IT Projects Manager

Purpose of the role

We are excited to be growing our IT Department team to add an IT Projects Manager with extensive experience in successful IT projects delivery to Multi Academy Trusts (MAT), Single Academy Trusts (SAT) or Schools.

As the United Learning IT Projects Manager, you will play a crucial role in supporting the work of the IT department in delivering a significant programme of change across all our schools and to those working with our Trust as we develop a 2030 vision for IT. The role will also involve taking on the oversight and co-ordination of the technical IT onboarding of new schools into the group and additionally supporting the Head of IT with major IT procurements. You will be able to contribute to our IT processes and operating approaches, ensuring that we are efficient and scalable, as we continue to grow our network of schools across the length and breadth of England. The IT Department oversees and substantially directs all technical operations and support to both our schools and central office. As part of growth, we are continually looking to make greater use of our scale, and this position will be instrumental in supporting this.

This is a field‑based role supporting our primarily cloud‑based IT operations (M365) across our three central office locations and 106 schools. While the post holder may be based anywhere that enables effective support to both central office and schools, there is an expectation of regular travel to our Peterborough Head Office (typically 2–3 days per week), with flexibility offered to secure the right candidate. The role also requires travel to our offices in London, as well as national travel to school sites, including the ability to stay overnight when necessary. When working remotely, Microsoft Teams is used as the primary communication platform.

Whilst you will work primarily with the IT Department team, you will be heavily involved with our Transformation Department and especially their project leads co-ordinating IT technical work. Your work will significantly impact all of our schools and their delivery of high-quality education to over 75,000 students.

You will have an eye for technical detail and an understanding of IT processes and systems that can best support an organisation with a national footprint. Your technical knowledge should be significant, equivalent to a school Network Manager, able if ever required to work on systems competently and expertly with no direct supervision, able to draw on experts when required from within the department. We work primarily in cloud systems under the Microsoft technology stack Azure/Entra with a focus on Microsoft Teams as our primary platform for communication across the organisation and in TEAMS use by schools supporting teaching and learning.

We will make sure that you have the support you need to succeed from the range of specialists working in the organisation and other members of the team. We are open to early career and career change applicants, and we will consider opportunities for training and development on an individual basis.

About you - knowledge, skills, and experience required

• Extensive experience in IT project delivery within a MAT/SAT or school environment, along with suitable project management qualifications (e.g., Agile, PRINCE2) or substantial project management experience with a willingness to undertake formal training.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to simplify complex concepts; effective problem‑solving and planning skills, with the ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team.
• Desirable experience in school-based technical operations, including cloud platforms such as Azure/Entra; desirable knowledge of ITIL and school procurement processes, as well as experience working in education or with young people.

Please refer to the Job Description for further details on the full skills and experience required for this role.

Personal Attributes

To be successful in this role, you will be intellectually curious, with an openness to learning and an ability to innovate to achieve results. As an expert user of technology, you will be open to learning about the software and systems our central office and schools are using. You will have an analytical mindset, capable of capturing, breaking down and simplifying complex information for our stakeholders. You will be a critical thinker able to translate an idea or business case into a coherent project plan and ensure links to other projects are identified at the outset.

You will need to be a self-starter, focused and willing to learn and work as part of a team. You will be willing to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the education system and best practices within the sector. You will be communicating directly with school colleagues from our trust and beyond, so you will need excellent communication skills.

You will be excited by the prospect of working on a range of projects which improve the experience of staff and pupils in our schools.

Behaviours:

• Analytical thinking.

Rewards and Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• 26 days holiday
• Occupational sick pay, protecting you and your family.
• Competitive maternity, paternity, and adoption benefits.
• Group Life Insurance Scheme
• Westfield Health cash plan and extensive range of employee benefits for eligible staff
• Continuous Professional Development options that will be tailored to your needs.
• A supportive team across the country.
• We are open to requests for flexible working; and we encourage open and regular conversations about work-life balance.

Further information

This vacancy closes at midnight on the 14th April. Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a large volume of applications.

For a confidential discussion about this role or the process, please contact: phil.sugars@unitedlearning.org.uk .

If you are applying internally, please apply via your ESS account (Internal Vacancies page). You will be required to submit a personal statement with a summary of your experience that make you suitable for this role. There is a character limit of 4000-character limit (roughly one and a half to two sides of A4).