It Operations Manager jobs in United Arab Emirates

Fractional Head of IT (Infrastructure, Security & Compliance)

Location: Dubai, UAE (Hybrid / Remote)

Security-Minded. Process-Driven. Globally Scalable.

PharmaTalent is a global executive search and talent intelligence firm focused exclusively on the life sciences sector. We partner with some of the most innovative pharmaceutical and biotech companies across North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

As we scale, we’re building a secure and scalable digital infrastructure to support our globally distributed team. We’re seeking a Fractional Head of IT to own our IT systems, data privacy posture, compliance frameworks, and risk readiness, ensuring our tools, data, and team members are set up to succeed — securely and efficiently.

This is a hands-on, fractional role for a senior IT professional who is already set up to work as a consultant through a UAE-based licensed entity or freelancer permit, and can legally invoice PharmaTalent for services rendered. You’ll take immediate ownership of our Google Workspace, hardware lifecycle, remote tools, and data protection policies. You’ll work directly with the Founder & CEO, and collaborate closely with our Fractional CFO, HR Advisor, and Legal Counsel.

• A. IT Systems Ownership & Admin
  • Serve as Google Workspace Super Admin — manage users, groups, aliases, permissions, and device policies
  • Onboard and offboard users across Google Workspace, Gmail, and Microsoft 365
  • Maintain and enforce admin-level policies across all accounts and applications
  • Issue and manage Microsoft Office licenses, ensuring users are properly offboarded and systems wiped as needed
• B. Hardware & Software Lifecycle Management
  • Maintain a live inventory of all company-issued laptops, accessories, and software licenses
  • Support secure laptop provisioning, returns, and wiping procedures for team onboarding and offboarding
  • Recommend and implement scalable IT asset management practices for a remote, multi-entity team
• C. Remote Work Tools & Productivity Stack
  • Evaluate, implement, and manage remote time tracking tools (e.g., Time Doctor, Hubstaff, etc.)
  • Ensure tools are secure, compliant, user-friendly, and integrated with current systems
  • Develop SOPs, onboarding guides, and process documentation for these platforms
  • Own PharmaTalent’s IT risk policy, data security protocols, and internal controls
  • Act as the company’s Data Protection Officer (DPO) — or fulfill DPO-related responsibilities — to ensure compliance with:
    • GDPR
    • U.S. data privacy laws (e.g., CCPA / CPRA)
    • Other jurisdiction-specific frameworks as needed
  • Oversee vendor privacy reviews, data access control, and breach incident protocols
  • Enforce account-level security controls (2FA, password policies, device encryption, etc.)
• D. Privacy Policy Oversight & Audit Readiness
  • Partner with HR and Legal to ensure compliant data processing agreements (DPAs) and contract clauses with vendors and clients
  • Ensure documentation is in place for:
    • Data subject access requests (DSARs)
  • Right to be forgotten / data deletion protocols
  • Lead IT-related audit prep in client security reviews and RFPs, including privacy posture statements
  • Proactively assess the scalability of PharmaTalent’s IT infrastructure as the company expands
  • Recommend system and security upgrades based on company size, jurisdiction, or industry best practices
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO on tech stack, security posture, and IT readiness for enterprise clients
  • Ensure the business is positioned to eventually pursue ISO 27001 / SOC 2 readiness if required

• 10+ years of experience in IT operations, systems administration, or cybersecurity — ideally in a fast-scaling, remote-first or multi-entity environment
• Deep experience managing Google Workspace (as Super Admin) and Microsoft 365 environments
• Familiarity with time-tracking and remote work platforms (e.g., Time Doctor, Hubstaff, RemotePass)
• Strong working knowledge of GDPR, CCPA / CPRA, data protection, and IT-related compliance frameworks
• Experience preparing for or managing client-side risk audits or RFP compliance
• Hands-on and autonomous — comfortable serving as a one-person IT team
• Fluent in English (spoken and written); other languages a plus
• Based in Dubai, UAE, or able to work Dubai business hours, and legally permitted to invoice as a consultant
• Already operating as a licensed consultant through a UAE-registered entity or valid freelancer permit, and fully set up to invoice PharmaTalent in compliance with local regulations

• Global Impact – Build and protect the IT infrastructure of a business operating across Europe, the Middle East, and North America
• Strategic Ownership – Own IT systems, compliance, and data security across a lean, fast-scaling organization
• Core Team Access – Work alongside the CEO and a core fractional team (CFO, HR, Legal) to shape company-wide operations
• Flexible Role – Begin as a fractional engagement, with the option to evolve the role as business needs expand

Ready to Build the Tech & Data Backbone of a Global Talent Advisory Firm?

Apply now to join PharmaTalent as our Fractional Head of IT — and help us scale with structure, security, and compliance.

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Contract
• Job function: Information Technology
• Industries: Business Consulting and Services

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