Head of IT Operations & Infrastructure (SC Cleared) at La Fosse, Rugby, £500–£600 per day

Head of IT Operations & Infrastructure

Day Rate: £500–£600 per day

Location: Rugby – 3 days onsite, 2 days remote

Duration: Contract

IR35 Status: Outside IR35

Clearance: Active SC Clearance essential

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Head of IT Operations & Infrastructure to lead and develop the UK IT operations function within a growing, security-conscious organisation.

This is a senior leadership position responsible for the secure, resilient and effective operation of the UK IT estate, covering infrastructure, end-user services, IT service management and UK-controlled Defence environments.

Working closely with the Digital Technology Director, you will translate the wider technology strategy into practical operational delivery, building the teams, processes and technical capabilities needed to support business growth and increasing Defence requirements.

A key focus will be modernising a traditionally infrastructure-led environment towards a more mature hybrid-cloud operating model, while maintaining the security, resilience and assurance required within a Defence environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day UK IT operations, ensuring infrastructure and services remain secure, reliable and effective.
• Own IT service management across incident, problem, change, request, asset and configuration management.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across infrastructure, networks, cloud, service desk, end-user technology and identity management.
• Establish clear service ownership, operational KPIs, performance reporting and continuous improvement processes.
• Oversee the operational lifecycle of servers, storage, networks, endpoints and collaboration platforms.
• Drive infrastructure modernisation, including hybrid-cloud adoption, Microsoft Azure, Azure Virtual Desktop and modern endpoint management.
• Take responsibility for the operation and ongoing maturity of the UK Defence technology environment, ensuring appropriate access, support and change controls.
• Work closely with Cyber Security and Information Security teams to maintain security controls and meet Defence assurance requirements.
• Oversee disaster recovery, cyber recovery, backup and wider operational resilience capabilities.
• Build and develop a scalable UK IT operations function, establishing clear team structures, responsibilities and development plans.
• Manage third-party suppliers and work with global technology teams to ensure services meet UK operational and security requirements.
• Ensure new technology solutions have appropriate operational support models before transitioning into BAU.
• Translate strategic technology initiatives into practical operational plans, supporting wider infrastructure, cloud and workplace transformation programmes.

Essential Experience

• Significant experience leading IT Operations, Infrastructure or IT Service Management functions.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary IT teams across infrastructure, networks, service desk, cloud and end-user technology.
• Strong understanding of enterprise infrastructure, networking, identity, endpoint and workplace technologies.
• Experience operating within UK Defence, government, nuclear, critical national infrastructure or similarly security-sensitive environments.
• Strong ITIL / IT service management knowledge, with experience improving operational processes and service delivery.
• Experience building and developing teams, improving accountability and establishing operational structures.
• Demonstrable experience managing disaster recovery, backup, business continuity and operational resilience.
• Good understanding of Microsoft infrastructure and modern cloud technologies.
• Experience working alongside Cyber Security and Information Security functions.
• Ability to translate technology strategy into effective operational delivery.
• Active SC Security Clearance is essential.

Desirable Experience

• Microsoft Azure and hybrid-cloud environments.
• Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).
• Infrastructure as Code and infrastructure automation.
• Modern identity and endpoint management technologies.
• Cyber recovery and clean-room recovery.
• Enterprise monitoring and observability platforms.
• Cyber Essentials Plus, CSM v4 and Defence Cyber Certification (DCC).
• Experience transitioning new technology and services from project delivery into BAU.
• Experience scaling IT operations within a growing or transforming organisation.

The Ideal Candidate

You will be a hands-on operational leader who can bring structure, accountability and maturity to an evolving IT environment. You will be comfortable managing change, challenging existing processes and developing people, while maintaining the operational discipline required in a highly secure environment.

You will also be confident engaging with senior stakeholders, technical teams and external suppliers, balancing global technology standards with the specific requirements of UK Defence operations.

Please note: Candidates must hold active SC Security Clearance and be comfortable working onsite in Rugby three days per week.