Security, Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure IT security policies and procedures protect the organisation from cyber threats and comply with relevant regulations. Oversee IT risk management and business continuity planning to minimise operational disruptions. Collaborate with third-party vendors and partners to ensure robust cybersecurity practices are in place and effective.
5. IT Procurement & Vendor Management: Manage IT procurement, ensuring value for money and fit-for-purpose technology solutions. Negotiate and oversee vendor contracts, ensuring third-party services align with business needs.
6. Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement: Establish IT performance metrics and report regularly on IT system efficiency, service levels, and project outcomes. Identify and implement process improvements that drive operational efficiency and cost reduction.

Experience Required:

1. 8+ years in IT Leadership, with a proven track record of leading IT teams, managing IT projects, and driving digital transformation that delivers and supports commercial business outcomes, including cost efficiencies whilst ensuring business process optimisation.
2. Background in application development with particular emphasis in ERP, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, and IT governance.
3. Industry and commercial experience working in business to business (B2B) environment preferred.
4. Demonstrated success in leading teams against ambitious performance goals.

Technical Knowledge and Level of Proficiency:

1. Project Management Tools: Proficiency in tools like MS Project, Asana, or similar for tracking and managing project timelines, resources, and budgets.
2. ERP & Business Applications: Experience with ERP systems (e.g., Microsoft Business Central/Dynamics365, SAP, Oracle) and other critical business applications for supporting business operations.
3. Automation & Process Optimisation Tools: Familiarity with automation tools and process mapping software (e.g., MS Visio, Power Automate) to enhance operational efficiency.
4. Cloud & Infrastructure: Understanding of cloud services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and infrastructure for scalable, cost-effective solutions.
5. Change Management: Knowledge of change management practices to support end-users in adopting new systems and realizing business benefits.

Planteria Group are proud to be based in spectacular offices in Henham, Essex and have an in-person, collaborative, one-team culture. A minimum of 4 days/full-time onsite is desired with some flexibility. You shall ideally have a reasonable commute to the Head office with occasional travel to other sites.

Please contact: Christine Dineen ([e-mail]) or Louise Clarke ([e-mail])