Head of Digital Solutions

Canterbury Christ Church University – IT & Digital Directorate

Are you a visionary digital leader ready to shape the technological future of a modern UK university? We’re seeking a Head of Digital Solutions to lead the design, development and delivery of the University’s digital infrastructure, ensuring our systems, platforms and services empower staff and students alike.

As a senior leader within our IT & Digital Directorate, you’ll define how our technology landscape evolves – from cloud strategy and data integration to end user computing, networks and enterprise systems. You’ll bring together people, processes, and technology to create a cohesive, secure and future-ready digital environment.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide strategic leadership for the university’s digital solutions, working with the Director of Digital Architecture to define a clear vision and roadmap for our digital platforms, networks, systems, and cloud services.
• Align technology with service design, collaborating closely with our Digital Design team to ensure our IT solutions enhance user experience and unlock opportunities through innovation and emerging technologies.
• Oversee architecture and design, ensuring that our digital solutions are scalable, secure, and sustainable, supporting long-term institutional goals.
• Lead and develop a talented team, fostering a culture of innovation, learning, and collaboration while ensuring resources are effectively prioritised and managed.
• Drive infrastructure modernisation, adopting modern, efficient, and secure approaches to cloud, networking, and systems management.
• Champion integration and interoperability, ensuring our systems work seamlessly together, enabling better data flow, automation, and insight across the university.
• Provide strong technical governance, embedding standards, security, and resilience across all digital solutions.
• Shape and support digital projects, ensuring internal and external teams deliver high-quality, sustainable outcomes aligned with our design principles and strategic objectives.

About You

You’re an experienced technology leader who understands how to balance strategic vision with hands-on delivery. You have deep knowledge of digital infrastructure, enterprise systems and cloud technologies, and you know how to lead multidisciplinary teams through transformation and growth. You’re just as comfortable discussing data architecture and cyber security as you are engaging stakeholders to shape shared digital goals.

You’ll be someone who:

• Brings substantial experience in enterprise-scale IT or digital transformation leadership.
• Understands the power of collaboration between design, architecture, and delivery teams.
• Can translate complex technical concepts into clear, strategic direction.
• Thrives in a university or complex public-sector environment, aligning digital capabilities to organisational purpose.

Why Join Us?

At Canterbury Christ Church University, we’re investing in our digital future – modernising our infrastructure, improving digital experiences and unlocking the potential of data and technology to transform how we work, teach and learn. You’ll join a forward-looking team with the autonomy to shape meaningful change, working in a supportive environment that values innovation, creativity and people.

If you’re ready to lead a capable team and make a lasting impact on the digital foundations of a university community, we’d love to hear from you.

Flexible & Connected Working

We are committed to supporting flexible methods of working wherever possible. Campus attendance will vary on a day-to-day basis and across the year, but must purposefully align to the needs of our students, staff, and stakeholders. It is expected that there will be a relatively even balance between time spent on and off campus, but in most cases the work location will be determined by the service required or the tasks/activities being undertaken.

How to Apply

Closing date for applications: Friday 31st October 2025. Interviews are to be held: TBC- November 2025. If you require further information regarding the post please feel free to contact Andrew Chenery at andrew.chenery@canterbury.ac.uk (strictly no agencies, thank you) quoting reference number REQ05890. A full application including a cover letter detailing your experience alongside a CV is required for applications to be considered.

Benefits of Working at CCCU

Canterbury Christ Church University is located in the world-famous Cathedral city amongst stunning history and heritage. Canterbury is a thriving international destination, with many students and staff choosing to study and work here, making this historic, cosmopolitan city vibrant and culturally diverse. Our staff enjoy competitive salaries and a great working environment with a number of benefits ranging from the occupational pension scheme to use of the University’s facilities including the library and fitness centre. We are strongly committed to equality and recognise the value of a diverse workforce. We offer generous holiday entitlements plus eight bank and public holidays, as well as discretionary days over the Christmas period.