An IT Director is a crucial fulcrum between an organisation’s IT department and other members of the board of directors and staff in general. The position involves working with corporate leadership to plan and implement IT structures that support the company’s operations.
IT Directors need to be proactive in assessing organisational needs and be responsible for managing technical teams, as well as possessing a high level of technical competency.
The IT Director will also oversee an organisation’s telephone systems as well as its computer networks and be experienced in budgeting and developing relationships with vendors of hardware and software.
When looking for jobs, IT Directors will often turn to Randstad Technologies, the recruitment company that searches for IT jobs at all levels and which provides useful information and back-up for those seeking appropriate jobs. IT Directors work at a very high level and whether it is for private business or in the public sector they can expect salaries commensurate with their experience and responsibilities.
Salary levels.
Remuneration for IT Director jobs can be very attractive, especially as it is possible to start out in the IT industry at entry level with a salary of around £20,000 mark. As IT Directors have enormous responsibilities in terms of how effectively and efficiently an organisation operates they are able to command significant sums of money.
With average salaries for IT Directors in the region of £98,000, there is a considerable incentive for IT specialists to develop their careers in this direction. Salaries do depend on an organisation’s size and where they are located, but at the lower end of the scale, most IT Directors can expect to be offered salaries of over £75,000. Experience counts in the IT industry, so lower salaries may be offered to candidates who have less experience or are transitioning to management.
At the higher end of the scale, where there are onerous responsibilities, an extremely experienced and competent IT Director might command an annual salary of up to, or in excess of, £130,000.
Where to go to increase the salary.
Large cities are the location for the headquarters of many international companies working in finance, insurance and retail. These organisations have a requirement for top-level IT Directors and are prepared to pay for the best. London, in particular, is a place where some of the highest salaries in the country are paid. However, other major UK cities and centres of educational excellence, such as Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Oxford and Cambridge, can also be good places to search out high paying employers.
Major public sector organisations, such as the military, health service and police require specialist technical expertise to enable them to work at an optimum level, opening up opportunities to move into more senior posts with a consequent increase in salary.
It’s also worth exploring areas where there is a concentration of hi-tech businesses that are expanding; growth can often be linked to salary increases.
Boosting a salary.
Many large companies operate bonus schemes, which mean there are opportunities to boost basic salaries by helping deliver profitability. Similarly, profit-sharing schemes can also make significant additions to salaries and there may be options for loyalty and welcome bonuses.
