Director of Technology, St Albans

We’re partnered with a fast-growing, technology-enabled organisation undergoing a major enterprise transformation across AI, architecture, data and operational platforms.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the long-term technology and AI strategy of a scaling business at a genuine transformation point.

Reporting directly into the COO, you’ll own the multi-year technology roadmap across enterprise architecture, AI implementation, cloud platforms, integrations, data strategy, security and operational technology. The role combines strategic leadership with strong technical depth and commercial ownership.

This is not a pure people-management role and it’s not a traditional product engineering environment either.

The business is looking for someone who can:

• modernise and scale a complex technology estate
• shape enterprise architecture and operating models
• drive AI adoption across operations and the student lifecycle
• improve integrations, automation and data capabilities
• evaluate and rationalise vendors/platforms
• partner closely with executive leadership on long-term growth strategy

There’s a major focus on practical AI implementation, including:

• GenAI and automation
• AI-enabled operations
• RAG / knowledge systems
• workflow automation
• contact centre and admissions optimisation
• data and analytics architecture

The environment includes:

• LMS / learning platforms
• cloud infrastructure
• data platforms / lakehouse architecture
• API-first integrations
• operational support systems
• outsourced and internal technology delivery teams

What makes the role exciting:

• Significant executive buy-in around AI and transformation
• Opportunity to define the target-state architecture from the top down
• High visibility and influence across the business
• Real ownership of strategy, architecture and technology direction
• Ability to make measurable impact across operations, automation and scalability
• Business at a key growth and modernisation stage

We’re looking for someone with:

• Strong enterprise architecture or senior technology leadership experience
• Background modernising complex operational environments
• Cloud, integration and data architecture expertise
• AI/automation exposure within enterprise settings
• Strong vendor, budgeting and commercial capability
• Enough engineering depth to challenge architecture and delivery decisions
• Strong business-facing communication and stakeholder management skills