Head of IT - Vital Ireland

About Vital Ireland

Vital Ireland is a leading distributor in the healthcare sector, collaborating with numerous global suppliers in the Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, and Scientific markets. Employing over 300 people, the company serves both the Republic and Northern Ireland through its three subsidiaries: Fannin Ltd, Iskus Health Ltd, and Medisource. The organisation is part of Vital Healthcare under the Investindustrial private equity group, which is well regarded throughout Europe for supporting mid-market enterprises.

Position Overview

Reporting directly to the CEO of Vital Ireland and working with a matrix line to the Group CIO, the Head of IT role is pivotal in steering technology to support business growth and transformation initiatives. This senior leadership position includes hands-on responsibility for a 10-member IT team and oversight of a €2 million annual IT budget. The post is based in Leopardstown, Dublin with a hybrid working arrangement requiring a minimum of three days onsite weekly and involves occasional domestic and international travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of Vital Ireland's Senior Management Team, offering strategic guidance on technology.
• Recruit, lead, and foster a culture of high performance, accountability, and proactive collaboration within the IT department.
• Control and allocate the yearly operating budget of approximately €2 million effectively.
• Oversee relationships and service quality with technology vendors and suppliers to maximize value.
• Manage delivery, maintenance, and enhancement of key enterprise applications such as SAP, SAP CRM, SAP SuccessFactors, Microsoft 365, Power Platform, QlikView, and Esker.
• Ensure robust performance and security across IT infrastructure hosted on Microsoft Azure, network systems, user computing, and support operations.
• Continuously strengthen cybersecurity measures, governance, and compliance frameworks.
• Implement project governance and continuous improvement processes to deliver valuable business system enhancements.
• Lead the execution of major technology projects from conception to deployment.
• Support corporate acquisitions through IT due diligence and manage systems integration post-acquisition.
• Champion and integrate emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, to elevate business capabilities.
• Develop and implement the organisation’s AI strategy within the innovation framework.

Candidate Profile

Experience and Skills

• Proven leadership in IT operations and program management with a history of delivering results.
• Commercially savvy with experience handling budgets, supplier relationships, and contract management.
• Expertise in at least one core IT discipline complemented by a broad understanding of IT ecosystems.
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity, IT governance, and contemporary workplace technologies.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills capable of balancing strategic objectives with day-to-day execution.
• Demonstrated success in building and leading high-caliber teams focused on service quality and partnership.
• Experience managing cloud-based infrastructures, particularly Microsoft Azure environments.
• Hands-on experience working with SAP or other major ERP systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Power Platform tools such as Power Automate, Power Apps, or Power BI.
• Practical software development background in any programming language.
• Familiarity with Esker document automation solutions.
• Proven track record in deploying AI-enabled business applications.
• Experience managing IT aspects of company mergers and acquisitions, including system integrations.

Leadership Qualities

• Proactive and determined leader with a strong ownership mindset.
• Commercial acumen to align technology initiatives with business goals.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to optimizing IT costs effectively.
• Collaborative communicator who understands the needs of customers and partners.
• Strong analytical thinker capable of solving complex problems.
• Adaptable to rapid changes in a dynamic work environment.
• Dedicated to mentorship and development of team members.
• Keen on fostering innovation and continuous enhancement of technology practices.

Additional Information

The role is primarily hybrid with a requirement for onsite presence at least three days a week in Leopardstown, Dublin D18Y0C9. It will also involve occasional travel across Ireland and some international trips.