Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders offering up to £85,000 a year for a CIO

The motor industry trade association aims to change the way it uses data

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), a trade association that acts as the voice of the UK motor industry, is on the lookout for a chief information officer (CIO), and will pay up to £85,000 for the right candidate.

The SMMT is aiming to change the way it uses data for the benefit of its members, consumers and its wider stakeholder community.

Its automotive information services (AIS) department provides statistics on the new and used vehicle market, and vehicles on the road to SMMT members and other customers. This information helps its members to plan ahead of their competition, and also helps the organisation to know where it stands on major issues affecting the motor industry.

In a job advert, the organisation said that in line with its objectives and strategies for the IT and AIS departments, it has created the CIO role.

The person chosen as CIO will be tasked with developing a more strategic approach to the use of data and the IT function as a whole, addressing SMMT's approach to data technology as well as designing the systems and platforms to improve customer experience.

They will be responsible for leading both the AIS and IT departments, looking after strategy, operations, support and stakeholder management.

It said that to advance its reputation and offering, it needed to recruit and develop the very best: "You will be an outstanding IT/IS leader and communicator able to deliver a robust, high quality service while driving transformational change," the job description reads.

"Crucially, you will also demonstrate a strong understanding of the use and commercial exploitation of data. We would also expect you to bring a strong technical base of experience to underpin your achievements," it adds.

The CIO will be based in Central London and will be offered a salary of up to £85,000 plus what SMMT describes as "an attractive benefits package".

The closing date for applications is this Friday, 9^th June 2017.