Assistant Director of Technology Operations and Security

About the role

The Assistant Director is accountable for delivering secure, reliable, cost‑effective and resilient technology operations that enable high‑quality services for residents and staff.

Reporting to the new Director of Digital and Resident Experience, the postholder is responsible for ensuring the council’s technology environment is secure, reliable and fit for purpose, enabling high-quality digital services for residents, staff and partners.

The role leads technology operations, enterprise infrastructure, networking and cyber security functions, ensuring systems and platforms operate effectively while supporting organisational transformation and modern ways of working. The Assistant Director will oversee delivery of a resilient target operating model, including transition from legacy and shared service arrangements to a sustainable in-house capability.

Through strong leadership and collaboration, you will ensure technology operations support innovation while maintaining security, stability and public trust.

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Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative leadership for stable, high‑performing technology operations, setting the direction, standards and service expectations for end‑to‑end IT operations (in‑house and commissioned)

• Be accountable for cyber security and technology risk, establishing and enforcing the council’s cyber security controls, assurance regime.

• Own the resilience and capacity of infrastructure and networks, ensuring availability, performance and recoverability for business‑critical services.

• Set and govern a clear and coherent enterprise architecture for technology operations and infrastructure, defining standards that enable interoperability, security‑by‑design and alignment to organisational priorities.

• Lead compliance and assurance across technology operations, ensuring the council meets information governance, data protection and regulatory requirements by setting controls, monitoring adherence, addressing non‑compliance, and partnering with the Data Protection Officer and other assurance functions.

• Lead the commercial and supplier strategy for technology operations and cyber security, holding suppliers to account for outcomes, value for money and service performance through robust governance, KPIs/SLAs, and active contract and relationship management.

• Be accountable for financial stewardship and investment decisions across technology operations and cyber security, managing and controlling the operational technology budget (circa £7m) by setting budgets and forecasts, prioritising resources, approving expenditure within delegated limits, and ensuring robust business cases and benefits realisation for investment.

• Support the transition from our current shared infrastructure arrangements to a fully internally led model, ensuring our systems support, not constrain, service excellence.

• Support a Microsoft led digital strategy annually, keeping pace with AI innovation, user need and organisational priorities.

• Act as a member of Technology Senior Leadership, advising the Chief Executive Office, Corporate Management Team and Cabinet Members with confidence and clarity.

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What We're Looking For

We need a dynamic and experienced Leader who is passionate about innovation and supporting staff and residents through change, driven to make a difference who will bring a blend of the following:

• A strong digital and ICT leadership background with the credibility to lead enterprise-scale technology and experience transformation.

• A proven ability to look outward – designing services around residents, communities and partners rather than organisational boundaries.

• Experience leading complex change programmes that balance ambition with operational stability.

• Strong Background in cyber security, information governance and incident recovery.

• Practical experience of AI, automation and modern collaboration platforms in live service environments.

• A track record of building inclusive, high-performing teams and inspiring people through change.

• Strategic confidence to shape vision, influence at the top table and turn opportunity into delivery.

• Confidence operating at executive and political level, shaping strategy and advising on risk and investment.

• A strategic mindset that connects long-term ambition to practical delivery in a public sector context.

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