Chief Information Technology Officer

Location: Remote working – must be willing and able to travel to London, Edinburgh and elsewhere across the UK to support business needs.

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) is a £62 million initiative, funded by UK Research and Innovation. Its aim is to generate a world-leading open science data platform and research resource through a new longitudinal population study.

The study will recruit at least 100,000 participants aged 8-18 years from across the UK and will follow their health and wellbeing for at least 10 years. This will create an unparalleled data resource for researchers worldwide, driving our understanding of this vital transition phase and how adolescent experiences impact health and wellbeing in later life.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO) will play a critical role in establishing and maintaining the vision, strategy and roadmap for the organisation’s data and technology needs. The CITO will ensure the security, confidentiality, integrity and availability of AHS’s business, research and information assets. They will procure infrastructure solutions for receiving and managing complex participant data and will lead a robust information security programme. The postholder will act as a key advisor to senior leadership on matters of data management, information security and compliance.

The successful candidate will be a leader with proven experience in a senior information technology role within a research, academic or healthcare setting. They will have a strong understanding of research data management, curation and analysis requirements, privacy regulations and digital health technologies and have been successful leading complex IT projects and managing sensitive data environments. Knowledge of trusted research environments will be essential.

This is a unique opportunity to shape a groundbreaking initiative that will transform our understanding of how young people grow and develop during adolescence – a period of significant physical, emotional and social change.

How to Apply:

Enquiries can be made, in confidence, to Natalie Derry or Evan Yeckley at WittKieffer.

More information on the position can be found in the candidate brochure via https://wittkieffer.com/positions/38291

Completed applications should be submitted electronically to eyeckley@wittkieffer.com

Applications should include the following:

• An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae; and
• A covering letter (of no more than two A4 pages) summarising your experience, attributes, and your view of your overall suitability for the role.

The closing date for applications is 6 February 2026.

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