This is a 9-month fixed-term maternity cover role responsible for providing strategic and operational oversight of data, systems, IT infrastructure, cyber security, online safety and related policy areas across Red Balloon Educational Trust (RBET). The postholder will support continuity of key Trust-wide systems and projects, act as a central point of contact for IT and data matters, and work closely with senior leaders, centre teams, external providers and Trustees to ensure systems remain secure, compliant and effective.
Interviews will be held week commencing 7th September where possible.
Start date to be agreed upon appointment, ideally by 5th October 2026.
Job Purpose
To maintain the Trust’s data, systems and IT infrastructure functions during maternity leave, ensuring that core systems operate effectively, cyber security and online safety arrangements are monitored, statutory and internal reporting requirements are supported, and relevant policies remain current and compliant.
Key Responsibilities
- IT strategy and provider liaison: act as the central point of contact with the Trust’s IT provider, support delivery of the RBET IT Strategy and ensure agreed work is progressed in line with Trust priorities.
- Systems administration: hold oversight of key Trust systems, including the Management Information System (MIS), Microsoft Suite, Safeguarding platform (if appropriate based on experience).
- Systems integration: hold control of Salamander Soft integration alongside the IT provider, running forced syncs when required and supporting timely resolution of user or staffing changes.
- Asset management and infrastructure planning: support the completion and roll-out of the laptop asset management project, strengthen centre engagement, and develop a laptop regeneration plan with finance and trustee support.
- Cyber security: oversee semi-automated cyber-attack simulations, monitor results, report relevant outcomes to staff and Trustees, and support preparations for Cyber Essentials updates and renewal in collaboration with the IT provider.
- SharePoint and access management: approve and manage SharePoint access in collaboration with the Director of Finance and Operations (DFO), ensuring access arrangements remain appropriate and secure.
- Online safety: work with the Safeguarding Lead and CEO to ensure online safety remains embedded across Trust provision, including responding to relevant statutory or legislative updates such as KCSIE changes and developments in AI awareness.
- Software risk assessment: oversee Trust-wide review of software risk assessments, particularly for local downloads, ensuring appropriate central oversight and Data Protection Officer sign-off where required.
- Smoothwall monitoring and filtering: review relevant staff alerts, act as an escalation route from Centres to RBET and Trustees for serious incidents, manage personnel changes within Smoothwall, and support the Trust-wide alignment of Smoothwall categories and policies.
- Data reporting: support Central Services and Trustee reporting requirements by coordinating with Centres, signposting data sources and presenting statistics where appropriate.
- Arbor management: investigate system errors, escalate to Arbor support where needed, support centre staff with RBET resources, and complete academic year set-up in June/July to ensure centre continuity.
- Assessment systems: maintain summative assessment frameworks, data collections and report card set-up, and support centre administrators with termly amendments including learner lists, subjects and groups.
- Data Protection: hold Central oversight of data protection for Central Services, signposting staff to resources where appropriate and point of contact with the external DPO.
- Policy Oversight.
Pay: £38,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Milton (Cambridgeshire, East of England Region, England)
