Head of Information Technology

Job Description

Position: VP - Head of IT - KSA

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

***SAUDI NATIONAL ONLY***

Mission

The Head of IT is responsible for driving and managing the execution of strategic and operational mandates for the Information Technology function within the Riyadh Branch. To help enable the organization to achieve its strategic goals, the role optimizes and streamlines the IT setup, in line with the standard operating model, while fully adhering to local regulatory requirements and internal policies. The Head of IT provides vision and leadership for developing and implementing information technology initiatives.

Key Requirement

Must have already been cleared to work by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) on projects within the banking sector.

Responsibilities

Strategic and Operational Duties:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive IT strategy aligned with the organization's business objectives.
• Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of the IT infrastructure, including hardware, software, networks, and telecommunications systems.
• Lead the development and deployment of new applications and systems to enhance business processes and improve efficiency.
• Manage IT projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.
• Provide effective support for existing applications, including issue resolution and system upgrades.
• Represent the organization in IT-related meetings and act as a liaison with external regulatory bodies and stakeholders on IT matters.

Team and Vendor Management:

• Manage a high-performing IT team, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Negotiate contracts and manage relationships with IT vendors and service providers in collaboration with procurement teams.

Compliance and Security:

• Ensure compliance with relevant IT industry standards, local regulations, and internal policies.
• Implement and maintain robust IT security measures, ensuring systems and data are adequately protected.
• Develop and test business continuity and disaster recovery plans.

Budget and Financial Management:

• Develop and manage the IT department's budget, optimizing resource allocation and cost-effectiveness.
• Ensure adherence to financial guidelines and timelines for IT expenditures and investments.

Operational Leadership:

• Oversee daily IT operations, ensuring smooth service delivery to internal and external clients.
• Ensure system availability, stability, and resiliency through effective incident, crisis, capacity, and problem management.
• Support the execution of growth and regulatory projects, ensuring alignment with organizational strategies.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Collaborate with business leaders to ensure future business growth is supported by IT capacity and strategic action plans.
• Work closely with regional and global IT leadership to align with corporate IT goals.
• Participate in strategic committees, including steering and investment committees, and provide regular updates on IT operations and projects.

Competencies, Experience, and Skills

Must-Have:

• Must have already been cleared to work by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) on projects within the banking sector.
• Solid understanding of the regulatory framework in KSA.
• Extensive experience in the financial sector (10+ years).
• Master's degree in computer science or business-related fields.
• Proven experience in IT strategic planning, organization, and development at a senior management level (1015 years).
• Strong knowledge of systems implementation, hardware and software platforms, and enterprise software applications.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to present ideas in business-friendly language.
• Fluency in Arabic and English.

Nice-to-Have:

• Previous experience as Head of IT.
• Strong understanding of IT security.
• Proficiency in additional languages, such as French.