Head of IT

at  London Office Big Table Group

Overview of Big Table Group
We’re an independent restaurant operator of some of the most recognisable and loved restaurant brands to be found anywhere in the eating-out market, such as Bella Italia, Las Iguanas, Frankie & Benny’s, and Banana Tree, including several concession sites located within Center Parcs Villages. With more than 200 restaurants in a variety of locations including leisure parks, shopping centres and high streets, we are a national business, from Edinburgh to Torquay, employing almost 7,000 people and serving more than 15 million meals each year.
Overview of the role
The group is constantly investing in its network and business applications, across all its site locations and is always looking to further utilise this infrastructure to support the business in the best possible way, including the customer facing technology, to position strongly for navigating future challenges and enabling changing business needs.
The Group Head of IT hire will join the group as a key senior role in managing, developing, and protecting the group’s IT ecosystem, covering both the restaurants and central support office.
The Big Table is a small yet might company and demonstrates the agility that keeps it free of more corporate tendencies. The role is expected to be one where a full hands-on approach is expected to be taken, diving into projects and challenges, as well as being able to be strategically impactful.
The Big Table have outsourced their entire infrastructure estate to a Managed Service Provider (MSP), which is a critical relationship and has other key partners for its Data Warehouse, Point of Sale operations, Digital platforms (i.e. Websites, booking/reservation tools, order and pay app). The Head of IT will be ensuring that all these relationships are productive, cost effective and constantly deliver against business requirements and the evolving technology strategy.
What we are looking for

A Group Head of IT who:

• Has a background in systems development and integration, and a good level of technical knowledge across a wide range of technologies – to include an in-depth experience of the Microsoft stack, (eg. Active Directory, Exchange), as well as WAN/LAN’s.
• Has very good knowledge and experience of Microsoft 365 products and Azure Active Directory, as well as ensuring they are up to date with the latest technology, emerging infrastructure trends and now including how AI can help to deliver in all areas.
• Possesses excellent team building skills and can develop relationships beyond simply the technical aspects. IT is fully outsourced across the group; therefore, this skill is essential. The Group Head of IT will need to be knowledgeable enough to challenge the managed service providers, tactfully question the internal teams, but tactical enough to build a strong collegiate relationship.
• Has demonstrable people management experience and skillset to harness the best capabilities from the internal team and lead the team through strategic change. The Group Head of IT will initially have two direct reports (Restaurant IT Support Manager, and IT Data Analyst). People skills will also be required to develop the business partnering aspect of the role with the wider support team of the Big Table, as well as the restaurant operational management teams. Will need to act as an effective second in command to the CIO, making succinct and well thought out recommendations, taking into account both technical and commercial considerations. On occasion in lieu of the CIO, the Group Head of IT will be required to make key operational decisions.
• Has a good level of risk awareness and demonstrable experience of not only technical cyber solutions, but the ability to apply risk management principles whilst making sound decisions.
• In a data conscious environment, some exposure to PowerBI and/or MS Sequel experience, for the assistive management of an IT Data Analyst and business teams needs for reporting, analysing and integration work.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic IT Leadership & Management
• IT Operations & Technical Expertise.
• Communication, Collaboration & Project Management.
• People Management/Development.
• Keep abreast of relevant technical developments and, when required, build the business case for change.
• Design, develop, and deliver all education provided by the IT Department, ensuring standardized technology policies and procedures across the group.
• Work with the outsourced service provider(s) to ensure the Group’s infrastructure and technical services remain resilient, reliable, efficient, and focused on internal and external customer needs.

What do you need to bring to Big Table Group?

• Previous experience of working in an ITIL environment.
• Strong and demonstrable technical grounding, particularly around the Microsoft product suite and Microsoft 365 / Azure stack.
• Previous experience of implementing Sharepoint and increasing user understanding and adoption in its new exposure in a business.
• WAN/LAN infrastructure knowledge and experience in managing vendors supporting (eg. British Telecom, DigitalSpace, One2Call)
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of system knowledge (finance, hospitality etc).
• Solid understanding of the end-to-end application support process procedures, to ensure issues are resolved efficiently and effectively, and the correct problem-solving techniques are used.
• Experience of managing technology initiatives and projects, with examples of taking ownership for the successful delivery of those initiative’s.
• Proven experience of strategically managing key outsourced functions and third-party suppliers to achieve the highest levels of service.
• Previous experience of managing and leading an internal team and the ability to develop, nurture and support the technology team colleagues.
• Knowledge and understanding of the security landscape. Whilst accreditations are not a pre- requisite for this role, candidates must show both sound technical cyber and cyber risk management knowledge.

The Big Table Group operate as a meritocracy and, therefore, selection for recruitment is on merit, irrespective of race, colour, age, religion, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability. This assumes that the applicants are fit and able to undertake the job. All appointments are subject to the right to work in the UK, satisfactory references; a personnel vetting check; and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Standard Disclosure Check.

• Strategic IT Leadership & Management
• IT Operations & Technical Expertise.
• Communication, Collaboration & Project Management.
• People Management/Development.
• Keep abreast of relevant technical developments and, when required, build the business case for change.
• Design, develop, and deliver all education provided by the IT Department, ensuring standardized technology policies and procedures across the group.
• Work with the outsourced service provider(s) to ensure the Group’s infrastructure and technical services remain resilient, reliable, efficient, and focused on internal and external customer needs