Head, IT Application Management

Kuwait Finance House Group; Manama; Presencial; BHD 70.000 - 110.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Kuwait Finance House Group seeks a seasoned Head of Application Management to own and evolve the Bank’s application portfolio, ensuring reliability and strategic alignment with the tech roadmap. You will drive 24/7 availability, manage incident/change workflows, and lead multi-functional teams across Retail, Corporate, Private Banking and Treasury domains.

Responsibilities include overseeing integrations with digital channels, driving automation, and delivering coordinated upgrades while

Formación

• 15–20 years of banking IT experience with core banking focus.
• Experience managing Finastra Equation AS400 or similar cores.
• Strong exposure to Islamic banking products and processes.
• Proven record leading large teams and mission-critical systems.
• Deep expertise in core banking architecture and lifecycle management.
• Knowledge of APIs, middleware, and system integrations.
• Familiarity with Retail, Corporate, Treasury and Islamic banking domains.

Responsabilidades

• Own and govern the application portfolio spanning Core Banking, Private Banking, Payments and Compliance systems.
• Ensure 24/7 availability with defined SLAs and minimal downtime.
• Direct incident, problem, and change management across the portfolio.
• Lead L1–L3 support functions and proactive maintenance programs.
• Drive root-cause analysis and permanent fixes for recurring issues.
• Oversee system enhancements, upgrades, and releases aligned with business needs.
• Translate business requirements into system changes with disciplined governance.
• Lead integration of backend systems with digital channels and support systems.
• Define vendor relationships, SLAs, and contract negotiations for support and upgrades.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and audit readiness across IT governance controls.
• Contribute to IT and digital transformation roadmaps, especially core banking modernization.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team with clear KPIs and development plans.

Conocimientos

Core banking architecture

API & middleware

AS/400

Finastra Equation

Team leadership

Regulatory compliance

System integrations

Strategic transformation

Educación

Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field

Master's degree (MBA or Technology-related) preferred

Herramientas

Finastra Equation

AS/400

Descripción del empleo

JOB PURPOSE / ROLE

The Head of Application Management is responsible for the overall ownership, stability, and evolution of the Bank's Application Portfolio. The role ensures seamless support, maintenance, and enhancement of all business applications to enable Retail, Corporate, Private Banking, and Treasury operations.

The incumbent will drive system reliability, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and strategic transformation initiatives, ensuring alignment with the Bank's business objectives and technology roadmap.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Application Management

• Own and manage the application portfolio covering all business applications including but not limited to Core -Banking, Private Banking Systems, Payment Systems, Compliance Systems covering all modules supporting all business functions.
• Ensure 24/7 system availability with defined SLAs and minimal downtime.
• Oversee incident, problem, and change management processes for the entire application landscape.

Support & Maintenance

• Lead L1, L2, and L3 application support teams, ensuring timely resolution of issues.
• Establish proactive monitoring and preventive maintenance frameworks.
• Drive root cause analysis and implement permanent fixes for recurring issues.

Enhancements & Change Delivery

• Manage system enhancements, upgrades, and releases in line with business requirements.
• Work closely with business units to translate functional needs into system changes.
• Ensure disciplined change governance, testing, and release management practices.

Integration & Ecosystem Management

• Oversee integration of backend systems with digital channels and support systems (e.g., digital banking, payments, treasury systems, regulatory reporting).
• Ensure data consistency, integrity, and seamless end-to-end processing across systems.
• Support API and middleware strategies for future-ready architecture.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Manage relationships with application and technology vendors, ensuring performance against SLAs and contractual obligations.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders (IT, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Business teams).
• Lead negotiations on support contracts, upgrades, and enhancement engagements.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (including CBB) and internal IT governance policies.

Maintain strong controls over access management, data security, and audit readiness.

Support internal and external audits and ensure timely closure of audit findings.

Strategy & Transformation

• Contribute to the Bank's IT and digital transformation roadmap, particularly around core banking modernization.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend system upgrades or replacements where required.
• Drive automation and process efficiency initiatives within core banking operations.

Team Leadership

Build and lead a high-performing team of application specialists and support staff.

Define clear KPIs, performance metrics, and development plans.

Promote a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Academic Qualifications (Minimum Requirement)

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field.
• Master's degree (MBA or Technology-related) preferred.

Minimum Experience

• Minimum 15-20 years of experience in banking IT, with a strong focus on core banking systems.
• Proven experience managing Finastra Equation AS400 or similar core banking platforms.
• Strong exposure to Islamic banking products and processes is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in leading large teams and managing mission-critical systems.
• Deep expertise in core banking architecture and application lifecycle management
• Strong knowledge of AS400 environment and Finastra Equation
• Understanding of system integrations, APIs, and middleware
• Familiarity with banking domains: Retail, Corporate, Treasury, Islamic products