Interim Chief Information Officer - 6 Month FTC
Closing Date: Midday, Tuesday 21 July
Reporting directly to the Group CEO and serving on the Executive Leadership Team and Executive Committee, the Chief Information Officer is responsible for defining and executing the Group's global technology strategy in support of the organisation's business objectives and international growth.
How will I spend my time in this role?
Technology Vision and Strategy
Define and deliver the Group's technology vision, strategy and operating model, securing Board approval and ensuring alignment with the Group's strategic objectives, international growth ambitions and M&A strategy.Executive Leadership and Strategic Advisory
Act as the principal technology adviser to the Board of Directors, Group CEO and Executive Committee, providing strategic leadership across technology, digital transformation, AI, cyber security, data and innovation to support sustainable business growth and competitive advantage.Enterprise Technology, AI, Data and Cyber Security
Establish and lead a comprehensive Group-wide strategy for enterprise technology, AI, data governance and cyber security. Ensure robust governance, risk management and regulatory compliance through effective cyber risk management, security operations, identity and access management, threat detection and response, third-party security, data protection and information governance. Continually strengthen the Group's cyber resilience and incident response capability to safeguard critical business, customer and market information against an evolving regulatory, geopolitical and threat landscape.Technology Operations and Service Delivery
Ensure the secure, resilient and cost-effective operation of the Group's technology infrastructure, applications and services, delivering agreed service levels while operating within the approved annual IT budget.Global Technology Leadership and Capability
Lead, develop and inspire the Group's global technology leadership team, fostering collaboration across all regions and implementing a talent, succession and organisational capability strategy that supports the Group's evolving international business needs.Technology Innovation and Digital Transformation
Monitor emerging technologies, industry developments and market trends, identifying opportunities to improve operational performance, enhance customer experience and create competitive advantage. Lead technology-enabled innovation and digital transformation initiatives that support business strategy and long-term value creation.Business Continuity and Operational Resilience
Own the Group's Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery strategies, ensuring appropriate governance, testing and continuous improvement programmes are in place across all Group companies to demonstrate operational resilience and recovery readiness.External Stakeholder and Partner Management
Build and maintain strong relationships with key external stakeholders, including shareholders, regulators, strategic partners, technology vendors and service providers, representing the Group on all technology-related matters and ensuring the delivery of effective commercial partnerships that support the Group's strategic objectives.
What skills/experience do I need to be successful?
Proven success in senior global technology leadership roles within large, complex, international organisations, leading geographically dispersed teams and enterprise technology functions.
A strong track record of successfully delivering complex, large-scale technology and digital transformation programmes to agreed scope, budget and timescales.
Demonstrable experience developing and implementing enterprise AI strategies and capabilities, enabling organisations to adopt AI securely, responsibly and at scale.
Extensive experience in developing and executing enterprise data strategies, including data governance, data management, analytics and the effective use of data to support business decision-making.
Significant experience managing strategic outsourcing, managed services and offshore delivery partnerships, with a demonstrated ability to improve service performance, drive innovation and realise measurable commercial value.
Strong experience leading technology integration activities associated with mergers, acquisitions and business transformation programmes would be highly advantageous.
What sets us apart?
Global Impact: With offices in the UK, US, Spain and Australia, and plans for further expansion, you'll be part of a dynamic, globally-minded team, with opportunities to explore new markets and make a difference on a global scale.
Flexible Working: Embrace the freedom to work from anywhere in the world for up to 30 days a year. We prioritize work-life balance, recognizing that your well-being matters. Find out more here.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: We celebrate our diverse culture and value individuals irrespective of background, disability, religion, gender identity, sexuality, or ethnicity. Join a team where diversity is not just welcomed but celebrated as a key driver of growth and innovation.


What does hybrid working mean to us?
Hybrid working typically means 2 days in the office location listed on this advert and 3 days working at home each week. Some occasional travel to our other offices may be required.
We're committed to making the application process easy and comfortable. Let us know how we can help you with any reasonable adjustments that can be tailored to your needs. At the bottom of each of our adverts you can find one of our recruitment teams' contact details. Please reach out so we can discuss with you further.
- Department
- IT & Change
- Locations
- SmartestEnergy Limited - London office - Canary Wharf
- Remote status
- Hybrid
- Employment type
- Contract
- Remote Status
- Hybrid - some office and some remote work each week