Head of IT & Central Services (Ref: HCT-261)

We are looking for an experienced and values-driven Head of IT & Central Services to provide strategic leadership and operational management across our IT and central services functions.

This is a senior leadership role, responsible for ensuring that St Giles has secure, efficient, and compliant systems and working environments that enable our staff, volunteers, and services to thrive. 

You will oversee IT infrastructure and systems, cyber and information security, data protection and GDPR, facilities and property management, health & safety, and office administration (including reception).

You will lead a multidisciplinary team (5 direct and 5 indirect reports) and work closely with external suppliers and outsourced IT partners to deliver high-quality, value-for-money services aligned with our organisational goals.

About St Giles Trust

An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need.  

Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the organisation’s IT strategy, ensuring systems are secure, resilient, and fit for purpose
• Oversee IT operations, service desk provision, and supplier relationships, including outsourced IT services
• Ensure robust cyber security, information security, and information governance policies and controls are in place
• Lead and deliver IT and infrastructure projects on time and within budget
• Oversee data protection and GDPR compliance across systems, processes, and staff awareness
• Manage property and facilities across sites, ensuring safe, compliant, and cost-effective working environments
• Lead health & safety compliance, including policies, risk assessments, and training
• Oversee office administration and reception services, ensuring a professional and welcoming experience
• Lead, develop, and support a multidisciplinary team across IT, facilities, and office services
• Contribute to organisational strategy as a member of the senior leadership team
• Promote sustainable working practices and reduce the environmental impact of St Giles’ operations
• Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion, and support St Giles’ approach to employing and developing people with lived experience

About You

You will be a strategic and practical leader with significant experience in IT and operational leadership roles, ideally within the charity or not-for-profit sector. 

You will be confident managing complex systems and compliance requirements, while also leading people with empathy and integrity.

You will bring

• 7–10+ years’ experience in IT and/or operations leadership
• Strong knowledge of IT infrastructure, cloud systems, networks, and cyber security best practice
• Experience overseeing central services such as facilities, health & safety, data protection, or office administration
• A proven track record of managing external suppliers and contracts
• Experience developing and embedding policies and compliance frameworks (e.g. GDPR, H&S)
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical or compliance matters to non-specialists
• Strong leadership skills, with experience developing multidisciplinary teams
• A commitment to confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical practice
• An understanding of the challenges and constraints faced by the charity sector

Our Values

We are looking for someone who reflects and lives our values:

• Empowering and enabling others
• Supportive and persistent
• Creative and flexible
• Empathic and proactive
• Inclusive and collaborative
• Clear and open in communication

In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, clinical therapist sessions, life insurance (4 x annual salary), duvet days, season ticket loan, employee perks programme, eye care voucher and much more. 

We are an equity and inclusion-confident employer. We welcome all applications, and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuro-expansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation. 

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.