Head of IT & Digital Strategy

Location: Bristol, Hybrid working (2 days in office), United Kingdom
Salary: £56,272 to £60,200 per annum
Type: Full-time (37.5 hours pw), Permanent

Soil Association Exchange is a new service for all UK farmers to help them farm in a way that improves the climate and protects nature and enhances their profitability. SA Exchange works with farmers to measure the environmental impact and provides advice and financial incentives on how the farm can improve.

Soil Association Exchange is a fast-paced, commercial startup that spun out of the Soil Association charity in 2022. Exchange sells its services to a variety of customers including retailers (e.g. M&S and Sainsburys), processors (e.g. Riverford and Arla) and financial institutions (e.g. Lloyds Banking Group). Through these companies we are now working with 1000 UK farmers.

About the Opportunity

This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of an organisation working to deliver positive change for people, animals and the planet. As Head of IT & Digital Strategy, you will play a key role in enabling Soil Association Certification’s mission by ensuring our technology, data and digital services are robust, secure and fit for the future. You will lead the development and delivery of our IT and digital strategy, driving continuous improvement and innovation while ensuring systems support colleagues to do their best work. Working collaboratively across the organisation and with external partners, you will help embed digital thinking into everything we do, enabling efficient, high-quality certification services that our customers can trust.

About You

You are a values-driven leader who believes technology should be an enabler for people and purpose. Alongside strong technical and strategic expertise, you bring a collaborative, inclusive leadership style and a genuine commitment to continuous improvement. You are comfortable balancing big-picture thinking with practical delivery, and you can translate complex technical concepts into clear, meaningful outcomes for non-technical audiences. Motivated by working for an organisation with a strong social and environmental mission, you are resilient, adaptable and excited to help shape a digital future that supports positive impact as well as organisational success.

Our Benefits

We offer a range of financial and lifestyle benefits to all our employees, including:

• 27 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days with length of service plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time)
• Pension scheme with ethical investment options and employer contribution increasing with length of service
• Free membership of the Soil Association and discounts on organic produce
• Volunteer days to give back to the local community or support green initiatives
• Family friendly policies and flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme
• Sociable and engaging workplace of professionals that share a passion for healthy, sustainable lifestyle and produce

To Apply

Click ‘apply now’ to submit your application form. Please note we look at applications on arrival and reserve the right to close this vacancy early.

Please check your junk/spam folder if you do not receive a confirmation email upon submitting your application. All candidates will subsequently receive an email to confirm whether they have made it through to interview stage.

For any queries, please contact [email protected]

Please note we do not accept CVs or Cover Letters.

We know the value of diversity in nature and want it in our organisation. We recognise that diverse backgrounds and experiences will bring a fresh perspective to our work. If you're not sure about applying, please get in touch with us for a chat.

Thank you for your interest in supporting our work at the Soil Association.