Head of Applications - #2170009

In 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running

Head of Applications

Location: Manchester (Hybrid - Occasional UK and world-wide travel may be required)

Salary: £65,000 per annum

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Please note: UK applicants only | No sponsorship available

About the Role

We're looking for an experienced, commercially minded Head of Applications to join our growing Group IT team.

Reporting directly to the Chief Architect, this is a high-visibility, impactful role where you will take strategic ownership of our group-wide enterprise application estate and integration capabilities. Leading a team of Application Managers and Integration Engineers, you will bridge the gap between technology and business priorities, ensuring our applications remain secure, reliable, supportable, and cost-effective.

We’re looking for a proactive, strategic tech leader who excels at vendor management, team development, multi-site application roadmapping, and translating complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders to deliver sustainable change.

Why Join Us?

• High-visibility leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Architect
• Total ownership of enterprise-wide application strategies and system roadmaps
• Leadership of a multi-disciplinary team across Application Management and Integration Engineering
• Hybrid working environment with an established, supportive tech leadership team
• Great Place to Work certified for six consecutive years
• Meaningful work using technology to improve outcomes for children and young people

What You'll Be Doing

Application Governance & Portfolio Management

• Own the Group Application portfolio, ensuring clear technical/business ownership, support models, data classifications, and lifecycle roadmaps.
• Conduct landscape reviews to identify opportunities for system rationalization, remediation, retirement, or investment.
• Work with project teams to assess business requirements for new applications before procurement begins.
• Oversee implementations, upgrades, releases, migrations, and decommissioning.

Integration & Automation Leadership

• Lead the Integration function, ensuring solutions and Power Automate workflows are designed, developed, monitored, and supported to approved architecture standards.
• Ensure projects produce proportionate designs, data flow diagrams, and support models.

Supplier Management & Cost Optimisation

• Manage operational relationships with strategic application and integration suppliers, overseeing service reviews and contract renewals.
• Contribute to budget setting, forecasting, and commercial negotiation to actively manage software licensing and platform costs.

Team Leadership & Service Performance

• Lead, mentor, and build a capable team of Application Managers and Integration Engineers.
• Define and report on service KPIs, operational risks, application availability, and incident trends.

About You

You’ll be a seasoned technology leader who thrives in complex multi-site environments and enjoys aligning technical capabilities with business goals.

Essential Experience & Skills:

• Education Sector Experience: Proven track record in an IT or Application Leadership role within the Education sector (e.g., Independent Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, or FE/HE).
• Core Systems: Strategic or operational experience overseeing school Management Information Systems (MIS), specifically iSAMS (or equivalent enterprise MIS platforms like Arbor, Bromcom, or SIMS).
• Application Leadership: Significant experience leading enterprise application support, business systems, or integration engineering teams.
• Commercial & Vendor Governance: Strong track record in supplier negotiation, contract due diligence, and software cost/licensing control.
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical and commercial concepts for non-technical leadership.

Preferred (Desirable) Experience:

• Experience with low-code automation tools, specifically Microsoft Power Automate.
• Exposure to complementary education technology tools (e.g., CPOMS, assessment platforms, or SEN tracking software).
• ITIL v4, PRINCE2, or Agile certifications.
• Experience driving software integrations between core school MIS and central enterprise HR/Finance systems

What You'll Bring

• A collaborative and strategic approach to technology governance.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong technical acumen balanced with commercial awareness.
• A genuine passion for using technology to improve outcomes for young people.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS check.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of suitable applications is received. Outcomes First Group is committed to a fair, thorough, and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. While we aim to keep applicants informed, we do not accept liability for any loss of earnings or costs incurred due to delays or changes in compliance processes. All stages are subject to safeguarding checks and statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.