Head of IT

Morleys Department Stores Group is a privately-owned department store group that operates 7 stores principally in greater London and Newbury, and an Ecommerce platform for our flagship store in Wimbledon. Our stores are at the heart of local communities and have centuries of heritage, brand trust and loyalty - all key to the values we bring to life in-store and through our communications.

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Head of Technology, based in head office in Wimbledon.

Purpose of the Role

To manage and develop the IT function of Morley Stores, ensuring all systems and IT processes within the business are secure, compliant, and aligned with the evolving needs of the group. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring technical expertise, operational experience, and strong project management capabilities.

Position Profile & Role Summary

• Based at Head Office in Wimbledon, reporting to the Group Finance Director
• Key member of the Head Office team, managing and developing IT capabilities across all business sites
• Provide strategic IT advice to Heads of Departments, identifying and recommending innovative solutions to support the company’s future growth
• Oversee internal and third-party IT support
• Provide first, second, and third-line support to all stores and Head Office
• Ensure all retail locations have robust infrastructure and connectivity to operate efficiently
• Manage the investigation, tendering, and negotiation of key operational systems upgrades (e.g., Financial, POS, Inventory Management, HR systems) to ensure best-in-class tools are in use
• Project manage IT implementations including new store openings, refurbishments, and application changes
• Oversee SQL database management and scripting, ensuring performance, data integrity, and support for reporting and operational processes
• Lead development of business reports and dashboards, turning data into actionable insights for key stakeholders
• Drive systems integration efforts across platforms and departments (e.g., via APIs, ETL tools, middleware)
• Oversee and maintain Active Directory, including user access, security groups, permissions, and policy controls
• Ensure effective use and support of Microsoft Office 365 tools (Excel, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, etc.) across the business
• Continually monitor and improve IT security standards, ensuring alignment with industry best practices
• Maintain compliance with PCI-DSS, GDPR, and other relevant data and security regulations
• Develop and maintain IT disaster recovery plans and business continuity protocols
• Document and maintain IT policies, procedures, and infrastructure maps
• Support concession partners with technical onboarding and integration at Morley Stores locations
• Shape the future IT strategy and structure, ensuring scalability and agility as the business evolves
• Manage and develop the IT team to ensure it is effectively structured and resourced to meet business demands

Team Structure

• Directly manages an SQL Administrator and an IT Support Manager
• Works closely with well-established external IT solutions partners to drive innovation and ensure timely delivery of projects

Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience

• Experience in a multi-site retail environment
• Finance software
• EPOS
• Inventory management software
• Data warehousing, business reporting and visualisation tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau)
• Web platforms – particularly Shopify
• CRM tools
• Ticket management (ITSM)
• Proficiency in SQL, including scripting, stored procedures, views, and performance optimisation
• Proven experience developing business intelligence dashboards and reports for operational and strategic decision-making
• Systems integration experience, including APIs, data synchronisation, and ETL processes
• Active Directory administration – managing user accounts, permissions, and group policies
• Experience managing Mitel telephony systems, including configuration and support
• Successful track record managing end-to-end system implementations (ERP, POS, etc.)
• Experience with data governance, accuracy, and compliance
• Ability to define and execute IT strategy in alignment with business goals

Key Personal Attributes

• Self-starter with a proactive mindset and strong ownership of responsibilities
• High attention to detail with excellent prioritisation skills
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Effective communicator — able to interact confidently with stakeholders at all levels.
• Team player with a collaborative and supportive working style
• Positive, enthusiastic, and results-driven
• Highly organised and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

If you hold the technical skills and can bring a forward thinking, positive, team-based approach to the role, we would love to hear from you!