Job Description:

IT Manager

Location: Manchester (Onsite)
Department: IT
Salary: £30k to £40k depending on experience

Company Description

UK Management College (UKMC) is a growing higher‑education provider offering a range of business‑focused and professional programmes. Our focus is on delivering practical, career‑driven education that prepares students for real opportunities in industry. We work with experienced academics, established professionals, and industry partners to ensure our courses remain relevant, supportive, and high‑quality. 

UKMC is looking to recruit an IT Manager to join their IT Team.

Essential

• 
  Minimum
  4+ years’ experience in IT management or a senior IT role within a multi-site organisation.


• Strong expertise in cloud environments, particularly Microsoft Intune and Microsoft 365.


• Proven experience in IT staff management, including performance management and PDPs.


• Experience managing cybersecurity frameworks and compliance standards (e.g., Cyber Essentials).


• Strong understanding of UK data protection regulations.


• Experience supporting or working alongside Student Information Systems.


• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.


• Good  understanding of Programming, API  integration, and database structure to manage the development of in-house CRM


• Solid understanding of the network experience working with Ubiquiti

 
Desirable

• Experience in higher education or academic environments.


• Familiarity with Tribal EBS or similar IS platforms.


• Experience managing offshore or distributed teams.


• Knowledge of AV systems and IT lab environments.
  

Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).


• Relevant certifications (e.g., Microsoft , ITIL, CISSP) are desirable.


• Key Competencies Leadership and people management


• Strategic thinking and planning


• Communication and stakeholder engagement


• Problem-solving and decision-making


• Risk and compliance management


• Working Relationships


• Internal: Senior Leadership Team, Academic Staff, SIS Team, Administrative Departments


• External: Partner Universities, IT Vendors, Regulatory Bodies

Additional Information

• Travel between campuses may be required.


• Flexibility to respond to critical IT incidents outside normal working hours.

 
Key Responsibilities
1. IT Operations & Infrastructure Management

• Oversee day-to-day IT operations across all UKMC campuses (Manchester, Derby, Newcastle) and offshore teams in Bangladesh.


• Manage and maintain a Microsoft Intune-based full cloud environment.


• Ensure high availability, performance, and security of IT systems, networks, and services.


• Support and maintain IT labs and AV equipment across campuses.

2. Cybersecurity & Compliance

• Maintain and enhance Cyber Essentials certification compliance.


• Implement and monitor IT security policies, including device restrictions and access controls.


• Ensure compliance with UK data protection regulations, including UK GDPR and institutional policies.


• Lead incident response and risk mitigation strategies.

3. IT Strategy & Planning

• Develop and implement IT strategies aligned with UKMC’s academic and operational goals.


• Lead IT budget planning, forecasting, and cost optimisation initiatives.


• Evaluate and recommend new technologies to enhance teaching, learning, and business operations.

4. Policy Development & Governance

• Design, implement, and review IT policies (e.g., data
  protection, acceptable use, device management).


• Ensure governance frameworks are in place and adhered to
  across all locations.


• Conduct regular audits and compliance checks.

5. Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary IT contact for senior leadership and key stakeholders.


• Communicate IT strategy, risks, and performance effectively to non-technical audiences.


• Collaborate with partner universities to ensure alignment of IT services and standards.

6. Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and manage a distributed IT team of approximately 300 staff, including offshore personnel.


• Drive performance management, training, and professional development.


• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

7. Vendor & Service Management

• Manage third-party vendors, service providers, and technology partners.

• Negotiate contracts and ensure service level agreements (SLAs) are met.