Head of IT

Overview:

War Child UK works with children who, as a result of conflict, live with a combination of poverty, exclusion and insecurity. These children might include street children, child headed households, children conscripted into armed groups, and children who have been put in prison. Our mission is to support and improve the care and protection of children and young people who live with a combination of insecurity, poverty and exclusion in some of the worse conflict-affected places. We look forward to a world in which the lives of children are no longer torn apart by war. This is a vision that can only be realised through the collective actions of children themselves, communities and their leaders, organisations like War Child, governments and key decision makers.

The Head of IT is a new role at War Child UK and reflects our growing size and complexity. The post will work closely with other technology based teams at War Child including the digital team (based in the Advocacy and Communications Directorate) and the CRM Project Manager (based in the Fundraising Directorate).

War Child UK is looking to work far more closely with War Child Holland with a move to a shared platform for programme delivery by 2019. This role holder will need to work closely with the IT Manager in War Child Holland to develop a joint IT strategy that works towards this end.

Purpose of Post:

To lead on information management and technology in War Child and to ensure the provision of quality services to all our people. To work closely with War Child Holland to create an integrated IT strategy to support working as a global coalition.


A) JOB SPECIFICATION: TASK AND RESPONSIBILITES:

I. Develop, implement and evaluate War Child’s information management and technology strategy: Lead on the strategic direction, design, implementation and maintenance of information systems to support War Child’s operations, including solutions to support War Child country offices, flexible and off site working.

II. Work with War Child Holland to develop a joint strategy to support the War Child global platform.

III. Manage risk around IT related health and safety requirements and compliance with all other relevant legislation in relation to IT, through appropriate policies and procedures and risk management strategies.

IV. Manage data security risks and ensure IT systems meet the organisation’s needs (including back-up procedures to protect data on and off site, disaster recovery procedures, virus protection, access controls across all devices, asset management and physical security).

V. Ensure proper implementation, management, maintenance and support of War Child’s network infrastructure (hardware, software and communications, including mobile devices)

VI. As Data Controller for War Child ensure robust data protection systems for protecting all personal data and regularly appraise our performance against best practice.

VII. Manage and develop staff within the team in order to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills to achieve agreed performance targets and in accordance with War Child’s HR policies.

VIII. Develop and monitor the IT team budget in line with War Child’s budgeting process.

IX. Negotiate third party contracts involving the delivery of IT based products and services. Manage these third party relationships.

X. Identify individual, team and organisation IT related training needs and plan and implement training programmes to meet these.

Provide technical advice and project management for projects throughout the organisation as agreed, to ensure that all IT-related decisions are optimal for War Child.


B) PERSON SPECIFICATION:
War Child’s office is a lively and fast-paced environment made up of a team of extremely dedicated staff & volunteers. We’re looking for someone who can fit in well and bring their personality, creativity and professionalism to the wider charity.

Experience and mandatory criteria:

• Substantial experience in management and changing business processes.
• Fluency in English
• Right to work in the UK
• Demonstrable specialised commercial and/or technical experience of IT in a Windows based environment, including:

o communications
o hardware and applications software
o IT security
o distributed data management
o provision of training,
o project management
o relevant legislation,
o configuration management
o national/international standards
o business continuity
o product evaluation and contract management
o resource allocation
o business process improvement
o purpose and composition of Service Level Agreements


Technical Skills/Expertise:

• Knowledge and clear vision on the role of information management and information technology within an international NGO like War Child UK.
• Able to be hands on within a small team and focused on providing a good user experience.
• Expert technical knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including Office365.
• Implementing programmes or projects in line with budgets and plans, securing successful results and managing changes to plans where learning and/or circumstances require changes to be make.
• Sound technical expertise of ERP and CRM systems including Salesforce
• Knowledge of and experience with changing and automating business processes.
• Knowledge of and experience with IT service management processes

Competencies (Soft Skills):

• Motivated by and committed to War Child's values, vision and mission
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and able to communicate effectively with all key stakeholders by using clear, accurate yet simple language.
• Contributing to a culture of innovation and allowing people to consider and take managed risks.
• Able to building strong relationships with users throughout War Child and with external providers.
• Effectiveness in making decisions while exhibiting judgment and a realistic understanding of issues; ability to use reason, even when dealing with stressful and emotional topics.
• Proactively celebrate great performance and hold people accountable for poor performance against objectives and the needs of the organisation.

Desirable Criteria:
• French or Arabic language skills
• Experience of working in an international environment (preferably in an INGO)


C) CONTRACT TERMS
Working Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week
Probation: 6 months
Start date: January 2016
Travel: Regular travel to Holland, possible travel to our country offices
Salary: £43,313 - £48,825 per annum (depending on experience)
Leave: 28 days pa pro-rata, increasing by one day for each year’s service up to a maximum of 5 additional days
Pension: Matching contribution to your private pension up to 5% of gross salary
Other: As defined in standard War Child contract terms


Application process

• Download and complete the War Child Application Form from https://www.warchild.org.uk/content/jobs-and-volunteering-opportunities
• Application deadline is Wednesday 16 November 2016 and applications must be sent to recruitment@warchild.org.uk or the War Child office by this date. Please note CVs will not be accepted.
• Due to limited resources, War Child HR will contact only the shortlisted candidates.
• First round interviews will be held on 2 December 2016.
• Second round interviews for selected candidates will be held on 9 December 2016.
• Any offer made post the second interview will be conditional on receipt of three favourable written references, (from your most recent employer, any other previous employer and a character reference). War Child reserves the right to call the referees, in case clarification is required post the receipt of complete reference forms.
• The successful applicant will be expected to undergo a DBS Police check and/or international police check, a medical check for overseas travel purposes, be compliant and sign up to War Child’s Child Safeguarding Policy prior to a final offer being made.