Head of Information Systems

HAVE YOU GOT SPIRIT?
 
In operation since 1985, Barrow Gas Terminal is a key piece of the UK’s energy infrastructure and supports the Morecambe Bay gas fields. The terminal has played a long‑standing role in processing and delivering natural gas, supporting both local employment and national energy supply.
 
With a focus on safety, environmental sustainability and community engagement, we believe in operational excellence at every stage of production. If you are ready to take the next step in your career with a dynamic and energetic team, then we are keen to hear from you.
 
 
THE OPPORTUNITY – HEAD OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
 
The Head of Information Systems (IS) is accountable for the overall direction, delivery and performance of IS, across Infrastructure, Networks, Telephony, End User Computing (EUC), Applications, Cloud Services and Cyber Security, covering both Run and Change activity, overseeing two leads and outsourced delivery partners.
 
Location: Barrow-in-Furness
Duration: 2-year contract
Contract Type: PAYE
Day Rate: TBC - For your application to be progressed, please ensure you provide a PAYE day rate banding expectation.  Please note that there is no travel and accommodation allowance provided.
 

• Please only apply if you have existing right-to-work in the UK.
• Please outline notice period/availability to start.

 
 
Spirit Energy currently have a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement for all office-based workers. 4 days must be worked in the office with compulsory days being Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The fourth day worked in-office (either Monday or Friday) is of the worker’s choosing but should be in keeping with what is most efficient and effective for their team. The office is open 5 days a week for full time, in-office working if this is the contractor’s preference.  
 
 
AND NOW FOR THE TECHNICAL BIT…
In role, you will be required to:
 
Management & Governance:

• Set, maintain and drive overall IS strategy, direction and priorities
• Maintain (cross-discipline) IS policy and standards (and drive compliance)
• Determine / maintain fit-for-purpose scalable and resilient integrated architecture, ensuring reliability, security, integrity and performance of the estate
• Maintain (cross-discipline) IT General Controls (ITGCs) aligning to shareholder requirements
• Maintain and evolve fit-for-purpose IS governance framework
• Own / manage IS and cyber risk (identify-assess-mitigate)
• Own / manage IS budget and drive cost performance through smart commercial decisions
• Maintain awareness and ensure demonstrable compliance with evolving IT / Cyber regulations and legislation
• Act as senior focal point for (cross-discipline) IS / IT / Cyber / Deloitte audits and external reviews
• Act as focal point for Centrica Technology function alignment, ensuring Shareholder alignment and request fulfilment
• Manage IS people performance / development / wellbeing
• Handle major IS / IT / Cyber incident escalations and communications (internal and external)
• Act as contract sponsor for all strategic IS contracts, providing strong governance and handling escalations
• Manage IS communications (Changes, outages, advice etc.)
• Capture / maintain / embed IS lessons learned (incidents, operations, cyber, change, projects)
• Classify, assess and assure third party / cloud / SaaS services in collaboration with team and business owners
• Drive IS M&A / divestment activities (IS integrations / separations) as required
• Conduct investigations on IS incidents
• Execute review and approvals of control assurance attestations performed by team
• Undertake contract renewals / tenders in collaboration with team and the Supply Chain function
• Manage Source-to-Pay processes for IS (in collaboration with team, business owners, Supply Chain and Finance)
• Provide IS business partnering / relationship management / advisory service with internal stakeholders

 
PMO and Project Delivery:

• Determine IS project / change plan and business cases (driven by obsolescence, regulatory, value or external drivers)
• Evolve lightweight PMO framework/process, ensure and assure compliance
• Govern / Project Manage / Deliver IS projects (upgrades, changes, replacements, implementations etc.), drawing on team

 
Cyber Security:

• Maintain and evolve fit-for-purpose cyber governance framework, collaborating with OT and Physical security teams
• Set, drive and maintain annual Cyber Security Plan
• Oversee cyber control framework of Manage, Protect, Detect and Respond capability / controls, with ongoing maturity assessments
• Champion cyber-safe culture and provide cyber security awareness comms and training
• Conduct security due diligence assessments on any new / changed IS services impacting the business, drawing on team
• Gather, disseminate and embed cyber security intelligence (various feeds)
• Conduct Cyber Incident Response testing, drawing on team
• Handle major cyber incident response / investigations (liaising with insurers), drawing on team
• Maintain Critical Service List, Business Impact Assessment, Business Continuity Plan and Cyber Security Incident Playbook
• Manage cyber security insurance (annual inputs, liaison, reporting etc.)

 
Other:
Collaborate with Apps Lead and Centrica over shared SAP journey (specific contract renewal needed in 2027)
 
Any other associated duties as reasonably required
 
 
ABOUT YOU
To be successful in this role, we are looking for:
 

• Good overall understanding of end-to-end multi-site IS services, spanning infrastructure, networks & telephony, internal and cloud applications, end user computing and associated services – this includes specific services relevant to Spirit Energy including but not limited to SAP and MS365.
• Solid understanding of the IS lifecycle, encompassing strategy, road-mapping, architecture, design, transition, operations, support, continual service improvement and decommissioning.
• Solid understanding of key processes including incident, problem and change management as well as business analysis and PMO processes for project delivery.
• Strong appreciation for cyber security and the Cyber Assessment Framework, covering Managing Security Risk, Protecting against Cyber Attacks, Detecting Cyber Security Incidents and Minimising Impact of Security Incidents.
• Ability to execute long term strategic and tactical planning relating to IS  
• Effective contract management skills to maximise the value from third party agreements.
• Strong budget management skills, including bottom-up build and monitoring forecast against plan, intervening as necessary 
• Knowledge of risk management processes to identify and evaluate risk, define mitigations and provide reporting / assurance to stakeholders
• Experience in outsourcing and / or managing outsourced delivery partners
• Master's Degree in an IT / business discipline (or equivalent experience) 

 
 
In addition to technical knowledge and credibility, we are looking for someone who lives our values - Agility, Collaboration, Courage, Care, and Delivery. A person who embraces and supports change, while ensuring the safe and efficient operation of a mature asset.  
 
 


People are our business worldwide
 
Orion Group was founded in 1987 and is now one of the largest, independent, international recruitment companies. We have a network of 200 employees working from 24 offices, delivering a range of services – Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Outsourcing Services, Retained Search, Global Workforce Solutions, Completions & Commissioning and Materials Management – across 68 countries. As a global leader in workforce solutions, we recruit personnel across the Engineering & Technical, Office & Commercial, Scientific and Skilled Trades disciplines, for sectors including Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Constructions & Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Renewables.