VP of IT
Up to £150k OTE + benefits
Reference: WUK805
Please note: Applicants for this position must have authorization to work in the UK.Role
In this global role you will drive the delivery of world-class internal IT services and solutions that underpin the implementation of company strategy and fulfil the needs of both internal and external customers.
Your experience as an IT leader in a growing global organistion will enable you to make the successful transition into the innovative, fast paced environment at Sophos. Building and managing relationships with senior functional stakeholders will play to your excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills, and you will enjoy using your commercial and business acumen to shape the strategy of the group in a constantly evolving landscape. The challenge of managing the design and implementation of complex, integrated enterprise IT systems will excite you, and you will welcome the opportunity to utilise your skills in vendor selection in making crucial buy or build decisions.
The role is based at our headquarters in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, although quarterly travel to other global sites will be required.
Main duties
- Set and communicate the annual strategy for the global IT group
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement throughout the global IT function, creating flexibility and the capability to respond positively to the challenges of an organization growing via acquisitions
- Implement and monitor IT security within the strategy set by the CTO Office
- Develop a top tier infrastructure and world class data centers supporting our internal and customer facing requirements with long term scalability
- Define and drive the strategy for disaster recovery for each major site
- Ensure continuous 24x7 availability of global infrastructure, core applications and key services in the face of both foreseeable and unforeseeable disruptive events
- Drive the definition and agreement of SLAs and performance metrics with internal customers, manage the successful delivery against them, and drive improvements
- Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the current portfolio of global business systems and build and implement the vision for a strategic long-term architecture to support the growth and evolution of Sophos
- Create, communicate and deliver against a comprehensive roadmap detailing the projects and milestones required to achieve this vision
- Develop the organisational structure for the global group, and drive the strategic direction via the IT senior management team, ensuring that the organisation is resourced effectively, that all individuals are fully aware of the business goals, and are well equipped to deliver against them
Experience and skills
You will need to demonstrate experience of the following:
- Running, or having been the number 2 of a globally distributed IT function in a growing global company
- Defining and driving IT strategy and architecture
- Implementing and driving successful performance against SLAs and KPIs
- Managing the design and implementation of complex, integrated enterprise IT systems
- Responsibility for mission-critical systems running 24/7
- Developing and managing a top tier global infrastructure and world class data centers
- Ability to drive change
- Effective management and motivation of people
The following are desirable criteria:
- Working within a software development company that delivers online content
- Managing remote reports
Benefits
The remuneration package includes:
- Annual holiday entitlement of 25 days, which can increase to 28 days
- Profit-related bonus scheme
- Group personal pension scheme
- Private medical insurance
- Critical illness insurance
- Death in service policy (life assurance)
- Permanent health insurance
- Travel insurance
- Personal accident cover
Working conditions at Sophos are very good and include:
- Subsidised staff restaurant
- Free beverages, fruit and pastries
