Head of Information Technology

JOB PURPOSE : To oversee and manage the university's information technology operations, ensuring the effective delivery of IT services to support the academic mission and administrative functions.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and implement the university’s IT strategy and roadmap for a smart campus in alignment with the university's goals and objectives to become a beacon of excellence in academic, administrative and research activities.
• Lead and manage the IT department to ensure effective and efficient infrastructure, applications, systems and support are available to enable the university to deliver its mission and vision and create a modern, technology-driven educational and research environment.
• Advise the University leadership and management teams on emerging technologies, trends and digital transformation opportunities to optimize business processes and the development of the University as a smart campus.
• Recruit, mentor and manage the IT team to ensure a collaborative environment that fosters innovation by continuously seeking new ways and technologies to enhance learning and teaching, research and engagement.

Operations Management

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of all IT services, including networks, systems and application to ensure the maintenance and enhancement of IT infrastructure, including networks, data centres, and software applications.
• Ensure reliability, security and scalability of the University’s infrastructure to meet current and future needs and expectations.
• Develop and implement IT policies and procedures to promote efficient operations and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Promote cross-departmental collaboration and communication to support faculty, administrator and management needs and to ensure efficient and effective institutional technology integration and optimization.
• Manage all budget needs for IT operations and projects to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and effectively.
• Guide all vendor and contract management as required to ensure quality service delivery and cost-effectiveness in line with best practice and procurement specifications.

Technology Integration & Support

• Oversee the integration and maintenance of all enterprise systems (ERP, LMS, CRM, SIS etc.) to ensure the effective operation of all university requirements
• Promote and manage the adoption of collaborative and cloud-based tools and applications to enhance teaching and learning, research and administrative efficiency.
• Ensure the IT team has all the skills and expertise to assure the delivery and continuity of high-quality user support services to support students and employees.

Security & Compliance

• Ensure through policies and procedures that all institutional data, systems and infrastructure are fully protected.
• Oversee all internal and external audits to ensure full compliance with national and international standards and regulations.
• Establish and implement robust disaster recovery and business continuity plans and conduct regular risk assessments to systematically identify and manage real or potential risks that may impact university operations, assets and stakeholders.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, & SKILLS:

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, or a related field; Master’s degree preferable. Preference will also be given to those with certifications such as PMP, CISSP, ITIL etc.
• 8-10+ years’ experience in IT management with experience in digital transformation preferably in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated success in project management and cross-functional team leadership.
• Proven track record in IT operations, budget and resource allocation, infrastructure and application development.
• Excellent knowledge of IT infrastructure, systems, current trends and technologies, in addition to security protocols.
• In-depth knowledge and experience with enterprise systems and solutions, cloud technologies and data integration to ensure adequate and appropriate implementation, maintenance and optimization of business processes.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Languages: English. French and/or Arabic is an added advantage