Director of Technology

Role: Director of Technology
Salary: Up to £125k + 20% bonus + package
Location: Leeds (Hybrid - 2 days per week onsite)

Fruition are currently recruiting for a Director of IT for one of the most exiting technology businesses in the region. My client are a leader in their field and they are a true technology driven business with a forward thinking approach.

The role will take responsibility for three business critical functions, IT Service, Data and Security. You will set and drive the strategy across all 3 areas and be the senior leader accountable for the resilience, security and data capability of the business. The Head of IT Service and our Lead Data Engineer both report into this role.

Engaging regularly at Exec and Board level, you will be the senior technology voice in the room - translating IT, data and security matters into clear, commercial decisions, and confidently challenging where it matters. The client are fully utilising AI and they are putting cutting edge AI at the heart of their technology approach.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the strategy and delivery across three core technology pillars - IT Service (infrastructure and support), Data (engineering and analytics) and Security.
• Act as the senior technology voice at Exec and Board level - translating complex IT, data and security matters into clear, commercial decisions and confidently challenging where needed.
• Lead, mentor and develop the function through senior direct reports, including the Head of IT Service and the Lead Data Engineer, and the teams beneath them.
• Set and own the information security posture - cyber security, governance, risk and compliance (including ISO and GDPR) - safeguarding company and customer data.
• Shape and drive the data strategy - overseeing the data lake, data governance, BI and analytics that make the organisation a more data-driven business.
• Own IT service management - infrastructure, end-user computing, and customer and product support - along with the performance of outsourced partners and managed service providers against clear SLAs and KPIs.
• Own the technology architecture across the estate - a Microsoft-based infrastructure environment and an AWS-based data platform - ensuring it is secure, resilient and scalable, and setting clear architectural standards across IT, Data and Security.
• Continue to drive AI adoption across the technology function and the wider business, embedding it into IT, data and security ways of working.
• Manage technology budgets, vendors and resources to deliver efficient, cost-effective and scalable operations.
• Partner across the business to align technology strategy with commercial goals and to support the scalability, efficiency and success of a growing tech-led organisation

Required Skills and Experience

• A proven technology leader (Director-level or equivalent) with a track record spanning IT service, data and security in a fast-paced, scaling business.
• Genuine technical depth, including strong technology architecture experience - able to engage credibly on infrastructure (Microsoft) and data (AWS) detail, not only at strategy level.
• A strong, credible character able to face off to Exec and Board level stakeholders - comfortable holding the room, influencing senior decision-makers and constructively challenging on IT, Data and Security.
• AI-savvy, with demonstrable, hands-on experience of driving AI adoption within a business and a clear view of how AI strengthens IT, data and security.
• Strong leadership credentials - able to lead through senior managers, set direction and develop high-performing teams.
• Broad technical credibility across IT infrastructure, cloud services, end-user computing and service management (ideally ITIL), with hands-on familiarity of a Microsoft-based infrastructure environment and an AWS-based data platform.
• Deep understanding of information security - cyber security, governance, risk and compliance frameworks (e.g. ISO, GDPR).
• Experience selecting, onboarding and managing outsourced IT partners, managed service providers and third-party suppliers against clear SLAs and KPIs.
• Commercially astute, with experience owning technology budgets and delivering cost-effective, scalable operations.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across both technical and non-technical audiences

Fruition are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.