Head of IT

Head of IT (Fixed Term Contract, initially for six months)

Finance Director

Start-Rite Shoes, Peachman Way, Broadland Business Park, Norwich, NR7 0WF (although the role can be hybrid/mainly remote for the right person)

40 hours per week, 8.45am – 5.15pm

To manage the IT department to ensure that the resources we have in place run smoothly, efficiently and are fit for purpose. You’ll be responsible for the development, communication and implementation of IT Strategy to meet all the company’s current and future plans. You’ll also hold overall responsibility for all IT infrastructure.

Start Rite Shoes are the UK’s leading brand of early years and school age children’s shoes. We now want to invest strategically in our IT teams, infrastructure and systems to support our future growth.

Critical to the success of this investment is the position of Head of IT. The successful applicant will be taking on a hugely exciting role where they will be at the heart of the ongoing success of this innovative and highly respected and well known organisation. The right person will have a strong understanding of modern retail and what it takes for a small retail organisation with a split between B2B and B2C trading to be successful.

The role will require a mix of commercial acumen, technical hands-on experience with Microsoft Business Central, strategic awareness and capability and team leadership. Strong interpersonal skills are key to success within Start-Rite as are the ability to build strong partnerships with 3rd parties.

• Develop the IT Strategy in support of the Company’s strategic direction and business activities.
• Responsible for researching, evaluating and recommending new technologies to support and improve future business performance.
• Participate and contribute to the management decision making process of the business when required, on IT related matters.
• Manage and develop the IT team, making sure the team are appropriately equipped in respect of skills, capability, knowledge and experience to deliver the existing and expected future IT Service levels that are needed for the business.
• Develop an annual IT Business Plan as part of the financial budgeting process, including both capital and revenue spending plans; monitor the implementation of planned items to make sure activity, costs and revenues confirm to the agreed financial targets.
• Compile and maintain a register of IT projects, prioritised in importance and containing management information on progress.
• Manage the Company’s infrastructure on all IT equipment, hardware, software and data transmission channels that are necessary to support business activity.
• Manage the deployment of all forms of telecommunications necessary to satisfy business need.
• Manage the preparation and implementation of policies, procedures, standards and security compliance for all information and telecommunication systems.
• Negotiate service level agreements with IT service providers and third parties and monitor and manage the performance of service provision to agreed standards.
• Using effective coaching skills, develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours of the IT team.
• Create and develop succession plans that utilises talent to its best potential.

• Proven IT management experience.
• A proven track record of defining and driving IT Strategy for a retail SME.
• A good understanding of computer systems, ERPs, infrastructure, operating systems, data transmission and application packages.
• Experience of managing and controlling budgets.
• Knowledge of telecommunication systems.
• Demonstration and application of customer care skills with a strong emphasis on listening, communication and influencing.
• Ability to explain IT concepts to non-technical colleagues using easy to understand language.
• Team management and people skills.
• Discretion and confidentiality to sensitive information.
• Sound commercial knowledge and judgement.
• Strength of character focus and determination.

If you think that the above describes you, all you need to do is send your CV and a covering letter to Donna.Squire@startriteshoes.com and then we’ll be in touch if we like what we see!