Director Information Technology

FAIRMONT; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hotel chain in Dubai is seeking a Senior IT Manager to oversee the implementation of IT strategy and manage IT projects. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience in IT environments at a senior level, with strong skills in project and budget management. Responsibilities include ensuring smooth IT operations, compliance with standards, and managing vendor relationships. This role requires exceptional attention to detail and strong interpersonal skills in a hospitality-focused environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Employee benefits

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• 7+ years working in an IT environment at a senior level.
• Experience of embedding change projects within an organization.
• Demonstrated experience managing IT budgets and project management.

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of the IT strategy and manage IT projects.
• Oversee day-to-day IT operations and ensure compliance with IT standards.
• Manage relationships with vendors and the local IT team.

Skills

IT project management

Budget management

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in IT or Computer Science

Tools

IT infrastructure management

Job description

Job Description

• Support the implementation of the IT strategy, structure, budgets, people, financial outcomes and scorecard metrics for the hotel’s IT Department.
• Initiate and manage IT projects for the hotel and consult the key stakeholders in strategic IT matters concerning the hotel.
• Provide business cases to justify investment and expenditure as part of the approval process.
• Support the IT Operations team to ensure smooth day-to-day operation.
• Manage day‑to‑day IT operations in the hotel, implement and enforce Accor IT brand standards, new technologies, systems, projects, policies, guidelines and audit requirements.
• Ensure new standards are implemented, projects are completed, and reports are submitted.
• Enforce IT standards and policies in the hotel, including user rights, backup policy, preventive maintenance, contingency planning etc.
• Ensure that technical system documentation is available, up to date and accessible.
• Identify IT related risks and issues and implement risk mitigation strategies together with hotel management.
• Manage follow‑up reviews and escalated IT issues from different departments.
• Manage / plan hotels P&L, business plans, budget and future technology investments.
• Review monthly IT P&L with management & those responsible for cost optimization plans for the hotel.
• Negotiate vendor contracts to take advantage of economies of scale.
• Maintain good relationships with hotel GM, HODs, users, guests, vendors and other business stakeholders.
• Liaise and communicate directly with Regional IT team on a regular basis as required. This includes submitting monthly reports, complying with new standards, following up on new projects etc.
• Attend key meetings in the hotels such as HOD meetings, budget meetings or whenever requested by the GM.
• Attend Accor key regional meetings and workshops such as AH weekly call, Annual IT conference, IT Ingenuity quarterly meeting, Budget meetings etc.
• Manage relationships with vendors, ensuring that support provided to hotels is in line with Accor standards.
• Manage the local IT team (direct reports) to ensure effective and reliable day‑to‑day operations.
• Conduct yearly performance reviews for direct reports.
• Encourage team members to participate in Accor regional eLearning platform.
• Carry out IT recruitment, talent development and performance management of the IT team.
• Stay up‑to‑date with industry trends and on how IT can help to improve operational efficiencies, enhance revenue and optimise the cost of doing business.
• Enroll in Accor regional eLearning platform and upskill regularly.
• Ensure systems versions/patches are up to date.
• Respond to complex data security vulnerabilities in a timely manner.
• Contribute to the establishment of a comprehensive plan for data recovery as part of contingency plan.
• Monitor and assess the information security compliance practices of all Heartists in accordance with Accor's standard policies and procedure.
• Ensure implementation of data security policies, procedures, and processes.
• Identify, rectify, and report database performance issues to enhance its capabilities.
• Prepare and implement test plans and procedures (e.g. unit tests, end users’ acceptance tests, etc.) to assess the effectiveness of the databases.
• Conduct regular and ad hoc database related audits to ensure integrity.
• Demonstrate expert knowledge in IT infrastructure‑related principles, initiatives, and trends.
• Resolve non‑routine IT infrastructure related problems and make recommendations concerning improvements.
• Oversee and participate in IT infrastructure design and upgrade initiatives.
• Monitor system logs and activity on all servers and make adequate recommendations to mitigate any potential risks.
• Monitor recent technology developments and recommends implementation as deemed appropriate.
• Lead implementation of technology upgrades / enhancements.
• Champion productive technology solutions to meet business needs.
• Participate in the functional development and specifications of new IT solutions.
• Conduct basic software training.
• Ensure effectiveness of the training on the technology and applications in place.
• Ensure systems are utilized to their maximum capacity.
• Simulate damage scenarios in order to conduct further analysis on damaged equipment and find comprehensive solutions for recurring problems.
• Examine supported systems and makes recommendations for improvement.
• Ensure only original and properly licensed software is running on the hotel’s systems and computers.
• Ensure no End of Life products are installed and/or connected to the hotel network.
• Review reports on security breaches and ensures the implementation of recovery measures in a timely manner.
• Consult with hardware / software providers in order to ensure provision of specific maintenance services.
• Establish, update, and ensure the implementation of a disaster recovery plan if deemed required.
• Ensure the provision of prompt and quality technical support services to IT users across the hotel.
• Meet with IT Team on a regular basis to discuss recurring IT problems and to find permanent solutions.

Qualifications

• Degree in IT, Computer Science, or other relevant discipline.
• 7+ years working in an IT environment at a senior level.
• Experience of embedding change projects within an organization.
• Demonstrated experience of managing IT budgets and project management.
• Experience of managing IT infrastructure across dispersed locations.
• A passion for improving the delivery of services with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Strong interpersonal and problem solving abilities.
• Highly responsible & reliable with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to focus attention on guest needs, remaining calm and courteous at all times.