HEAD/DIRECTOR OF IT

The Head of IT will play a pivotal role in spearheading the strategic direction and operational efficiency of the Information Technology function of our client. This position entails building and driving a comprehensive IT strategy while ensuring service excellence delivery and fostering innovation across all our clients branches.

He/she will shape the digital future and drive the organization towards greater efficiency, digital transformation, and success.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Build and execute the IT strategy

• Develop and deploy long-term IT strategies and roadmaps in alignment with the directions set by the CEO and ExCom.
• Liaise with key stakeholders to translate business strategies and requirements into IT solutions.
• Provide regular reviews to the CEO on the IT execution vs approved implementation plan.
• Lead, prioritize, and evaluate the overall IT performance, ensuring IT strategy is successfully executed.

User experience excellence

• Implement and deploy new/effective IT solutions, systems, and tools, ensuring a smooth and efficient user work experience.
• Ensure consistency and frictionless flow of data between business applications deployed.
• Evaluate isolated, user-driven Shadow IT and conclude on the continuation of such solutions or the provision of integration into central IT.
• Define solution portfolio and provide consistent solutions to similar business issues/requirements.
• As part of the IT roadmap, ensure consistent deployment of solutions across all entities.

Digitalization

• Collaborate with Continuous Improvement (CI) teams to identify automation opportunities.
• Lead digitalization efforts to enhance customer and business partner experiences.
• Champion self-service solutions to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
• Policies and procedures
• Develop and implement effective IT policies and systems to support long-term future demand as the senior management defines.
• Ensure key data is available to key stakeholders to support future business plans.
• Ensure written documentation, including users, system manuals, and license agreements, are created and maintained.
• Ensure consistent documentation of modifications/upgrades to IT Infrastructure and applications.
• Prepare system recovery plans in alignment with user departments with clear priorities of stages of recovery in case of system blackouts.

Budget

• Plan and control IT budget and expenditures in alignment with business priorities.
• Regularly review actual expenditures versus budget allocations to identify variances and optimize spending.

Core Competencies:

Customer Focus: Level 3 - Enhances customer relationships and manages multiple customer needs.

Ability and willingness to give priority to external (i.e., contractors, consultants, partners, and suppliers) and internal customers (i.e., other departments), delivering a high-quality service to meet or exceed their expectations. Building long-term relationships and focusing efforts on providing an outstanding experience. Provide advice and guidance to ensure continued service excellence.

Drive for Results: Level 3 - Drives the delivery of results.

Ability to meet and possibly exceed objectives and/or targets. Effectively overcomes obstacles and meets goals to improve long-term results. Consistently delivers required business results.

Teamwork: Level 3 - Ensures effective collaboration.

Ability to work cooperatively with others, to be part of a team, and to work together towards a common goal. Develop and maintain positive relationships with others, allowing them to overcome obstacles and difficulties.

Foster Innovation: Level 3 - Builds an environment for innovation and improvement.

Ability to create new ideas and use them to develop new or improved processes, methods, solutions, technology, unexplored markets, products, or services. Committed to embrace and adopt change.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must have:

• BSc Information Technology, Computer Science, or equivalent experience.
• 15+ years of experience in IT functions, of which:
  • 5+ years' experience in leading IT teams.
  • 10+ years of experience in IT project management.
• Hands-on experience with modern, cloud-based ERP systems and implementation experience.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and leadership skills.
• Resilient to stress and able to manage and prioritize tasks and projects in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and requirements.
• Ability to present highly technical content in concise language to senior executives.
• Digital transformation hand-on experience in retail or appliance segments.

Nice to have:

• PMP and ITIL certification.
• Fluent in Arabic.

Vertical

Technology