Searchability®
Head of IT Systems
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Head of Systems
£60,000 – £70,000 + benefits
Chesterfield – hybrid (2–3 days per week on-site)
SQL Server, T-SQL, Microsoft Access, VBA, Team Leadership
daniel.massey@searchability.com
The Role
A hands-on Head of Systems is needed to lead a small in-house development team and take ownership of a bespoke, business-critical system. Working alongside the current Head of Systems, you'll build a deep understanding of the platform, then lead the team and shape its long-term direction, keeping the core system running reliably while modernising it step by step.
About the Client
My client is a well-established, successful business whose operations run on an in-house system built on SQL Server with a Microsoft Access front end. They're investing in their technology function, growing the development team and taking a pragmatic approach to modernisation: keep what works, improve it steadily, and bring in modern development, integration and automation where it adds real value.
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The Benefits
- £60,000 – £70,000 depending on experience
- Hybrid working – 2–3 days per week on-site
- A leadership role with genuine influence over the future of a business-critical platform
- The chance to build and shape a growing development team
- Stability and investment from an established, growing business
The Head of Systems Role
- Take ownership of a complex SQL Server-backed system with a Microsoft Access front end
- Lead, mentor and grow a small development team, including new hires over the coming year
- Work closely with the current Head of Systems to build a thorough understanding of the platform
- Define and deliver an incremental modernisation roadmap, deciding what to keep, improve or replace
- Stay hands-on with development, T-SQL and troubleshooting where needed
- Oversee system integrations with third parties and the delivery of new tools around the core system
- Introduce good development practice, such as source control, documentation, testing and release processes
- Act as the key link between the business and technology, translating needs into clear priorities
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Essential Skills
- Strong commercial experience with SQL Server and T-SQL
- Experience of working with, and ideally modernising, complex legacy systems
- Proven experience leading or managing a development team
- A pragmatic, incremental approach to modernisation rather than full rewrites
- Confident communicating with senior, non-technical stakeholders
- Microsoft Access/VBA experience would be a strong advantage
- Exposure to modern languages and platforms (e.g. C#/.NET, Python, APIs, automation) would be a strong advantage
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