Norther Ireland Assembly logo

Head of IT
Ceannasaí TF

Ready to play an important role in the work of the Northern Ireland Assembly?

Learn More
Colleagues discussing business during a meeting

The Head of IT is a key senior position, with responsibility for providing strategic leadership on the effective, efficient and secure delivery and use of information technology to support the business of the Assembly and of the Assembly Commission.

Head of IT
Ceannasaí TF

What we're looking for

As Head of IT you will be responsible for the delivery of a wide range of IT services to approximately 1,000 users. You will have the opportunity to shape and deliver modern technology solutions to support users through the provision of secure, resilient and fit for purpose technology. You will lead the IT function and will work with the Senior Management Team to align technology-related decisions with the Corporate Strategy, ensuring that systems are secure, stable and robust.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a leading and high profile organisation and apply your dynamic leadership skills and professional knowledge to a challenging and rewarding position. We are seeking an experienced, highly motivated, impactful leader who will lead a customer-focussed function that will contribute positively to the delivery of high-quality services. You will need to have a well-developed knowledge of technology solutions, a strong customer ethos and a proven ability to work both at a strategic and operational level.

You will hold or have held significant, high-level accountability for mission critical IT systems in a large and complex organisation.

The main duties and responsibilities of the post are:

Strategic

  • Developing the IT vision, strategy and accompanying action plan and delivering it through a robust programme and project management framework, in line with best practice, to support the continuing digital transformation of Assembly and Assembly Commission business.
  • Identifying future challenges in the IT landscape and developing relevant mitigation strategies.
  • Researching and evaluating existing and emerging technologies, products and services, particularly cloud computing, to identify potential areas of improvement and support new ways of working.
  • Providing advice to the Director of Parliamentary Services, Senior Management Team and the Assembly Commission on IT-related matters.
  • Representing the Assembly at external forums and events, building and maintaining effective and constructive external relationships.

Operational

  • Managing a small and diverse team of IT staff.
  • Directing and organising IT-related projects.
  • Ensuring the availability of the network, services and data.
  • Managing application (software) development and production of customised IT solutions including the Assembly Information Management System (AIMS) Programme.
  • Managing day-to-day helpdesk and business relationship management activities.
  • Overseeing IT budgeting and forecasting.
  • Formulating implementing and reviewing IT-related aspects of business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
  • Ensuring compliance with relevant delivery, security and risk management standards.
  • Ensuring that the IT team have the knowledge, skills and experience to fulfil individual and organisational needs and ambitions.
  • Managing and mitigating IT security and cyber risks and ensuring the Assembly Commission’s data and systems remain secure by keeping up to date on the latest cyber security threats.
  • Managing the procurement and implementation of new software and hardware, ensuring alignment with requirements while demonstrating value for money.
  • Manage information and records in accordance with established policies and statutory requirements.
  • Comply with all of the Assembly Commission’s staff policies and procedures including Equal Opportunities and Dignity at Work policies and procedures.

You may also be required to carry out other duties that the Assembly Commission reasonably requires of you.

Find out more and apply now
What we're offering
  • Salary range: £76,946 - £79,269
  • Many of our roles offer hybrid working whereby staff may have the opportunity to work from home for part of the week.
  • We offer an annual leave allowance of 25 days, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30 days. In addition, we offer 12 days of public and privilege holidays.
  • The Assembly will enrol you into the Civil Service Pension Scheme from the first day of employment. Staff contribute between 4 and 9% of salary and the Assembly Commission contribute a further 28 to 35% of salary, depending on your rate of pay.
Find out more about employee benefits
Essential Criteria

At the closing date for applications, applicants must have:

 

EITHER

1. At least a degree in a computing or information management related discipline. (Applications will be considered from applicants with formal qualifications of an equivalent or higher standard to those stated).

AND

Experience in each of the following areas:

a) At least 5 years’ experience as a senior leader* in IT service delivery or IT operations in a significant and complex organisation**.

b) Demonstrable experience of successfully delivering a significant customer centric IT project or programme*** within the last 3 years.

c) Demonstrable experience of successfully managing substantial**** IT operational contracts.

d) Demonstrable experience of developing, implementing and managing and frameworks for managing organisation-wide IT security and cyber risks.

 

OR

 

2. Experience in each of the following areas:

a) At least 8 years’ experience as a senior leader* in IT service delivery or IT operations in a significant and complex organisation**.

b) Demonstrable experience of successfully delivering a significant customer centric IT project or programme*** within the last 3 years.

c) Demonstrable experience of successfully managing substantial**** IT
operational contracts.

d) Demonstrable experience of developing, implementing and managing frameworks for managing organisation-wide IT security and cyber risks.

 

The following clarification is provided:

* Senior leader means a level at which you were responsible for providing
strategic advice or taking decisions on strategic issues concerning the organisation with which you worked either as a member of staff or advisor.

** A significant and complex organisation is defined as having in excess of 500
 users and a range of diverse business functions.

*** Significant IT project or programme means a project or programme
provided to at least 500 users.

**** A substantial contract means a contract that supports the delivery of an IT
project or service with an overall value in excess of £0.5 million.

Shortlisting criteria

Should shortlisting be required, the following shortlisting criteria will be applied:

Experience of delivering IT projects that could be subject to high levels of external scrutiny (eg. press, audit, shareholders etc).

Quick Q&A for this job...​

Salary range: £76,946 – £79,269

There is one permanent position.

The Head of IT leads the Information Systems Office, which is within the Parliamentary Services Directorate. The post-holder is responsible for three distinct teams of IT staff in the Information Systems Office (Infrastructure, Development and Helpdesk), providing and supporting the Assembly’s Information Systems and IT requirements.

Director of Parliamentary Services

The successful applicant will be based in Parliament Buildings, Belfast. Many of our roles offer hybrid working whereby staff may have the opportunity to work from home for part of the week.

Completed application forms must be submitted by 12 noon on Wednesday 2 November 2022.

The Selection Process

There are five elements within the Recruitment and Selection Framework:

Experience – the knowledge or mastery of an activity or subject gained through involvement in or exposure to it.

Ability – the aptitude or potential to perform to the required standard.

Technical – the demonstration of specific professional skills, knowledge or qualifications.

Assembly Skills and Behaviours – the actions and activities that people do which result in effective performance in a job.

Strengths – the things we do regularly, do well and that motivate us.

The elements that will be assessed for this role are Experience, Technical, Assembly Skills and Behaviours and Strengths and the selection method(s) that will be used are detailed below. Further information on the Recruitment and Selection Framework are included in the Guidance on Recruitment and Selection for Applicants.

The essential criteria reflect the experience and knowledge that an applicant must possess in order to be able to undertake the role. An eligibility sift will be carried out on the basis of the information contained in the essential criteria section of the application form. You must therefore demonstrate clearly in your form how, and to what extent, you meet with the essential criteria for the post. 

The selection panel reserve the right to use shortlisting as part of the selection process for this post. Should shortlisting be used, the shortlisting criterion listed in the Job Specification will be applied. The selection panel reserve the right to set a minimum standard for the shortlisting criterion and/or to only invite those who score highest in the shortlisting criterion to the next stage of the selection process. If shortlisting is not necessary, all applicants who have demonstrated the essential criteria will proceed to the next stage of the selection process.

As part of this stage of the selection process, applicants will be required to complete:

a) an interview, which will address the information contained in the Job Specification and will assess elements of the Recruitment and Selection Framework; and

b) the preparation and delivery of a presentation to the selection panel. The subject of the presentation will be advised to the applicant on the day of the interview.

Interviews are planned for week commencing 14 November 2022.

The selection panel reserves the right to hold a further interview stage if deemed necessary.

Further information on the Recruitment and Selection process is available in the Recruitment and Selection Framework and Guidance on the Recruitment and Selection for Applicants.

Head of IT
Ceannasaí TF

Below you will find everything you need to apply for the position.

Read all the information about the job and the associated guidance related to working in the Assembly:

You are now ready to complete the online application:

Apply Now

Please note that the application form will be unavailable from 18:30 until 23:00 on Monday 17 October 2022 due to maintenance of the system.

If you are unable to access the form during this time please try again later.

The deadline for applications expired at 12 noon on Wednesday 2 November 2022.

Further Information

If you require more information on the recruitment process, please contact the Human Resources Office on 028 90 521741 or email recruitment@niassembly.gov.uk.

Visit our website for further information about the Assembly.

Apply Now

Please note that the application form will be unavailable from 18:30 until 23:00 on Monday 17 October 2022 due to maintenance of the system.

If you are unable to access the form during this time please try again later.