Head of Technology

Strategy, Innovation & AI

Define and execute the groups long-term technology strategy, ensuring it is closely aligned to commercial priorities and the evolving needs of the Group. Lead the Group's adoption of emerging technologies - including AI, automation, and intelligent workflow tools - identifying where they create genuine value and ensuring the group moves at the right pace. Collaborate with leaders across the Group as its collective voice on technology, scanning the market for trends, threats, and opportunities, and translating these into actionable recommendations for the business. Identify common themes across business-specific technology needs which should be expanded into broader, enterprise-wide priorities. Set and manage the technology budget in line with the groups strategic plan, ensuring spend is prioritised and value is demonstrable.

Data

Develop and lead the Group's data strategy, ensuring data is treated as a strategic asset that supports better commercial and operational decision-making. Improve data quality, governance, and accessibility across core systems, working closely with all businesses to align their operational priorities with the IT function's enterprise-wide data strategy, processes and policies. Build the foundations needed to support AI and analytics use cases - including data architecture, data classification, and the right tooling and skills across internal teams. Champion a data-informed culture across the group, supporting Group leaders in using data to drive performance.

Security & Cyber Resilience

Own the Group's information security strategy and operating framework, ensuring it remains fit for purpose against an evolving threat landscape and the increasing demands of the Group, regulators, and other key stakeholders. Ensure organisation-appropriate ISO certifications and/or other relevant accreditations are maintained, working closely with Governance & Compliance. Maintain a resilient technical architecture with robust contingency, disaster recovery, and incident response plans, regularly tested and rehearsed. Act as the senior point of escalation for cyber incidents, ensuring the Group's leadership and family have confidence in its security posture. Embed a strong security culture across the Group through training, awareness, and clear policy.

Operational Excellence

Design and deliver a contemporary, best-in-class IT operating model which can anticipate and adapt to evolving business needs while meeting its core purpose. Lead the secure, efficient, and reliable day-to-day delivery of the Group's IT services across infrastructure, applications, end-user support, and cloud. Ensure the Group's core system applications are well supported, well integrated, and continuously improved. Drive a continuous improvement mindset across the IT function, with a well-defined service proposition, clear service standards and meaningful measurement of user experience. Lead effective IT procurement and vendor management, ensuring suppliers deliver quality, value, and partnership.

Leadership & People

Lead, develop, and inspire the IT team, building a stakeholder service mindset, accountability, and continuous learning. Take an active role in succession planning and team development, ensuring the function has the right capabilities and skills for the future - including in data, security, and AI. Build strong, trusted relationships with the Senior Leadership Team ("SLT") , Heads of Department, and the wider business. Act as a credible, visible leader of the business, proactiv