Head of Development (MIS/IT)

Salary: £47,696 - £50,815 / year

Head of Development (MIS/IT)
Application Deadline: 4 August 2024

Department: Computer Services

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Graig Campus

Reporting To: Director of Digital Services

Compensation: £47,696 - £50,815 / year

DescriptionAs a corporate institution serving the needs of both Further and Higher Education, Coleg Sir Gâr/Coleg Ceredigion are committed to providing a responsive and professional service to staff and students. One of the broad functions spanning the whole of the College is that of Information and Digital Services and, in particular, its application to student learning.

At the heart of this commitment, our IT team, covering seven campuses across Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, leads the way in technological innovation and digital infrastructure. With a robust 10 Gbps network backbone around Carmarthenshire and 1 Gbps link to Ceredigion, we ensure seamless connectivity and high-speed access throughout our institution. Our forward-thinking approach is further exemplified by our fully virtualized environment and strategic adoption of cloud technology, enabling scalable resources and enhanced data accessibility. This state-of-theart infrastructure supports integrated systems that streamline administrative and academic processes, offering a seamless experience for our faculty, staff, and students. Accommodating a diverse array of PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, and various mobile devices, we equip our community with the necessary tools for success in an increasingly digital world. By leveraging cutting-edge IT solutions, including cloud services and integrated systems, we are dedicated to enhancing the educational experience, fostering innovation, efficiency, and excellence across all our campuses.

The ideal candidate will ensure systems such as student record systems, finance systems, and HR & payroll systems are integrated, efficient, reliable, and secure. Additionally, this position requires hands-on experience in software development, especially in the development and maintenance of system interfaces using a variety of programming languages and database systems. The successful candidate will demonstrate a creative and innovative approach, the ability to prioritise projects effectively, manage projects against tight deadlines, and the skill to build professional relationships within IT and across the college.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and integration of complex applications and systems, focusing on enhancing security, efficiency, and user experience;
• Further develop the college's digital environment and initiate, deliver and manage projects against agreed deadlines and KPIs;
• Communicate, verbally and in writing, ideas or benefits relating to IT systems, services and projects, including effectively promoting technical solutions/developments to non-technical colleagues;
• Ensure efficient and effective working practises and processes are implemented and subsequently sustained;
• Ensure the strategic aims of the college are addressed and analyse the operating and business needs of the college;
• Maintain existing and develop new application services, integrations, interfaces, web and computerised systems;
• Maintain the confidentiality, availability and integrity of essential business information systems;
• In conjunction with the Director of Digital Services, work closely with college staff and external partners/consultants to develop IT strategies, policies and solutions which meet relevant institutional, professional, legislative and regulatory requirements

Skills Knowledge and ExpertiseEssential Criteria:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in computer science, software engineering or similar IT field
• An experienced IT professional with evidence of extensive professional experience in the IT Industry
• Hands-on experience of software development in particular the development and maintenance of system interfaces using C#, PHP, ASP, .NET, MS Visual Basic, Java Script, MS SQL, Web applications, Database systems including Oracle, MS SQL Server, MySQL, MS Access and report writing applications
• Good understanding of project management software and techniques
• Familiarity with systems analysis and design methodologies, applying these to complex problem-solving
• Comprehensive knowledge of application development security and web application security protocols
• Good understanding of how to apply the latest technology changes in order to achieve business and commercial goals

Desirable Criteria:

• Demonstrable success and impact from effectively leading, managing and motivating staff, securing individual and collective engagement and action

Welsh Language Requirements:

• Welsh Oracy (Listening/Speaking) - Level 0/1
• Welsh Literacy (Writing/Reading) - Level 0/1

See detailed language descriptions attached.

Persons are welcome to apply for posts in Welsh and applications made in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.

For a full job description, please click attached.

Benefits

• You will receive 37 days holiday, plus bank holidays and five closure days which totals at 50 days holiday per year.
• Extremely generous pension scheme with employer contributions of 20%.
• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme
• Award-winning professional learning and development programme.
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free on-site car parking
• Online and instore retail discounts