Head of IT Operations and Infrastructure

**Join us** here at Ground Control, we’re a Certified B-Corp, Investors in People Gold Standard Company. We are on a mission to realise the potential of human nature by bringing together people, places and the planet.

The Ground Control technology function is on a mission to deliver industry leading technology and data platforms which safely enable everyone at Ground Control to connect our clients and the environment.

**Ground Control **are hiring a Head of IT Operations and Infrastructure to provide the IT support services and infrastructure platforms at Ground Control that enable the achievement of the Technology Transformation Roadmap within the organisational and financial constraints.

The successful applicant will be accountable for the effective and efficient delivery of IT services and support required to enable the Ground Control Mission and Business Plan. This includes ensuring the availability, reliability, security and evolution of Ground Control’s IT operations and infrastructure, including networks, servers, storage and data platforms. As the organisation pivots from on premise solutions to a hybrid model there is a great opportunity to modernise the approach to technical operations.

This role reports to the CIO as part of the IT Leadership Team and collaborates with the entire organisation with the majority of their stakeholders in the Executive Committee or members of the Executive Leadership Team.

This role requires travel to all of Ground Control Locations, including field sites. There is a minimum requirement to attend GCHQ in Billericay at least twice per month, with travel to our Leeds office once per quarter and in person collaboration sessions with your own team and wider organisation, as required, but around once per month.

**Principal Accountability Areas**
- Accountable for ensuring the performance, stability and capacity of IT services enable the delivery of the Technology Transformation Roadmap and the GC Business Plan Goals.
- Collaborate closely with the IT Engineering and IT transformation functions to deliver the technology transformation roadmap.
- Collaborate closely with the Cyber and Compliance function in reducing risk and ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.
- Lead and manage the IT Operations function, including the IT Service Desk.
- Lead and Manage the IT Infrastructure function.
- As a member of the IT Leadership Team create and nurture a collaborative, creative and empowered working climate in GC IT.
- Lead a team of ~8-12 FTE and ~1-2 consultants, as required, ensuring best practice talent and performance management are embraced.
- Accountable for the management of ~£500k software operating expense budget.
- Accountable for the preparation and management of project budgets ranging from £25k to £250k.
- Responsible for preparing operating expense and capital expense forecasts for the IT Operations and Infrastructure function.

**Skills**
- Demonstrable experience of IT service delivery in an organisation of the same scale and complexity as Ground Control.
- Demonstrable experience of effective people leadership and management in an organisation of the same scale and complexity as Ground Control, with a distributed/hybrid technology team.
- Demonstrable experience of infrastructure management in an organisation of the same scale and complexity as Ground Control, with on premise and cloud based environments.
- Demonstrable experience of effectively communicating to a range of stakeholders including Executive Leadership, whole IT division and entire corporate audience.
- Experience of operating in high growth, changing environments demonstrating adaptability and resilience to lead and succeed.
- Demonstrable experience of creating an inclusive working climate and culture leveraging a diverse range of skills, abilities and experiences.
- Working knowledge of ISO27001, GDPR and other relevant legal regulations.
- Demonstrable experience of leading/influencing multi divisional working/steering groups which include Executive stakeholders and decision makers.

**What we offer**:
At Ground Control we believe in creating an inspirational environment, and rewarding our employees for their hard work. We offer a wide-ranging benefits program, supporting you to realise your full potential, and are proud to be recognised as a great place to work.

Awards, Accolades and Culture
- We have been awarded ‘world-class’ status for employee engagement in the 2023 best companies results, ranking at #16 in the ‘Top 100 Large Companies to Work For’ league table.
- Certified B-Corp Accredited, Ground Control has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to sustainable goals ahead of profit.
- We inclusively support ‘The Race at Work Charter’, ‘Ban the Box’, ‘The Armed Forces Covenant’ and are ‘Disability Confident'
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