Head of IT & Digital

As part of this evolution BCHG is seeking to appoint a Head of IT & Digital to provide strategic leadership for technology, digital transformation, cyber resilience, IT operations, and organisational digital capability.

Client Details

Purpose of the role

Michael Page are proud to partnering with the Black Country Housing group to support in the next phase of enhancing IT, Digital and Data Analytic capabilities. As part of this evolution BCHG is seeking to appoint a Head of IT & Digital to provide strategic leadership for technology, digital transformation, cyber resilience, IT operations, and organisational digital capability. You will be pivotal in ensuring BCHG's technology direction, digital roadmap, cyber maturity and major systems align with organisational priorities. You will act as the senior authority for technology strategy, risk ownership and supplier governance.

About Black Country Housing Group

BCHG are a social business delivering quality homes and care. For the Black Country, by the Black Country. They have over 2,200 homes across the Black Country and Birmingham and one purpose built Residential Care Home. More than a registered provider of social housing, they support local communities by offering free services that help individuals with self-achievement and aspiration through their career development, training and employment services.

Their Vision is to be the leading provider of affordable, high-quality homes and outstanding care across the Black Country. Founded in 1974, they have grown significantly both in terms of the number of homes rented and the breadth of other housing related services now offered. They help thousands of customers every year making a real difference to their lives.

At Black Country Housing Group, their values are not just a set of words, but are at the heart of the way their organisation works and how employees interact in their day-to-day activities.

Please contact Michael Page for the detailed recruitment pack.

Description

1. Strategic Technology & Digital Leadership

• Lead the development and delivery of BCHG's AI & Digital Strategy and multi-year transformation roadmap.
• Drive digital innovation, automation, AI opportunities and service modernisation across all areas of the business.
• Shape and govern technology architecture, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure and aligned to business needs.
• Sponsor major programmes and cross-organisation digital change initiatives, ensuring benefits are delivered.
• Champion digital adoption, digital confidence and inclusive digital services.
• Lead responsible AI adoption, ensuring alignment with ethical, legal and regulatory expectations.

1. Cyber Security Leadership (Strategic)

• Own BCHG's cyber security strategy, risk register and cyber governance frameworks.
• Provide senior leadership on cyber resilience, policy, compliance and regulatory alignment.
• Oversee the SOC (Security Operations Centre) partnership, ensuring contractual performance and alignment with risk posture.
• Lead organisational incident response planning, acting as the senior escalation decision-maker.
• Own disaster recovery and business continuity strategy for technology (technical execution sits with IT Operations Manager).

1. IT Service Assurance & Supplier Governance

• Provide assurance on IT service performance, availability and compliance.
• Set expectations, standards and policies for IT operations, ensuring ITIL-aligned service management.
• Lead supplier governance, ensuring value for money and robust performance.
• Oversee investment planning, technology budgeting and procurement governance.
• Provide strategic oversight and final approval of technology procurement, ensuring alignment with architecture standards, cyber requirements and organisational priorities.

1. Digital Systems & Business Partnering Leadership

• Lead Digital Business Partnering for all service areas, ensuring technology supports service improvement.
• Oversee system roadmaps, configuration standards and long-term sustainability of core systems.

1. Leadership & Culture

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team across IT operations and digital change.
• Build a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and strong customer focus.
• Provide visible leadership, engaging with Directors, partners and auditors.

Profile

Essential

• Senior leadership experience in technology, digital transformation or IT strategy.
• Strong understanding of cyber governance, resilience and technology risk.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary digital/IT teams.
• Expertise in supplier governance and technology procurement.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills at executive level.
• Experience overseeing responsible adoption of AI and automation technologies.

Desirable

• Experience in housing/care/regulatory sectors.
• Experience with AI, automation or enterprise digital change.
• Strategic technology leadership experience.
• Strong background in digital transformation and system optimisation.
• Experience in cyber security, risk and governance.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.

Job Offer

• Flexible pension scheme with up to 7% employers' contribution
• £70 - £75K base salary
• Enhanced sick, maternity and paternity pay
• Subsidised wellbeing events
• 28 days A/L + 1 extra day at Christmas
• Purchase or sell up to one weeks leave per year
• Extra day (in year) given for 100% attendance
• Free Parking