IT Manager/Data Manager

ACCOUNTABILITY

Line managed by and reporting to the Business Manager and supported by Head of Digital Technology

ROLE PURPOSE

As the manager of IT and MIS, the post holder will play a crucial role in ensuring the school is well equipped and practice in its use of all technology to support the operational management and provision of education across the school. Overseeing the digital infrastructure, whilst also leading on the School’s use of isams as a Management Information System, the post holder will support all staff and pupils to use technology and manage data in a successful and streamlined manner.

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES

The main responsibilities of the job fall under the following headings:

Technology Strategy and Infrastructure

1. Work with the Head of Digital Technology (educational role) to ensure that digital strategies and the school infrastructure are aligned with the vision and educational plan from Nursery to Senior School.
2. Develop digital strategies that guide the School’s use of technology; produce an overarching strategic plan that articulates what is needed.
3. Ensure that the network and hardware installed can deliver what is needed from the School regarding operations as well as curriculum, pedagogy, and communications; lead on the continual review of this and suggest improvements and developments.
4. Identify, procure, and implement tools and applications to deliver educational, administrative, management, and communication processes.
5. Lead on the procurement and application of software systems, hardware, and technological devices.
6. Work closely with the Business Manager to identify CAPEX and OPEX requirements and manage the Departmental budget in this regard.
7. Lead on the School’s 1:1 device strategy, including procurement, set up, roll out, and ongoing support for pupils and parents.
8. Lead on the School’s use of isams, ensuring that staff as well as parents can use the system with confidence.
9. Manage the School servers, network, firewall, and other security systems.
10. Manage the School’s wifi and telephone system with local partners.
11. Support the School’s strategies for parental communication through isams and other applications.
12. Oversee the technical aspects of all School events including digital presentations and use of AV.

IT Service Management and Vendor Relations

1. Implement and manage IT service desk operations.
2. Set up and oversee the IT helpdesk and ensure the efficient handling of technical support requests and issues from staff, students, and parents.
3. Develop and maintain IT service catalogues and SLAs.
4. Create and maintain a list of all IT services offered and define Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that set clear expectations regarding support levels and response times.
5. Manage relationships with external IT vendors and service providers.
6. Maintain effective communication with external vendors and negotiate contracts to ensure high-quality service delivery.

Educational Support

1. Work in partnership with the Head of Digital Technology and the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that the School’s Digital Literacy strand can be fully embedded across all areas of the curriculum.
2. Assist in the production of termly gradebooks and/or school reports.
3. Identify other ways in which technology can be used to enhance learning and teaching.
4. Support the App Committee when reviewing the impact of apps on devices.

Security and Business Continuity

1. Develop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans (Extremely Critical).
2. Create a robust disaster recovery plan to ensure continuity of service in the event of hardware failure, data breach, or other IT disruptions.
3. Regularly test backup and recovery procedures.
4. Conduct regular tests of backup systems to ensure data security and minimize downtime in case of data loss or system failure.

Safeguarding

1. Ensure a highly robust approach to the use of the School’s firewall, flagging any issues immediately to the DSL.
2. Localise the Group’s IT policies to ensure a safe environment for the whole community.
3. Oversee the implementation of the Group’s technology usage agreements for staff and pupils.
4. Work with the Head of Digital Technology and the Senior Leadership Team to review the safe and responsible use of all technology, suggesting improvements and sharing best practice.
5. Lead on the School’s approach to cyber security and data protection.

Collaboration and Community

1. Build and lead a team of colleagues to deliver the digital strategy of the school, in line with year-on-year growth of pupil and staff numbers.
2. Through line management, ensure the completion of all related projects in a timely and complete manner.
3. Collaborate with colleagues across the team to develop best practice, share ideas, and work cohesively to bring out the best in every member of the community.
4. Provide assistance to new staff, inducting them in the efficient and accurate use of iSAMS and Parent Portal.
5. Assist the Office Manager and Finance Assistant in the annual rollover of data.
6. Show tolerance of and respect for the rights of others.
7. Have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies, and practices of the School and maintain high standards in personal attendance and punctuality.
8. Use Microsoft 365 to manage the school outlook calendars.

Performance Management

1. Ensure the IT team stays current with relevant technologies and best practices.
2. Encourage ongoing professional development and training so the IT team stays informed on the latest trends.
3. Develop KPIs for IT operations and report regularly to senior leadership.
4. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor IT performance and provide regular updates to leadership.
5. Conduct regular IT audits and assessments.
6. Assess IT processes and infrastructure periodically to identify areas for improvement and ensure compliance with best practices.

Whilst each individual task undertaken may not be identified, every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post.

The responsibilities as listed above will be subject to review and may be amended following consultation with the line manager.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

1. Degree in related area: Computing, Digital Technology, etc.
2. Successful experience in managing IT and data in a school.
3. Good interpersonal and communications skills.