Applicant
Information Pack Director of IT
A foreword from our Principal and Chief People Officer
Richard Backhouse - Principal
Berkhamsted has led the way in pursuing a ‘foundation structure’. As a group of six schools, it combines scale of resource with individual attention and development of pupils – and staff. We start with our values: we aim for excellence – aiming high with integrity –in all that we do. We are ‘adventurous’, and support development, research, and experimentation in teaching and learning We ‘ serve others’ – at both pupil and staff level: ours is a non-hierarchical school in which the opinions of all matter, and in which we all share in the support and contribution to our local community.
Above all, we are committed to developing remarkable people, both our pupils and our staff. We are looking for highly committed, ambitious and adventurous people to join a thriving staff body, whom we can support to flourish here, and whom we can help to grow Our staff are so important that we have a Chief People Officer as one of our most senior members of staff.
Tracey Evans - Chief People Officer
Our staff are our biggest asset at Berkhamsted, and so investing in not only their professional development but also their wellbeing, is a key priority. We foster a working environment that supports staff both professionally and personally. We offer a wide range of staff wellbeing initiatives. Colleagues can easily access financial, physical, emotional and social well-being support from school
We seek to enable all members of the school community to achieve their full potential in an environment characterised by equality respect and opportunity. We work hard at Berkhamsted, but we also know how to come together as a community and enjoy downtime, building relationships which simply last a lifetime
xxxxxxxxx History of Berkhamsted Schools Group
Berkhamsted School is situated in the historic Hertfordshire town of Berkhamsted, a prosperous community surrounded by Chiltern countryside and within easy reach of London. Berkhamsted is a leading Independent School for pupils aged 3 to 18 years, the foundation of which dates back to 1541 (when John Incent, the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, successfully applied to King Henry the VIII for a license to purchase a piece of land for a ‘freescole’)
In 1888 a Girls School was founded in Berkhamsted under the same governing body, and the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools merged to form a diamond school in 1997. The Prep School was also integrated at this stage, and the School became Berkhamsted Collegiate School.
In 2011 the School merged with Heatherton House, a small independent day School for girls in Chesham Bois, and became the Berkhamsted Schools Group. Operating as a satellite Prep School, Heatherton provides a feed of Girls to the Berkhamsted Girls School every year. In 2012 Berkhamsted Schools Group acquired Haresfoot, a small proprietary prep school in Berkhamsted This site now houses the Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Berkhamsted Day Nursery Limited, and Berkhamsted Prep takes children from age 7-11
Berkhamsted is the only School in the Herts, Beds and Bucks region, and one of only a small number of Schools in the country, to offer a ‘diamond’ structure that combines the best of both single-sex and coeducational teaching Boys and Girls are taught together until the age of 11 (Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Prep), separately from the age of 11-16 (Berkhamsted Boys and Berkhamsted Girls), before coming back together again in a joint sixth form (Berkhamsted Sixth)
Job Description
Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer
Purpose of Role:
Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround
Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer and working closely with key stakeholders across all areas of the school (academic, administrative, marketing, financial, pastoral, technical, commercial and safeguarding) to provide visionary leadership and strategic direction on all aspects of teaching and non-teaching IT provision.
Support the Group Director of EdTech in the development, implementation, and regular review of new learning technologies to facilitate excellence in teaching and learning across the multiple school sites.
To continually develop the maturity of the whole school IT infrastructure.
To oversee and manage the Group’s cyber security strategy; ensuring the highest level of security is implemented and continually monitored to prevent compromise against cyber-attacks.
To ensure that the IT strategy supports the implementation of the whole school strategic vision and maintains Berkhamsted School’s reputation as a leader in digital learning
To work collaboratively with the IT Team, members of the IT Strategy Group and IT User Groups, to deliver the optimal technology to support - the teaching of the curriculum to pupils - effectiveness of the administration and support functions of the school
To manage and accept overall responsibility for all day-to-day operations, architecture and future development of the school’s cloud and local network infrastructure including all servers, switches, cabling, SaaS services, associated software, systems and integrations.
To develop and promote the brand of the Group within the education sector by leveraging Berkhamsted School’s leading position in the innovative use of technology.
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Job Description
Overall Responsibilities (directly and with the support of the IT Team):
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Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround
Management and coaching of the IT Support, Digital Innovation, Network Infrastructure, Business Systems, and Theatre teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation (circa 16 people).
Monitor the performance and efficient deployment of all IT staff.
Continually review and plan for the optimal provision of 1:1 digital devices for pupils.
Control and allocate budgets within formal deadlines, drive capital and revenue budget decisions forward and prepare new bids to support the implementation of the IT strategy
Overall management and delivery of approved IT development projects in line with the IT Strategy.
Support requirements of Admissions and Marketing teams including open days and parent events.
Leverage newer technologies such as AI and Power BI to drive IT and digital innovation.
Management day to day of the school’s network.
Developing, maintaining and documenting all IT-related policies, including acceptable use, information security, network policies and procedures
Supporting, identifying and delivering as required on the IT skills and training needs of the IT team, school staff and governors so they can perform their roles efficiently.
Maintaining an asset register with clear audit trail to all installed network infrastructure.
Manage all aspects of network security to achieve best practice and in line with IT-related policies, including responsibility for backup systems and disaster contingencies as they affect the administration and curriculum networks
Ensure IT equipment is installed, maintained and operated in compliance with Health & Safety regulations and the Schools’s Health & Safety policy.
Job Description
Develop strategies to ensure compliance with data storage and retention policies
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Continually assess and implement protections against cyber-attacks, including regular phishing simulation exercises.
Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround
Maintain the technology section of the School’s Risk register, identifying current and/or potential risks whilst providing mitigating actions.
Manage contracts, subscriptions and external suppliers of all IT Services.
Ensure ALL systems and services are fully documented and documentation is kept up to date.
Curate, organise and host the annual Schools’ IT Conference
Other systems and responsibilities:
Telecommunications
School registration
Multi-Functional Devices (networked copiers)
Theatre equipment
CCTV
Access Control
Job Description
Essential Skills:
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University degree in a relevant subject (Engineering, Mathematics, Computing, Management or similar) or commensurate experience in a related field.
Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround
Strong technical knowledge including networking, wireless technologies, systems architecture, cloud services, cyber security and all major Microsoft applications and services.
Exceptional people management skills with leadership experience at a senior level.
Experienced strategic planner able to evidence the development and implementation of complex transformation programs
Complex project management involving multiple stakeholders.
A proactive and solutions focused nature.
The ability to communicate in simple terms with non-IT staff when problems arise, to manage customer expectations and inspire confidence in problem solving.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to identify the need for, and undertake course led or other training, where required Effective management of development projects including appropriate liaison with teaching and support departments.
Highly numerate with experience of managing budgets and IT procurement.
Good awareness of Data Protection legislation.
Desirable Experience:
Post-graduate qualification in ICT or Management discipline
Project Management methodology qualification (Prince 2/ITIL).
Experience of working in a school or similar environment. iSAMS or other management information system experience.
Job Description
Attributes:
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Willingness to be pro-active in setting targets, advancing agendas, driving continuous improvement and taking the initiative.
Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround
Critical thinking and creative problem solving.
Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise.
Friendly and professional approach to students, teachers and support staff of the school.
Flexibility in approach to people and working arrangements.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Effective communicator with high standards of customer care.
Patience, good humour and resilience.
Commitment to continual professional development.
Willingness to work flexibly, sometimes outside of normal core hours, in response to service demands.
Benefits
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We boast a competitive salary structure, alongside other benefits, which includes access to a comprehensive pension scheme.
Specific benefits include:
Hoursofwork:830am-5pmMondaytoFriday,allyearround
25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and additional days for Christmas closure (dates agreed annually)
Generous Group Personal Pension scheme. Potential for up to 15% employer contribution (dependant on employee contribution)
Life Assurance (3 x annual salary benefit)
Free Daily Lunch (during term-time periods)
Free on-site parking
Fee reduction for staff children
The wellbeing of our staff is a priority. Comprehensive wellbeing programme for staff with initiatives and support in areas of Economic, Physical, Emotional and Social Wellbeing
Cycle to Work Scheme
Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
Free Annual Flu Vaccination
Free classes and advisory services
Memberships and discounted rates in local establishments
Watch our video
Benefits
Watch our video and hear from our colleagues why they enjoy working at the Berkhamsted Schools Group. Find out more about what it is really like to be a member of the community.
BenefitsSafeguarding and Child Protection
Berkhamsted is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding
A copy of the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found HERE
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding. Berkhamsted Schools Group is a registered charity dedicated to education: 310630
Further information
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It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children; applicants must be willing to undertake a number of safeguarding checks including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS). This post is also subject to receipt of written references which must be satisfactory to Berkhamsted Schools Group along with documentary evidence of qualifications
Successful applicants will need to provide confirmation of permission to work in the UK. Please note that under the Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, the school has an obligation to ensure applicants have the right to work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. (If it is found that those documents do not meet the legal requirement, an offer of employment will be withdrawn).
Where the successful candidate has worked or been a resident overseas in the previous five years, such checks and confirmations as the school may require in accordance with statutory guidance.
We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race.
Candidates with a disability who are invited to interview should inform the School of any necessary reasonable adjustments or arrangements to assist them in attending the interview.
If you have any questions relating to the role please contact William Townsend on the below details:
Tel: 0208 559 2077
Mob: 07775 857 021
www.esp-recruit.co.uk
