Senior Manager - IT

Position Summary

The Senior Manager – IT will lead the planning, delivery, governance, and continuous improvement of the University's IT operations and technology services. The role will be responsible for ensuring reliable, secure, scalable, and high-performing technology infrastructure that supports teaching, learning, research, student experience, and administrative functions.

The role will provide strategic and operational leadership to the IT function, including infrastructure, networks, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, end-user support, digital learning technologies, IT projects, vendors, and technology operations.

The Senior Manager – IT will work closely with academic leadership, faculty, professional services, student services, and external technology partners to ensure that technology solutions are aligned with institutional priorities and the requirements of a modern higher-education environment.

** Experience in a University, higher-education institution, academic environment, EdTech organisation, or education-focused technology ecosystem is preferred.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations of campus IT systems, networks, servers, cloud environments, telecommunications, and technology infrastructure.
• Ensure high availability, performance, scalability, and security of IT infrastructure and services.
• Develop and maintain robust backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity frameworks.
• Lead IT service management, incident management, problem management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee helpdesk and end-user support services for students, academic staff, and professional staff.
• Establish and monitor SLAs, KPIs, service standards, and IT service performance.
• Ensure effective technology support for classrooms, laboratories, lecture theatres, AV systems, hybrid learning, and teaching technologies.
• Oversee the administration and support of core University systems, including LMS, SIS/Student Information Systems, ERP, email, identity management, collaboration platforms, and related integrations.
• Ensure effective integration, configuration, upgrades, and lifecycle management of enterprise and academic technology systems.
• Lead cybersecurity, threat monitoring, vulnerability management, data protection, privacy, and IT risk-management initiatives.
• Establish appropriate cybersecurity awareness and training programmes for staff and students.
• Lead response to cybersecurity incidents and coordinate remediation and recovery activities.
• Lead IT projects involving digital transformation, EdTech, learning technologies, system upgrades, cloud adoption, infrastructure modernisation, and new technology implementations.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend solutions that enhance teaching, learning, student experience, research, and institutional operations.
• Manage IT vendors, technology partners, service providers, and contractors.
• Lead procurement, contract management, renewals, SLA reviews, and vendor performance management.
• Develop and manage the IT budget, including infrastructure, software, licensing, assets, services, and operational expenditure.
• Ensure effective IT asset lifecycle management, inventory control, procurement, and technology refresh programmes.
• Lead, mentor, and develop IT professionals, including systems administrators, network engineers, support teams, and technology specialists.
• Build a culture of service excellence, collaboration, innovation, security, and continuous improvement.
• Manage staffing, workload allocation, performance management, capability development, and succession planning within the IT function.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in IT operations, infrastructure, systems administration, technology management, or IT leadership.
• Demonstrated experience managing IT teams and complex technology environments.
• Strong experience across networks, infrastructure, servers, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, enterprise systems, and end-user support.
• Experience managing IT projects, vendors, budgets, procurement, and technology implementations.
• Strong understanding of information security, data protection, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Strong stakeholder-management and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior leadership and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred

• Experience in a University, higher-education institution, college, academic organisation, research institution, or international education environment.
• Experience in EdTech, digital learning, learning management platforms, education technology, or technology-enabled education services.
• Experience supporting academic staff, students, classrooms, laboratories, lecture theatres, and teaching/learning technologies.
• Experience with LMS, SIS, ERP and academic technology integrations.
• Postgraduate qualification in IT/Computer Science/Management or relevant industry certifications such as ITIL, CISSP, CCNA, Microsoft, AWS, Azure, etc.
• Experience supporting technology operations in a multi-campus or multi-location environment.
• Exposure to international university standards, information-security frameworks, and higher-education technology practices.

Key Relationships

• Chief Business Officer – strategic direction, technology roadmap, performance oversight and reporting.
• Academic Leadership & Faculty – teaching, learning, research, academic technology and faculty requirements.
• Professional Services – student services, admissions, finance, HR, operations and learning support.
• Students – technology support, digital services and student experience.
• University/Global IT Teams – technology standards, security, architecture, systems and shared services.
• Technology Vendors & Partners – implementation, support, service delivery and innovation.
• Regulatory & Accreditation Bodies – including UGC and relevant accreditation agencies.