Log In
Sign Up
Your new company
This established multi-academy trust has a network of primary and early years schools across several local authorities in the West Midlands, with the head office based in Worcester. Formed over 10 years ago, it has grown into a collaborative family of around 16 schools, serving more than 5,500 pupils and employing over 850 staff, with further growth plans for the coming years. The organisation has a strong reputation for improving school performance, with all its academies rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted and its work is guided by a mission to deliver exceptional education and provide the highest levels of support to pupils, staff, and school communities. This commitment is underpinned by an emphasis on collaboration, professional development, and consistent, high-quality central services. The trust is ambitious, forward-looking, and continues to expand its reach and influence and, as part of its long-term strategy, it is investing in strengthening central functions such as IT, which has prompted their search for a Head of Digital Services.
Your new role
Reporting to the CFO, this newly created role of Head of Digital Services will take responsibility for the delivery of a trust-wide digital vision that enhances teaching, learning and operational effectiveness. You will oversee secure, reliable and high-performing digital services across multiple sites, leading in cyber security, infrastructure, systems development and service performance. Working closely with senior leaders, you will translate organisational priorities into a cohesive digital strategy, build and develop an in-house IT and digital function, and drive continuous improvement to ensure technology is used purposefully, sustainably and in the best interests of staff and pupils. You will act as the senior escalation point for digital risk, lead the transition towards a more scalable service model, and ensure digital operations remain robust, future-focused and aligned with wider organisational growth ambitions. A key part of this role will be the development of both the central IT service, and the central IT team, ensuring that this represents the values and ambitions of the wider trust and team. Please note this role does require you to be based on site (with free parking), however they can offer a hybrid working model.
What youâll need to succeed
In order to be successful in securing this position, you will be an established IT leader from the education sector already working in a multi-site role, ideally with multi-academy trust experience. From a technical perspective, you will be experienced in Microsoft 365, as well as ideally having exposure to Arbor, and it is essential that you have previously been responsible for digital strategy. You will be an excellent collaborator who takes pride in delivering a high level of IT service and who has a passion for this sector, as well as building and leading a team of IT professionals.
What youâll get in return
In return, you will be paid a competitive salary of between ÂŁ65,000 and ÂŁ68,500 dependent on experience as an IT leader in the education sector and in a multi-site role. You will be joining a team of ambitious individuals which will allow you to further develop your own skill set and therefore your own career, growing with the organisation as they take on additional schools over the coming years. You will also receive either 26 or 31 days holiday (plus bank and a “day for you” in addition), a local government pension scheme and also gain access to their wide range of benefits, including retail discounts and a cycle to work scheme. This role does also offer hybrid working with the ability to work at home up to 2 days per week, also taking advantage of free parking when based in the office.
What you need to do now
This established multi-academy trust has a network of primary and early years schools across several local authorities in the West Midlands, with the head office based in Worcester. Formed over 10 years ago, it has grown into a collaborative family of around 16 schools, serving more than 5,500 pupils and employing over 850 staff, with further growth plans for the coming years. The organisation has a strong reputation for improving school performance, with all its academies rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted and its work is guided by a mission to deliver exceptional education and provide the highest levels of support to pupils, staff, and school communities. This commitment is underpinned by an emphasis on collaboration, professional development, and consistent, high-quality central services. The trust is ambitious, forward-looking, and continues to expand its reach and influence and, as part of its long-term strategy, it is investing in strengthening central functions such as IT, which has prompted their search for a Head of Digital Services.
Your new role
Reporting to the CFO, this newly created role of Head of Digital Services will take responsibility for the delivery of a trust-wide digital vision that enhances teaching, learning and operational effectiveness. You will oversee secure, reliable and high-performing digital services across multiple sites, leading in cyber security, infrastructure, systems development and service performance. Working closely with senior leaders, you will translate organisational priorities into a cohesive digital strategy, build and develop an in-house IT and digital function, and drive continuous improvement to ensure technology is used purposefully, sustainably and in the best interests of staff and pupils. You will act as the senior escalation point for digital risk, lead the transition towards a more scalable service model, and ensure digital operations remain robust, future-focused and aligned with wider organisational growth ambitions. A key part of this role will be the development of both the central IT service, and the central IT team, ensuring that this represents the values and ambitions of the wider trust and team. Please note this role does require you to be based on site (with free parking), however they can offer a hybrid working model.
What youâll need to succeed
In order to be successful in securing this position, you will be an established IT leader from the education sector already working in a multi-site role, ideally with multi-academy trust experience. From a technical perspective, you will be experienced in Microsoft 365, as well as ideally having exposure to Arbor, and it is essential that you have previously been responsible for digital strategy. You will be an excellent collaborator who takes pride in delivering a high level of IT service and who has a passion for this sector, as well as building and leading a team of IT professionals.
What youâll get in return
In return, you will be paid a competitive salary of between ÂŁ65,000 and ÂŁ68,500 dependent on experience as an IT leader in the education sector and in a multi-site role. You will be joining a team of ambitious individuals which will allow you to further develop your own skill set and therefore your own career, growing with the organisation as they take on additional schools over the coming years. You will also receive either 26 or 31 days holiday (plus bank and a “day for you” in addition), a local government pension scheme and also gain access to their wide range of benefits, including retail discounts and a cycle to work scheme. This role does also offer hybrid working with the ability to work at home up to 2 days per week, also taking advantage of free parking when based in the office.
What you need to do now
If youâre interested in this role, click âapply nowâ to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isnât quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&Câs, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk
