Smiths Group
Head of IT Cost Optimization
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Company Description
Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place.
Smiths Detection is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.
Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,500 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.
This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.
Job Description
We are seeking a highly experienced Head of IT Cost Optimisation to lead the development and execution of our enterprise-wide IT cost optimisation strategy.
This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for ensuring technology investment delivers maximum business value while maintaining operational resilience, service quality, security and scalability. Working across IT, Finance, Procurement and the wider business, you will create greater financial transparency, drive commercial excellence and embed a culture of value-based technology investment.
If you are passionate about optimising technology spend, improving commercial performance and influencing strategic investment decisions, we would love to hear from you.
What you will be doing:
IT Cost Optimisation & Strategy
- Develop and implement the organisation's IT Cost Optimisation Strategy.
- Establish governance, policies and standards for technology financial management.
- Lead continuous optimisation initiatives across infrastructure, cloud, applications, software licensing and third-party services.
- Drive greater transparency of IT expenditure through enhanced reporting and analytics.
- Define and monitor KPIs to measure technology cost efficiency and value creation.
Financial Leadership
- Own and deliver the IT operating and capital expenditure optimisation roadmap.
- Partner closely with Finance teams to improve forecasting accuracy and governance.
- Monitor technology spend, identify savings opportunities and improve budget accountability.
- Build compelling business cases to support investment and optimisation initiatives.
- Lead benchmarking activities to assess performance against industry peers and best practice.
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Supplier & Commercial Management
- Develop commercial strategies across technology suppliers and managed service providers.
- Lead contract reviews, commercial negotiations and supplier consolidation initiatives.
- Ensure supplier performance delivers both financial value and operational outcomes.
- Support procurement activities for major technology investments and transformation programmes.
Software Asset & Cloud Management
- Drive software licence optimisation and utilisation improvements.
- Establish governance for SaaS procurement and lifecycle management.
- Ensure licensing compliance while reducing unnecessary expenditure.
- Support FinOps initiatives and cloud cost management programmes.
Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
- Provide leadership and coaching across FinOps, Software Asset Management and IT Commercial Management teams.
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across Technology, Finance, Procurement and Business functions.
- Promote financial accountability and value-based decision-making throughout IT.
- Influence senior leaders on technology investment priorities and optimisation opportunities.
Essential Experience
- Significant experience leading IT financial management, cost optimisation or technology commercial functions.
- Strong understanding of IT operating models, infrastructure, enterprise applications and software licensing.
- Experience developing and executing cost optimisation and financial governance strategies.
- Proven track record of delivering measurable savings while maintaining service quality and business outcomes.
- Experience managing supplier relationships, commercial negotiations and contract optimisation.
- Strong stakeholder management experience, including influencing executive-level leaders.
Knowledge & Skills
- Strong understanding of IT Financial Management and FinOps principles.
- Knowledge of cloud cost management practices and tools.
- Familiarity with IT governance frameworks such as ITIL and COBIT.
- Excellent commercial, financial modelling and analytical skills.
- Outstanding negotiation, communication and presentation abilities.
- Strong programme, transformation and change management capability.
Qualifications
- Significant experience leading IT financial management, cost optimisation or technology commercial functions.
- Strong understanding of IT operating models, infrastructure, enterprise applications and software licensing.
- Experience developing and executing cost optimisation and financial governance strategies.
- Proven track record of delivering measurable savings while maintaining service quality and business outcomes.
- Experience managing supplier relationships, commercial negotiations and contract optimisation.
- Strong stakeholder management experience, including influencing executive-level leaders.
- Strong understanding of IT Financial Management and FinOps principles.
- Knowledge of cloud cost management practices and tools.
- Familiarity with IT governance frameworks such as ITIL and COBIT.
- Excellent commercial, financial modelling and analytical skills.
- Outstanding negotiation, communication and presentation abilities.
- Strong programme, transformation and change management capability.
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Additional Information
Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial and lifestyle perspective.
Join us and work for a world-leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.
We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.
At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Detection, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website.
Grade: 14
Employee Group: Permanent
Global Region: Europe
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