Director of IT Operations
Delta Academies Trust, Knottingley, WF11 0EP26 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
2 March 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
3 February 2026
Job details
Job role
- IT support
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, all year round.
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Leadership Scale: L20 to L24 (£82,654 to £91,157)
What skills and experience we're looking for
Delta Academies Trust are looking to appoint a Director of IT Operations to join us on a full time, permanent basis.
Joining Delta Academies Trust as the Director of IT Operations is more than stepping into a senior IT leadership role. It’s becoming part of one of the UK’s most forward thinking, highly regarded and high performing mutli-academy trusts with over 60 academies across Yorkshire, the Humber and the North of England.
We are recognised nationally for our excellence in IT infrastructure, cyber security and support services which underpin our teaching, learning and data driven improvement for thousands of students and staff.
The IT services team of over 40 technicians centrally supports over 35,000 students and staff in their use of over 35,000 IT assets.
This is an opportunity to lead at the heart of a trust that has invested strategically in digital inclusion, centralised IT services and systems and innovative data management. Our reputation for delivering robust, future ready IT solutions means you will be shaping the digital backbone of an organisation that is already a benchmark for educational technology in the UK.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Delivering the IT strategy across a large and diverse trust, ensuring systems are resilient, secure and future proof.
- Leading IT teams and managed service partners, embedding best practice in operations, compliance, cyber security and safeguarding.
- Shaping digital transformation as part of our IT strategy board, directly impacting teaching and learning outcomes from device deployment to advanced analytics.
- Influencing at Board level, working alongside executive leaders to align IT strategy with our vision of “Changing Lives”.
- Creating career pathways for senior staff and aspiring leaders within IT, fostering a culture of innovation, professional growth and operational excellence, building a pipeline of leadership talent that strengthens both IT and the wider trust.
- Designing and delivering large scale projects, including our cloud first strategy and onboarding new academies into our digital ecosystem.
What We’re Looking For:
- Proven experience running IT operations in a UK sector environment (public, education or regulated sector desirable).
- Strong knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks and best practices.
- Strong background in managing service providers.
- Hands on experience with cloud platforms (M365 desirable).
- Excellent stakeholder communication and reporting skills.
- Strong leadership and people management abilities.
What the school offers its staff
Why Join Our Trust?
- We have a national reputation for IT excellence, and your leadership will be visible and valued.
- As part of our senior leadership team, you will be shaping not only the IT operations but also the future of education technology across our region.
- We value collaboration, integrity, and innovation.
- Enjoy a varied, autonomous role where your work truly makes a difference.
This is a career defining opportunity to lead IT operations in one of the UK’s respected and mature multi-academy trusts. If you think you are the person that could deliver this role and enhance our teaching, learning and leadership development across the Trust, we would love to hear from you.
For an informal conversation about the role, contact: Phil Thacker, IT Strategy & Project Lead by email at phil.thacker@deltatrust.org.uk
Employee Benefits
As a Trust, we have developed an extensive range of employee benefits that focus on yourFinancial, Physical and Mental Wellbeing.
Please see our website for the full range of employee benefits
For more information and to apply for this position please visit our website at https://www.deltatrust.org.uk/careers-with-delta/
Further information about the job
In accordance with DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education, an online search will be completed on all shortlisted applicants prior to interview. Any relevant information will be discussed further with the applicant during the recruitment process.
The Trust is committed to safeguarding the welfare of its students and the successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service certificate and checks of the relevant barred list / prohibition lists.
Delta Academies Trust undertake to treat all applicants for posts fairly and not to discriminate unfairly against volunteers or paid staff who voluntarily reveal that they have a criminal conviction. Equally, we will not discriminate unfairly against volunteers or paid staff where a Disclosure and Barring Service check reveals a criminal conviction or other information about offences.
Therefore, we will consider job applicants who have a criminal record based on their skills, abilities, experience, knowledge and, where needed, qualifications and training. However, our approach depends on the job, and whether it is covered by, or exempt from, the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post. However, it is important to note that if we receive a high volume of applications, we may limit the numbers of interviews offered to people with and without a disability.
Connect with us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/delta-academies-trust/
Follow us on X at https://www.x.com/deltatrustjobs
Commitment to safeguarding
In accordance with current DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education, an online search will be completed on all shortlisted applicants prior to interview. Any relevant information will be discussed further with the applicant during the recruitment process.
The Trust is committed to safeguarding the welfare of its students and the successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service certificate and checks of the relevant barred list / prohibition lists.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Delta Academies Trust
- Type
- Multi-academy trust
- Email address
- phil.thacker@deltatrust.org.uk
- Phone number
- 0345 196 0095
Delta Academies Trust are one of the largest multi academy trusts in the North of England with a passion and drive to improve the education experience for all pupils and students, regardless of where they live.
Our vision is to transform education across the North of England and level up the playing field for those children who live in disadvantaged circumstances. Our high expectations of students has created a culture and climate conducive to learning and as a result the progress made by all students across the Trust is extremely positive. The support from school leaders allows for innovative practitioners to practice their craft.
Working for us is all about passion, and we have lots of great people who are really passionate about what they do – from teaching assistants, IT technicians, teachers, caterers, leaders and curriculum experts. Ask our people what they get up to day to day and they’ll all tell you how much they enjoy the variety, pace, and challenge of working in one of our academies, schools or at Head Office.
If our vision fits with your vision, we would love to talk to you about our roles and the benefits of working with us.
We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community, a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.
Head office location
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