Corporate Services IT Director – Doxford, SR3 3XP

Overview

Corporate Services IT Director – Doxford, SR3 3XP

Arriva is a leading European passenger transport partner, operating in 11 countries across the UK and Europe.  The company employs around 35,000 people, delivering more than 1.5 billion passenger journeys connecting people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably.

We have strong roots dating back to 1938, an ambitious growth and sustainability agenda, and a continuously developing relationship with I Squared Capital – a global infrastructure investment fund manager – who acquired Arriva in 2024.

As Corporate IT Services Director at Arriva, you will report directly to the Chief Information Officer and be an integral part of the newly established Group IT Leadership Team. In this pivotal position, you will provide group-wide strategic leadership and vision for the Service Management, Platforms  &  Operations,  and  Product  teams,  ensuring  the  delivery  of reliable, secure, and efficient IT services that support Arriva’s business objectives. You will be responsible for the entire Product capability within Arriva group IT, ensuring the delivery of innovative, reliable, secure, and efficient IT services that support Arriva’s business objectives. The Director will be expected to serve as a role model for accountability and

ownership, cultivating these behaviours within the IT organisation and across all teams.

Direct responsibilities:

•   Financial and Resource Management: Accountable for ~£20m IT spend, which is expected to grow significantly as more strategic group IT services are developed come under group leadership, and a geographically dispersed team of 85 FTE. Take full responsibility for the performance, budgeting, and resource allocation of the teams, with a continual focus on cost optimisation and efficiency improvement. This role requires strategic oversight of financial and resource management across multiple departments, ensuring alignment with Arriva’s long– term business goals.

•   Comprehensive Product Management: Build and establish a new, high–performing product team, creating a capability that maximises business value from Arriva’s investment in IT and delivers the required business outcomes. Champion the entire product lifecycle, from ideation to retirement, ensuring that products support business growth and customer satisfaction. Design and implement product delivery processes, ensuring that products are delivered efficiently, deliver the required business outcomes, maximise business value, and are effectively  adopted  and  communicated within  the  organisation, driving  user engagement and satisfaction. This role includes full responsibility for the entire Product capability within Arriva, driving innovation and excellence in product development and management.

•   Advanced  Service  Management:  Lead  and  inspire  the  Service  Management, Platforms & Operations, and Product teams, driving high–quality IT products, platforms, services, and solutions aligned with the organisation’s needs. Ensure all IT services and projects align with Arriva’s strategic direction, industry standards, and regulatory requirements. Implement, monitor, and continuously improve robust service delivery models and best practices, ensuring consistency and high standards. This role requires advanced expertise in service management, with a focus on strategic alignment and continuous improvement.

•   Executive Leadership and Collaboration: Work collaboratively within the Group IT Leadership Team to shape and implement IT strategy in direct partnership with the CIO. Model and drive a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement, promoting accountability and ownership at every level. Provide expert  advice  and  insight  to  senior  stakeholders on  IT  strategy,  technology investments, and industry trends. This role requires executive–level leadership and collaboration, with a focus on strategic decision-making and stakeholder engagement.

Knowledge, skills and experience:

  •Extensive experience in a senior IT leadership role within Arriva’s sector or a related industry, with a proven understanding of industry–specific challenges and opportunities. This role requires a strategic leader with a broad scope of influence and accountability.

•Advanced expertise in IT infrastructure, service management, and product lifecycle management, with a track record of establishing and leading high–performing teams. This role includes full responsibility for the group Product capability within Arriva.

•Demonstrated commercial acumen, with  experience optimising costs  and  delivering increased value through IT services and supplier partnerships. This role requires strategic oversight of commercial performance and partnership management.

•Strong partner management skills, with a history of delivering effective services through diverse internal and external partners. This role requires strategic oversight of partner management and collaboration.

•Strategic Thinking: The ability to see the big picture, plan for long–term impact, and align every product decision to business goals. This role requires strategic oversight of product management and development.

•Significant experience in a senior IT leadership role within Arriva’s sector or a related industry, with a proven understanding of industry–specific challenges and opportunities.

•Bachelor’s  degree  in  Information  Technology,  Computer  Science,  or  a  related  field

(Master’s degree preferred).

•Relevant   certifications   in   Product   Leadership,   Project   Management,   IT   Service

Management (e.g., ITIL), or related disciplines are highly desirable.

This position reports to the Group Chief Information Officer (CIO) and is part of the wider IT leadership team under the direction of the CIO.

This job description sets out the main duties and responsibilities of the job–holder. It does not constitute an exhaustive or comprehensive description of duties and the job holder will be required to carry out any additional tasks as and when requested to do so by their manager.  Responsibilities and duties may also change in light of future business needs and personal development.

The closing date for this vacancy is Wednesday 17th September 2025. Arriva Group reserves the right to close this vacancy early.

 

IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.