Head of Core Digital & Data Systems and IT Architecture

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is one of the world’s leading public health universities. 

LSHTM is seeking an experienced and forward-looking technology leader to provide strategic direction for our core digital systems, data architecture, artificial intelligence capabilities and wider IT architecture.

This is a senior leadership role with the opportunity to shape how data, AI and digital technologies support learning, teaching, research and professional services across LSHTM. You will set the architectural direction for our technology estate, developing long-term roadmaps that connect strategic ambition with secure, sustainable and deliverable solutions.

At the heart of the role is a significant opportunity to advance LSHTM's use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. You will lead the transition from emerging ideas and individual initiatives to governed, operational AI capabilities that deliver measurable institutional value. This will include ensuring that appropriate ethical, regulatory, risk and technical controls are understood and embedded throughout the development and deployment of AI-enabled services.

You will also lead the development of an enterprise-wide approach to data architecture, ensuring that common principles, standards and governance are applied across both legacy environments and future projects. By improving interoperability, integration and data flows, you will help LSHTM make better use of its information assets and establish strong foundations for analytics, automation and responsible AI. 

About the role

Reporting to the Director of IT Services and serving as a member of the IT Services Senior Management Team, you will lead the Core Digital & Data Systems and IT Architecture group. The group comprises Enterprise Systems, Web Services and IT Architecture functions, with responsibility for three teams totalling 13 staff.

You will provide strategic and operational leadership across LSHTM's critical business systems, web applications, enterprise integration and technical architecture. Working across a five-to-ten-year horizon, you will ensure that technology decisions meet current organisational needs while creating adaptable foundations for the future.

Your key priorities will include:

• Setting the strategic direction and long-term roadmaps for AI, data, digital systems and IT architecture.
• Establishing a coherent enterprise data architecture across LSHTM's technology estate.
• Developing the standards, governance and integration patterns needed to improve data quality, interoperability and reuse.
• Leading the responsible operationalisation of AI and machine-learning opportunities within core digital systems. 
• Ensuring that AI initiatives address clearly defined needs and deliver measurable operational or institutional benefit.
• Embedding suitable governance for AI development, deployment, ethics, security, regulatory compliance and risk management.
• Leading the delivery, operation and continuous improvement of enterprise systems, web services and bespoke applications.
• Providing architectural oversight so that systems are integrated, compatible, secure and aligned with agreed standards.
• Developing effective relationships with senior stakeholders, education-sector partners and strategic suppliers.
• Ensuring that services are resilient and supported by appropriate controls for backup, restoration, business continuity and disaster recovery.
• Providing strategic advice, business cases and clear recommendations to support institutional planning and investment decisions.
• Leading, developing and motivating highly skilled technical teams while contributing to the collective leadership of IT Services.

About you

You will be an established technology leader who can connect institutional strategy, information, architecture and operational delivery. You will be comfortable leading specialist teams, influencing at senior level and explaining complex technical issues to non-technical audiences.

We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• Proven experience of designing and scaling enterprise-wide data architectures, workflows and integrations.
• Experience of leading the operationalisation of artificial intelligence and machine-learning opportunities within core digital systems.
• A strong working knowledge of the regulatory, risk and ethical frameworks that underpin data and AI.
• Significant experience of leading enterprise architecture or a comparable technical architecture function.
• Experience of leading enterprise business systems and web-development services.
• The ability to translate strategic objectives into practical architecture principles, standards and long-term roadmaps.
• Inspirational leadership of highly technical professionals, supported by strong line-management, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to build persuasive recommendations using evidence, data and logic.
• Experience of leading organisational and technological change in a complex environment.
• Sound understanding of information assurance, security, information governance and relevant legislative requirements.
• Effective financial, budget and supplier management.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across technical and non-technical communities.
• Experience within higher education, research or another comparably complex environment would be advantageous. 
• A relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience is essential; an undergraduate degree or equivalent is desirable.

Why this role matters

This is an opportunity to influence some of LSHTM's most important long-term technology decisions. You will help establish the architectural foundations through which data can be governed and used effectively, AI can be introduced responsibly, and core digital services can continue to evolve in support of LSHTM's academic, research and administrative activities.

If you can combine strategic vision with credible technical leadership and practical delivery, we would welcome your application.

The post is full-time 35 hours per week, 1.0 FTE and permanent. The post is available immediately.  

The salary will be on the LSHTM salary scale, Grade 8 in the range £65,758 - £75,474 per annum pro rata (inclusive of London Weighting). The post will be subject to the LSHTM terms and conditions of service.  Annual leave entitlement is 30 working days per year, pro rata for part time staff. In addition to this there are discretionary “Wellbeing Days”. Membership of the Pension Scheme is available. The post is based in London at LSHTM.

Applications should be made on-line via our jobs website. Online applications will be accepted by the automated system until 10pm of the closing date. Any queries regarding the application process may be addressed to jobs@lshtm.ac.uk. 

The supporting statement section should set out how your qualifications, experience and training meet each of the selection criteria. Please provide one or more paragraphs addressing each criterion. The supporting statement is an essential part of the selection process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. An answer to any of the criteria such as "Please see attached CV" will not be considered acceptable. 

Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview date it may not be possible to offer you an alternative date.

Further Details:

Job Description

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We believe that when people feel respected and included, they can be more creative, successful, and happier at work. While we have more work to do, we are committed to building an inclusive workplace, a community that everyone feels a part of, which is safe, respectful, supportive and enables all to reach their full potential.