IT Head of Technology

WHAT IS ON OFFER

Alfred H Knight has an exciting opportunity for an IT Head of Technology to join our global team, based on-site at our headquarters in Prescot, Merseyside. 

This is a pivotal, high-impact leadership role sitting right at the core of our Group IT function. Driven by strong year-on-year growth and significant ongoing reinvestment back into our business, we are actively modernising our global technology landscape. Leading the Technology pillar of our Group IT function, you will be responsible for leading a dedicated, multi-disciplinary team—including Application Managers, Infrastructure Managers, Architects, and Development Leads—turning our strategic vision into operational excellence. 

Reporting to the Group Head of IT, you will take ownership across six core pillars of our global technology domain: 

• Technology Leadership & Vision: Partner with Strategy & Governance to execute our enterprise roadmap, operate within established technology governance frameworks, drive standardisation, and champion data as a key strategic asset. 
• Solution Implementation & Delivery: Direct complex, global solution rollouts across Agile, Hybrid, and Waterfall frameworks, working directly with architects to ensure a smooth transition from project delivery into operations.  . 
• Software Engineering Excellence: Modernise development practices, embedding DevOps, AI-assisted engineering, automation, and security-by-design across our enterprise applications and APIs .
• Global Infrastructure Management: Oversee the operation, scaling, and cost-optimisation of our worldwide infrastructure, cloud environments, network systems, and disaster recovery plans. 
• BI, Analytics & Data: Drive our enterprise reporting framework, leading the deployment of advanced analytics and self-service capabilities to deliver a single source of truth for the business. 
• COTS & Low-Code Platform Governance: Evaluate and manage major COTS/ERP solutions and low-code/no-code platforms, driving vendor performance, platform integration, and citizen developer enablement.

ABOUT US

Alfred H Knight is a totally independent, family owned business spanning five generations. A global network of strategically placed offices and laboratories enable global trade by providing independent inspection, analysis and consultancy services to the metals and minerals, solid fuels and agriculture industries.

We have honed and carefully crafted our reputation. Delivering knowledge and professionalism in all aspects of weighing, sampling and analysis. We thrive by continuing to re-invest in our facilities, technology and people. Click here to find out more about AHK.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

To be successful at Alfred H Knight you will need to display the following:

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND WORK EXPERIENCE 

Essential

• Senior Leadership: Proven track record in senior technology leadership roles, managing multi-disciplinary teams across software engineering, infrastructure, and delivery.
• Technical Depth Across Domains: Strong technical breadth and depth across enterprise architecture, cloud environments (Azure/AWS/GCP), modern software development, data, and infrastructure—with the ability to guide, challenge, and lead technical specialists across each area.
• Modern Engineering & Automation: Familiarity with modern software engineering practices, including DevOps, automation, security-by-design, and leveraging AI-assisted engineering tools.
• Delivery Oversight: Experience directing enterprise-wide technology deliveries and COTS/ERP implementations using Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid methodologies.
• Data & BI Governance: Broad understanding of Business Intelligence, enterprise analytics platforms, and maintaining data as a strategic asset.
• Operational Resilience: Practical knowledge of global infrastructure operations, high-availability cloud setups, disaster recovery, and risk management.
• Commercial & Vendor Acumen: Capability in overseeing tech vendors, contract reviews, license optimization, and 'build vs. buy' evaluations.
• People Leadership & Culture: Exceptional ability to mentor, coach, and inspire a diverse team of specialists while fostering a culture of technical excellence and innovation.

Required Competencies

• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate executive vision into operational tech roadmaps. 
• Strong executive-level communication and stakeholder management skills. 
• Excellent business acumen, aligning technology investment directly with operational growth. 
• A collaborative, open, and approachable leadership style that fits our family-owned values. 

Required Qualifications

• Formal education to degree level (or equivalent industry experience) in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline. 
• Relevant professional certifications in areas such as Cloud Architecture, IT Governance or Delivery Methodologies (e.g. Agile, DevOps, ITIL or TOGAF) are advantageous 

BENEFITS 

We are offering an excellent opportunity with a salary and benefits package to match including pension, life assurance and an employee assistance programme.

If you are invited to interview, please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to the recruitment process that will enable you to perform to the best of your ability.

Alfred H Knight is committed to creating a diverse & inclusive environment and hence welcomes applications from all sections of the community.