Appointment of the Director of ICT and Digital Transformation

 

Job description

Job Title: Director of ICT and Digital Transformation
Line Manager: Chief Finance Officer
Supervisory Responsibility: IT Manager, Digital Development Manager and overall responsibility for wider IT team
Department: IT    

Function

Oxford Archaeology has grown significantly in recent years, increasing its scale, geographic reach and impact. As the organisation has evolved, there is a need to strengthen and modernise the digital and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) service systems that will enable continued success.

The Director of ICT and digital transformation will provide strategic leadership for all aspects of ICT development and change across Oxford Archaeology. Reporting to the Chief Finance Officer, the role will play a central part in shaping the future of the organisation, ensuring that its ICT and digital strategy, structures, practices and capabilities support the delivery of its charitable mission, commercial ambitions and long-term strategy.

This is both a strategic and transformational role. The postholder will be responsible for using technology, data and digital capability to transform how Oxford Archaeology operates and grows.  The postholder must be ready to take a very ‘hands-on’ approach, requiring a strong blend of technical, people management and strategic skills. They will work closely with senior leaders and colleagues across the organisation to create an environment in which people have access to technology to enable them to work efficiently and effectively and perform at their best.

The role

This is a full-time role based from one of the Oxford Archaeology’s three main bases: Oxford, Cambridge, Lancaster. The organisation offers hybrid working, with a minimum of two days per week within one of OA’s offices. Regular travel, as well as some out of hours attendance to ensure business continuity will be required, throughout the UK. Oxford Archaeology is committed to EDI and diversity is important to us. We welcome all applications which meet the essential criteria.

The person

We are looking for someone able to reshape processes, data, ways of working and digital capability. An excellent communicator who is skilled at translating complex technical language and presenting to a range of different audiences. A strategic thinker who can clearly express a vision to others, and construct strong relationships across the organisation. A service delivery/customer orientated mindset. Current awareness of the ‘art of the possible’ yet with the pragmatism to recommend effective, future-proof, solutions that are appropriate to the size, scale and complexity of the organisation.

Organisational-Wide Leadership Responsibilities

As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Director of ICT and Digital Transformation will contribute to the leadership, stewardship and long-term success of Oxford Archaeology as a whole, beyond their functional area of responsibility. The role will use ICT and digitalisation to help shape organisational strategy, influence business planning, and demonstrate OA’s charitable purpose and public benefit.

• Collaborate with other senior leaders to support organisational priorities including the delivery of specific projects, department priorities, and organisational change.
• Work collaboratively with other senior leaders to address strategic opportunities and challenges facing the organisation.
• Provide constructive challenge, insight and support to colleagues in the development of organisational priorities and major business decisions.
• Act as an ambassador for Oxford Archaeology externally, building relationships with sector partners, stakeholders and professional networks that enhance the organisation’s reputation and impact.
• Contribute to the development of a cohesive-high-performing and values-led leadership team committed to achieving the organisation’s mission and strategic ambition

Strategic Leadership (Incl. digital transformation)

• Contribute to the overall strategic leadership and direction of Oxford Archaeology.
• Advise the Chief Executive and Executive Team on ICT and digital development-related risks and opportunities.
• Lead the organisation's digital transformation agenda, ensuring that technology, data, processes and ways of working evolve together to support organisational effectiveness, growth and innovation
• Develop and deliver an integrated ICT, Digital and Data Strategy aligned to Oxford Archaeology's charitable purpose, commercial objectives and long-term growth ambitions, to include:
  • Technology and infrastructure
  • Enterprise systems
  • Data and information management - to maximise the value of the data that the organisation holds
  • Digital capability and culture
  • Cyber security and resilience
  • Innovation and AI, to include the development of an organisational approach to the effective, ethical and secure use of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies, balancing innovation with risk management and regulatory compliance
  • Developing our people and ensuring the department has full capability to deliver the strategy
• These plans should enable the organisation to find efficiencies and approach challenges in new and innovative ways.
• Ensure ICT considerations are embedded within organisational decision-making and business planning.
• Lead on ICT-related compliance and accreditation, including Cyber Essentials Plus to ensure high standards of quality, and ensure that legal compliance is met.
• Lead on developing the necessary ICT innovation that will support organisational changes and increase the efficiency with which it can deliver its front-line services by digital and technological means.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise and improve business processes across the organisation, ensuring that technology investments deliver measurable operational benefits and improved user experience.
• Lead organisational change associated with new technologies and systems, ensuring effective stakeholder engagement, communication, training and adoption across the organisation.
• Build digital confidence and capability across the organisation, enabling colleagues at all levels to make effective use of technology, data and digital tools.
• Where appropriate develop strategic relationships with Joint Venture partners and other organisations in similar fields to ensure synergies and benefits can be gained.
• Establish and maintain a technology roadmap and enterprise architecture that reduces system complexity, improves integration between platforms and ensures future technology investments are scalable, sustainable and aligned with organisational priorities.

IT Systems and service management

• Strategic oversight and development of IT operational and service management functions: ensuring the stable operation of the IT estate before, during, and after the implementation of the Systems and IT Strategy.
• Embed the new ERP system across Oxford Archaeology during hypercare and beyond, consider Phase 2 options and manage the ERP project team.
• As part of the IT strategy lead on the changes to organisational IT architecture and infrastructure.
• Take ultimate ownership for the IT systems used within Oxford Archaeology, including the bespoke database systems.
• Be responsible for IT procurement and ensure there is a strong supplier management capability within the IS department.
• Provide strategic leadership for all IT systems, working closely with stakeholders and internal communications to ensure the systems deliver as required.
• Ensure the operational effectiveness of IT systems, and that Service Level Agreements are effective, appropriate and managed.
• Ensure there are appropriate disaster recovery/business continuity plans in place in the event of a disruption of services.

Data, Information and Insight

• Develop and implement an organisation-wide data and information management strategy.
• Establish appropriate governance, standards and ownership arrangements for organisational data.
• Improve the quality, accessibility and use of information to support operational performance and strategic decision-making.
• Promote a data-informed culture and increase organisational capability in the use of information and business intelligence.

Information Security and Risk

• Provide leadership on all issues relating to Information Security.
• Develop and maintain an effective information security, cyber resilience and information governance framework, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory and recognised good-practice standards.
• Ensure appropriate business continuity, disaster recovery and incident response arrangements are in place and regularly tested

Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build trusted relationships with leaders across the organisation, acting as a role model, clearly demonstrating the benefits that can be delivered by a business partnering approach for an IS department.
• Direct and manage the IT function and ensure that people within that team are developed, guided and appropriately challenged.
• Be responsible for own professional practice and development
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, employee representatives and external partners to support organisational objectives.
• Present ICT insights, recommendations and progress reports to the Executive Team, Board and relevant committees.
• Champion the organisation's values, commitment to inclusion and charitable purpose and drive the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) agenda, ensuring a truly inclusive culture.
• Develop, agree, manage and monitor the team’s annual budget and forecast, ensuring that all activities are delivered on time and within budget; devising and implementing business planning with relevant key performance and impact indicators and taking appropriate corrective action if required.