Head of IT Operations | Independent School in Tower Hamlets

Head of IT Operations & Digital Infrastructure (ASAP Start)

Location: Tower Hamlets, East/Inner London

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational, Ages 11–18)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Hours: 36 hours per week (Year-Round / 52 Weeks)

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP

A forward-thinking, high-achieving secondary school and Sixth Form in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets is seeking a strategic, hands-on, and solutions-driven Head of IT Operations to lead their digital infrastructure and technical support services immediately. Situated in a dynamic Inner London hub moments from Canary Wharf and the City’s tech corridor, this immediate leadership appointment offers an exciting opportunity for an experienced IT manager, network infrastructure lead, or senior systems engineer to shape the school’s digital strategy, safeguard network resilience, and empower modern classroom technology.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Director of Business & Operations, you will hold end-to-end operational responsibility for the school’s IT ecosystem, server infrastructure, cybersecurity posture, and AV/classroom technology. Leading a team of dedicated IT Technicians, you will balance strategic planning—such as cloud migration, hardware lifecycle management, and vendor procurement—with responsive, high-tier technical escalation. Your leadership will ensure zero-downtime reliability across administrative offices, specialist computing labs, and interactive teaching spaces.

• Environment: A modern, technology-rich Inner London campus featuring hybrid cloud architecture (Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace), enterprise Wi-Fi networks, interactive classroom displays, and specialized STEM/media suites

• Culture: An innovative, collaborative, and high-integrity school community committed to digital transformation, online safety, operational excellence, and continuous improvement

Key Responsibilities

• Formulate and execute the school’s IT operational roadmap, overseeing infrastructure upgrades, annual hardware replacement cycles, and capital IT budget allocation to ensure value for money.

• Manage and mentor the technical support team, overseeing helpdesk SLAs, daily ticket triage, preventative maintenance schedules, and professional development for junior technicians.

• Maintain robust network security, data integrity, and business continuity, enforcing strict cybersecurity controls, firewall configurations, backup protocols, and GDPR compliance.

• Oversee school-wide safeguarding and online safety filtering/monitoring systems in strict alignment with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and DfE digital standards.

• Act as the primary technical lead for school Management Information Systems (e.g., SIMS, Arbor, Bromcom), single sign-on integrations, and third-party vendor/MSP contract management.

Requirements

• Proven experience managing IT operations, network infrastructure, and technical support teams (prior leadership experience within a secondary school, academy trust, or public-sector setting is strongly preferred).

• Comprehensive technical command of Windows Server environments, Active Directory/Entra ID, Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace administration, networking (VLANs, DNS, DHCP, enterprise Wi-Fi), and virtualization.

• Strong working knowledge of cybersecurity best practices, backup/disaster recovery frameworks, GDPR data security, and statutory educational web-filtering requirements (KCSIE).

• Relevant IT degree or industry certifications (e.g., Microsoft Certified, CompTIA Network+/Security+, Cisco CCNA, ITIL) OR equivalent senior technical leadership experience.

• Exceptional leadership, vendor negotiation, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical risks into clear operational solutions for non-technical senior leaders.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Inner London Support Staff Leadership / Senior Officer Scale (commensurate with technical expertise and management experience).

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), generous annual leave allowance (26+ days plus bank holidays), funded technical certifications and leadership CPD, and staff wellness benefits.

How to Apply

Due to the immediate requirement for an ASAP start, candidates are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible. Please send your updated CV and completed application form for immediate consideration and interview scheduling.