Head of IT (f/m/d)

The Head of IT is a hands-on technology leader responsible for all internal corporate IT services and operations across multiple international locations. This role ensures that IT infrastructure, support, and systems effectively align with business needs while maintaining high service quality. The Head of IT will oversee IT operations globally, with focus in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, India, and New Zealand, coordinating a distributed team. As the senior IT professional, they provide strategic direction for IT services and lead day-to-day IT operations to support business users across these regions. Excellent communication in English is required (fluency in German is a strong plus) to collaborate with stakeholders and local teams.

Key responsibilities:

• IT Service & Operations Leadership: Lead the internal IT function covering infrastructure, end-user support, and service delivery. Ensure availability and performance of core systems to support business operations and growth. Act as the escalation point for IT issues, maintaining operational excellence and user satisfaction.

• ITIL Process Implementation: Drive the development and compliance of IT service management processes in line with ITIL v4 best practices. Champion continuous improvement of incident management, change management, and other ITIL processes, ensuring clear ownership and continuous improvement. Establish a culture of service excellence and process discipline within the IT team.

• Technology Strategy & Roadmap: Collaborate with senior management to define the IT strategy and roadmap that supports business objectives. Plan and implement upgrades or new solutions to enhance productivity and scalability. Stay abreast of emerging technologies – including cloud and AI – to identify innovative solutions.

• Technical Oversight: Oversee technical delivery of key corporate IT systems and applications (Microsoft 365 for collaboration, Salesforce CRM, NetSuite ERP, Azure cloud infrastructure, etc.), ensuring they are secure, reliable, and effectively meeting user needs. Although not directly responsible for cybersecurity, the Head of IT will ensure alignment with security policies and coordinate with the security team to maintain compliance with standards like ISO 27001.

• Automation & Efficiency: Identify opportunities to automate recurring tasks and improve IT processes through scripting and integration of tools. Leverage automation to drive efficiency in areas such as system provisioning, user on/off-boarding, monitoring, and reporting. Encourage the IT team to adopt modern automation frameworks to reduce manual workload and minimize errors.

• Budget & Vendor Management: Own the IT operations budget and ensure cost-effective use of resources. This includes planning and managing IT expenditures, software licenses, and asset procurement in line with financial targets. The Head of IT also manages relationships with vendors and service providers, negotiating contracts and ensuring vendors meet their SLAs. Regularly report on IT spending to senior leadership.

• Project and Change Management: Lead key IT projects from initiation to completion. Develop project plans, coordinate cross-functional efforts, and ensure timely delivery within budget. Oversee change management to minimize disruption to business services when implementing new systems or updates.

• Team Leadership & Development: Manage and mentor the IT team. Provide clear direction, set performance goals, and support professional development of team members. Ensure adequate resources and capacity within the team, and recruit talent as needed to meet evolving IT support demands. Foster a collaborative team environment spread across multiple countries.

• Governance & Compliance: Ensure IT operations adhere to company policies and any relevant regulatory or compliance requirements. This includes maintaining IT governance structures and documentation. The Head of IT will define and uphold processes, aligned to ISO 27001.

The Head of IT will lead a team of technical administrators and support engineers, primarily based in Europe and Asia-Pacific regions, and will guide the team’s expansion as the company grows. The role involves coordinating across multiple time zones and may require occasional travel to the various office locations to oversee local IT setups or projects. The ideal candidate is comfortable managing a geographically dispersed team and can scale the IT organization to meet new demands.

This Head of IT will report to the CIO and will liaise regularly with other department heads to ensure IT services are meeting functional needs.

• Experience: 8–12 years of progressive IT experience (with several years in leadership roles) managing internal IT infrastructure and service teams. Proven track record of overseeing enterprise IT operations and support functions across multiple locations or a global environment

• Leadership & Communication: Demonstrates ability to lead and develop a high-performing IT team. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work with both technical staff and non-technical stakeholders. Fluent English is required; proficiency in German is highly desirable for supporting German offices and liaising with local vendors.

• IT Service Management: Knowledge of ITIL v4 framework and its practical implementation. Preferably ITIL certified, with hands-on experience establishing service desks, incident/change processes, and continuous service improvement initiatives. Commitment to aligning IT services with recognized best practices and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

• Technical Proficiency: Broad understanding of corporate IT systems and modern enterprise software. Experience with any of the following is advantageous; Microsoft 365, Salesforce CRM, NetSuite ERP, and managing cloud infrastructure on Microsoft Azure. Familiarity with IT security and compliance tools is beneficial.

• Automation & Scripting: Hands-on skills in scripting or IT process automation (PowerShell, Python, or similar) to streamline workflows. A mindset of continuous improvement, using automation tools to enhance efficiency and reduce manual effort in IT operations.

• Budget & Vendor Management: Strong budgeting skills to manage the IT department’s finances. Experience negotiating with IT vendors, managing outsourcing partners or service providers, and optimizing license and support contracts. Ability to balance cost control with the need to invest in reliable technology solutions.

• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple IT projects and priorities simultaneously. Experience in driving IT infrastructure upgrades, software deployments, or office expansions is a plus.

• Compliance & Standards: Working knowledge of ISO 27001 information security standards and other relevant compliance regimes. Ensure that IT operations support the company’s security and data protection objectives. Adherence to quality standards in IT service delivery is expected.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, or equivalent demonstratable experience. Relevant IT certifications are advantageous.

Gagandeep Virdi

Please submit your application, including salary expectations and potential date of entry, by submitting the form on the next page.

Working at thinkproject.com - think career. think ahead.

#GV1-LI