Head of Digital and Technology Solutions

About this role

Main purpose of the role
CIFF aims to be more productive, data-driven and operationally agile through responsible use of technology, automation, artificial intelligence and stronger knowledge management. The vision of the Operations team is to: “PROTECT, CONNECT and EMPOWER CIFF and its partners to deliver greater impact for children by enabling the foundation to turn ambition into action, as effectively and safely as possible”. This role is responsible for implementing this vision from a digital and technology perspective, providing organisation-wide leadership for the digital and technology operating model needed to realise that ambition.
The role is accountable for CIFF’s IT service delivery, technical platforms, enterprise architecture and integrations, cyber security, reliability and technical service performance. It has overall accountability for the resilience and effectiveness of CIFF’s technology estate, technology investment, and associated enterprise technology risks.
Of particular importance is the responsible adoption of AI throughout CIFF’s operations and wider work. It enables business owners to own system purpose, outcomes, priorities, controls, processes, data definitions and outputs, while ensuring agreed changes are technically feasible, secure, integrated and sustainable.
Working through the Systems Steering Committee and in partnership with senior system owners as part of the committee, it will enable CIFF programme teams to further develop and enable data capability in strategic grantees, directly supporting sustainable delivery of CIFF’s objectives and strengthening the field. This role also oversees CIFF’s cyber security systems and culture, which is one of the top risks facing CIFF, ensuring the continuity of our operations and the security of our data is a key responsibility. A key component of the role is developing proposals and approaches for the use of technology to protect the organisation, from cyber security infrastructure to programmatic due diligence and monitoring.
The role reports to the Chief Administrative Officer and provides strategic advice to the Executive Team and Board, partners with programme and operational leaders, and develops the technical and human capability required to use technology, data and AI effectively. It also supports programme teams and selected partners on data, technology and cyber security where this advances CIFF’s missions.
The role leads the Digital & Technology Solutions (DTS) function and works closely with the staff responsible for IT Service Delivery and AI and Business Intelligence, ensuring that CIFF’s technology estate remains secure, resilient, well governed and responsive to users.
Role responsibilities
Strategy & planning
· Set and maintain CIFF’s digital and technology strategy, operating model and enterprise roadmap, aligned to CIFF’s strategic scaling approach (i.e. increasing our impact, while not increasing the operational footprint) and the organisation’s priorities for productivity, data, automation, AI and knowledge management.
· Own the technical roadmap for CIFF’s IT service delivery, shared platforms, architecture, integrations, security and reliability, and present strategic developments and material risks to the Executive Team and relevant Board committees as necessary.
· Act as the senior technical lead to the Systems SteerCo, supporting the Chair and Executive Sponsor to implement the OPS vision across systems. Provide transparent pipeline management, technical advice and prioritisation across business owners, escalating unresolved enterprise trade-offs to the Executive Sponsor or Executive Team where required.
· Provide compelling, consistent, and united leadership which creates clarity for all staff in the team across all locations and builds a sense of shared accountability for its success and that of the organisation.
· Develop and maintain excellent external relationships within the sector specialism, always acting as an ambassador for CIFF and its missions, to help build the organisation’s reputation and profile as a professional, visionary, and collaborative philanthropy, using the best technology responsibly to increase the impact of its missions for children.
· Ensure continuity of service, technology resilience and data security which supports and enables CIFFs hybrid working approach, including appropriate recovery and continuity arrangements for critical systems and services. Ensure high standards for operational performance, customer satisfaction and cyber security, and effective preparedness, escalation and response to major cyber or technology incidents. The role reports annually to the Executive Team and the Finance, Audit, and Investment Committee on cyber security, or more frequently if required as a result of incidents or specific risks.
Delivery & performance
· Work closely with and support the Head of IT Service Delivery to ensure the highest standards of IT service delivery, ensuring staff are enabled with the most effective and efficient technology products, from systems through to hardware.
· Work with the Head of AI and Business Intelligence and business owners to establish responsible AI governance, identify high-value use cases, build organisational capability, and ensure that AI tools, automation, analytics and data products are secure, ethical, well controlled and aligned to business priorities, all of which is documented and maintained in CIFF’s AI Norms of use which will be regularly reviewed and updated. Drive responsible adoption of AI and automation across CIFF, with clear measures of adoption, productivity, quality and organisational value.
· Represent CIFF with peer organisations, including COOs, CAOs and IT leads for other funders as well as our strategic grantees. Leveraging knowledge to co-create capacity building programmes for the sector, for example as part of the OPN.
· Partner with business and system owners to translate agreed outcomes, process…