Head of Technology Operations & Security

About the Role

Janison provides large-scale, high-stakes online assessments where platform security, performance, and reliability are critical to serving millions of candidates. The Head of Technology Operations & Security leads infrastructure, cloud hosting, engineering operations, information security, and technology governance to ensure secure, compliant, and resilient platform delivery, particularly during critical examination periods. Reporting to the Chief Technology & Product Officer (CTPO), this senior leadership position manages a multidisciplinary team of approximately 12 across DevOps, Cloud Hosting, Information Security, and Corporate IT, and plays a key role in shaping the strategic technology direction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop four team leads and their teams, fostering growth, setting clear goals, and embedding company values across technology operations and security.
• Manage Janison's technology and cyber risk register and chair governance forums, presenting risk posture and mitigation plans to executive leadership and the Board.
• Define and execute cloud and infrastructure strategy focused on architecture, scalability, resilience, and cost efficiency, benchmarking against cyber governance standards.
• Advance DevOps capabilities including CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, automation, observability, and release engineering to enable safe and frequent deployments.
• Ensure operational reliability through performance management and capacity planning to support peak-load high-availability during exam delivery.
• Oversee operational security practices such as identity and access management, vulnerability handling, threat detection, monitoring, and incident response.
• Lead security and compliance initiatives including ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications, audits, and governance requirements related to privacy and data protection.
• Prepare, test, and lead incident response and business continuity plans, including root cause analysis and executive communications following incidents.
• Manage corporate IT infrastructure and workplace systems to meet reliability and security standards equivalent to product platforms.
• Ensure IT Service Desk delivers high-quality, SLA-driven support with effective incident, change, and problem management processes.
• Handle operating budget, vendor relationships, third-party risk governance, and represent the function in leadership planning and audit activities.

Experience and Skills Required

• Proven leadership experience managing technology operations, infrastructure, or security with teams of managers and demonstrated executive and Board interaction.
• Strong expertise in cloud platforms (preferably Microsoft Azure) and modern DevOps practices including CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, automation, and observability.
• In-depth knowledge of information security frameworks such as ISO 27001, GDPR, and UK Cyber Essentials Plus, with experience in risk governance and Board reporting.
• Track record of managing business-critical, high-availability production environments and leading incident responses.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills capable of conveying technical risks and strategies to non-technical audiences; experience with institutional or government clients preferred.
• Business acumen including budgeting, vendor management, investment prioritization, and a passion for fostering innovation, including AI adoption.
• Industry experience in SaaS, EdTech, assessment, or other regulated, large-scale high-stakes environments is advantageous.
• Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM, cloud architecture or professional certifications, and ITIL are desirable.
• Experience scaling teams and technology platforms during periods of substantial growth or transformation is a plus.

Benefits and Work Culture

• Flexible working arrangements tailored to business and personal needs.
• Participation in an Employee Share Ownership Plan with company matching up to $2,000 annually.
• Additional paid leave including a fifth week, birthday day off, and special company-wide free days.
• Enhanced parental leave benefits with paid leave and continued superannuation contributions.
• Discretionary annual salary review and bonus opportunities.
• Emphasis on virtual engagement, inclusivity, and support for globally distributed teams.
• Focus on continued professional development and upskilling opportunities.

Additional Information

This senior leadership position requires operating at the intersection of technology and business to promote trust and growth. The role demands translating complex technical risks into strategic insights for executive-level decision-making and involvement in cross-functional leadership forums. Application submission confirms acceptance of the company's privacy policies.