Information Technology Manager

ZEISS is technology and innovation. Founded in Germany in 1846, ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the optics and optoelectronics industries across 50 countries.

As a company wholly owned by a foundation, ZEISS is committed to responsibility in all its activities. As a pioneer in scientific optics, its employees across the globe continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. With a strong focus on quality and innovation, ZEISS creates value for its customers and helps shape new ways of seeing the world.

ZEISS Vision Care is a global leader in ophthalmic lenses and solutions, combining scientific expertise, advanced technology and a deep understanding of vision to help people experience better sight and improve their quality of life.

We’re looking for an Information Technology Manager to join Carl Zeiss Vision Care UK&I in Birmingham.

Your Role

As Information Technology Manager, you will lead the UK&I Data & Technology portfolio across workplace, infrastructure, applications and data. Reporting to the Head of CX, Data, Technology & Transformation, you will shape the technology strategy, roadmap and service delivery agenda, ensuring our technology landscape is secure, resilient, cost-effective and aligned to business priorities.

You will lead a team of 7 people, including 4 direct reports, providing direction, coaching and development while ensuring the right skills and capabilities are in place to support the business.

You will also act as a senior technology partner to the UK&I business, translating business needs into effective technology solutions while working closely with Corporate IT and external technology partners.

The role of Information Technology Manager will involve:

• Lead the UK&I technology strategy, demand pipeline and roadmap across key platforms including SAP, SAP BW and Salesforce.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, translating business priorities into technology requirements and improvements.
• Lead and develop the UK&I service delivery team, including 4 direct reports and 3 wider team members.
• Drive data strategy, architecture, governance and data quality to enable trusted, accessible information.
• Own service performance, governance, risk, information security, change, incident and problem management.
• Manage technology suppliers, service levels, budgets and commercial performance.
• Drive continual service improvement, automation and standardisation to improve efficiency, resilience and user experience.
• Ensure effective business continuity, disaster recovery and operational readiness across critical services.

Your Experience

You will bring:

• Experience leading IT service delivery, technology operations or product teams within a complex business environment.
• Strong people leadership experience, including coaching, development and performance management.
• A proven track record of delivering service improvement and measurable business outcomes.
• Experience managing senior stakeholders and translating business needs into practical technology solutions.
• Strong knowledge of ITIL-aligned service management, including demand, change, incident and problem management.
• Experience across enterprise applications, data platforms and technology architecture.
• Understanding of information security, risk, business continuity and supplier management.
• Strong commercial awareness, including budget and cost management.
• Excellent communication, influencing, decision-making and problem-solving skills.

It would be desirable if you had:

• ITIL, Agile, SIAM or related professional qualifications.
• Experience with SAP, SAP BW or Salesforce.
• Experience delivering technology transformation or service improvement within a global organisation.

If you join ZEISS, you will have access to a range of benefits, including:

• 10% employer pension contribution, based on a 4% employee contribution.
• Free ZEISS lenses for you, plus discounted ZEISS lenses for your friends and family.

Location: 22 Gas Street, Birmingham

Team: 7 people, including 4 direct reports

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Working pattern: Hybrid, with Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday being essential office days.