Chief Technology Officer

Role summary

This is a newly created first CTO appointment for a privately backed SME based in central Bristol. The business is growing quickly and needs a senior technology leader to reshape its current tech estate so it can support larger-scale expansion. The role sits on the executive team and reports directly to the CEO.

The position requires being in the Bristol office three or four days each week. The package includes a salary of £120,000 to £140,000, equity, 25 days of annual leave, and standard benefits.

What the role will focus on

You will set the company’s technology direction and create the architectural plan that supports business goals, growth, and operational improvement. A major part of the job will be to simplify and modernise the current landscape by moving from multiple legacy systems to a single cloud-based platform, while making sure the new setup connects smoothly with other business systems.

Technology vision and architecture

• Own the long-term technology strategy and the enterprise architecture roadmap.
• Make sure the technology plan is directly tied to business priorities, growth, and innovation.
• Use technology to improve performance, efficiency, and scalability.

Platform consolidation and system integration

• Lead the transition and integration of three existing legacy platforms into one cloud-native environment.
• Build an architecture that can work with current systems and still support future growth.

Data strategy and insight enablement

• Create a unified data environment and establish a single source of truth.
• Put in place strong data governance, reporting, and analytics capability to support better decisions.

Transformation leadership

• Drive business and cultural change so technology is seen as a strategic enabler.
• Work closely with senior leaders and stakeholders to keep everyone aligned and engaged.

Governance, security, and risk

• Set up robust cyber security, compliance, and risk management frameworks.
• Ensure technology spend produces clear business value and supports operational resilience.

Team leadership

• Recruit, shape, and lead a strong technology function.
• Encourage innovation, ownership, and continuous improvement across the team.

Candidate profile

We are looking for a senior technology leader who has worked in an SME or mid-sized business and has strong experience guiding major change. Background in private equity-backed or fast-growing companies would be especially valuable.

The right person will bring deep expertise in cloud environments such as AWS, Azure, or a similar platform, along with a solid grasp of enterprise integration, APIs, and data management.

This role also calls for a strategic communicator who can turn vision into execution, influence stakeholders at all levels, and operate comfortably at board level while staying practical when needed.

Additional information

This is a high-impact opportunity for someone who wants real influence over the future of technology and the organisation structure that supports it. You will play a central part in defining the next phase of growth and transformation.

Applicants should submit an up-to-date CV and clearly show relevant experience, especially examples of significant technology transformation delivered in previous roles.