Director of Technology Services

The opportunity

University of the Arts London (UAL) is a world-leading creative University for teaching and research in art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts. UAL is made up of six renowned colleges and hosts several centres and institutes that further the University’s mission and social purpose, through the students and ideas we send out into the world and the partnerships we build to achieve social, environmental, and economic progress.

Digital & Technology provides a strategic and transformational University-wide approach, designing and delivering services to enable learning and teaching, research, and innovation, with a focus on continuously improving the student and staff experiences.

The Director of Technology Services is a pivotal role for Digital & Technology, working in partnership with the Chief Digital Officer and wider Senior Leadership Team, responsible for driving credibility with the business, and shaping the future technology landscape across our core infrastructure, AV, service management and cybersecurity.

This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact and change the way UAL operates, providing leadership and guidance to the Technology team, along with bringing innovative ideas to enhance the foundations for the Technology, guiding our strategy and delivery.

In recent years, we have made significant investment across our network infrastructure, telephony, cybersecurity capability and AV to ensure we are enabling our students, academics and professional staff. Looking forward, the successful candidate will have oversight of key investment areas including hosting and storage and identity management, as well as working in partnership with the wider team on areas such as Data and AI.

The role has functional oversight for more than 100 team members, and you will foster an open and inclusive, high-performance culture, identifying opportunities to improve our ways of working and multi-disciplinary approach to deliver continuous improvement of our foundational services.

About you

The successful candidate will possess a strong background in senior IT management, with demonstrated experience in delivering operational services across complex environments.

They must have a proven track record in driving, leading, and managing high-performing teams, along with demonstrable experience in driving and championing new ways of working at scale.

This role requires extensive experience working collaboratively with senior leadership colleagues to achieve a common strategic vision, complemented by excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical colleagues at all organizational levels.

Experience working within a Higher Education environment is desirable but not essential.

What we offer

To recognise the hard work of our staff and their contributions, we provide a wide range of benefits – please check our careers site/Canvas for further information as conditions and exclusions apply:

▪ 34 days of annual leave and 2 days off to volunteer plus bank holidays
▪ Flexible and Dynamic working options available from the first day
▪ Discounted Medical Insurance including Digital GP service, therapies, in-patient and day-case treatment
▪ Free counselling and advice via our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
▪ Sector-leading Equal Parental Leave policy (6 months full pay for both parents) 
▪ Defined-benefit LGPS pension scheme
▪ In-house training and development including apprenticeships and free places on creative courses
▪ Interest free loans on travel and tech, discounts on gym memberships, nursery fees, eye care and much more
▪ Various opportunities to attend student shows and exhibitions

We are UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) generates and inspires the creativity the world needs for a better future. Since 1842, our colleges have been defining creative education. With curiosity, imagination and intent we make work which creates lasting change for people and our planet. London is core to who we are, a place where we meet and share ideas with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Our creative network influences learning, culture, industry and society on a global scale. Our academics and practitioners deliver creative education and inspire new ways of thinking through research and innovation. We work with students at every level from pre-degree and short courses to postgraduate and online learning, enabling them to build the careers they want. Together, we are a community of makers, thinkers, pioneers and storytellers redesigning the future.

As a University, we are ranked second in the world for Art and Design. We are formed of 6 Colleges with unique histories and identities: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts. UAL also has 4 Institutes, 5 Research Centres, 1 Pre-Degree School and 2 subsidiary companies delivering specialist activities.

We are a global University, welcoming over 22,000 students and 6,000 staff from 130 countries. We aim to be a university where people can be themselves and feel supported to reach their full potential. That's why we are proud to be members of the Race Equality Charter (REC) and Business Disability Forum, are a Disability Confident Scheme Committed and Living Wage employer and maintain our status as a Stonewall Diversity Champion.