IT Strategy Lead (For Pooling)

UnionBank; Pasig; On-site; PHP 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

UnionBank is seeking an IT Strategy Lead to shape and execute IT strategic initiatives across the bank. The role collaborates with Enterprise Architecture to ensure coherence across technology domains and drives strategic planning, performance tracking, and stakeholder engagement.

The position focuses on aligning IT programs with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and innovation goals while promoting cost-efficiency and long-term scalability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, business management, HR or related field is required; advanced degree preferred.
• Strong knowledge of banking regulations, compliance requirements, and industry standards.
• Familiarity with Strategic Management, Digital Transformation, or Innovation (e.g., Balanced Scorecard, ITIL, COBIT).
• Familiarity with TOGAF or similar architecture frameworks is beneficial but not required.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical mindset with problem solving and decision making.
• Strong project management skills with ability to handle multiple initiatives concurrently.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the IT strategic roadmap aligned with corporate priorities.
• Coordinate with Enterprise Architecture to ensure feasibility, cost efficiency, and compliance.
• Define KPIs and prepare executive dashboards on initiative progress and value.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and risk considerations are embedded in planning.
• Engage with business leaders to understand priorities and communicate roadmaps.
• Support governance forums and investment committees in IT strategy execution.

Skills

Strategic planning

Enterprise architecture

Analytics & reporting

Regulatory & risk

Stakeholder management

People & capability planning

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

IT Strategy Lead

Office Location: UnionBank Plaza, Ortigas, Pasig City

Employment Status: Full-time

About The Role

The IT Strategy Lead is responsible for formulating and supporting the execution of the bank’s IT strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and innovation objectives. This role works closely with Enterprise Architecture and other architecture teams to ensure strategic coherence across technology domains. The officer plays a key role in strategic planning, performance tracking, and stakeholder engagement to drive technology‑enabled business transformation.

What You'll Do

Strategic Planning and Execution

• Develop and maintain the bank’s IT strategic roadmap, ensuring alignment with corporate, regulatory, and business unit priorities.
• Conduct strategic assessments of technology trends, market developments, regulatory changes, and internal capability readiness.
• Translate enterprise and business strategies into actionable IT programs with clear value, cost, and risk considerations.
• Integrate cost‑efficiency strategies across platforms into planning and prioritization efforts.
• Define strategic guidelines on AI adoption, including where to apply low‑code, no‑code, automation, and advanced analytics.

Enterprise Architecture Alignment

• Coordinate with Enterprise Architecture to ensure proposed initiatives are technically feasible, cost‑efficient, compliant, and aligned with architectural standards.
• Participate in joint planning cycles to harmonize strategic priorities, architectural blueprints, and investment decisions.
• Support Build vs. Buy evaluations, ensuring decisions are actionable and based on business value, cost, risk, and long‑term scalability.

Analytics and Reporting

• Define and maintain KPIs for IT strategy, major programs, and transformation outcomes.
• Prepare executive‑level dashboards and insights on initiative progress, cost efficiency, performance gaps, and strategic risks.
• Drive performance analysis aligned to corporate strategy, enabling timely recalibration of programs and resource allocation.
• Oversee the performance of enterprise reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Recommend adjustments to strategies based on performance insights, operational trends, and business needs.

Risk, Regulatory & Compliance Alignment

• Ensure IT strategies and programs comply with regulatory rules, risk frameworks, cybersecurity standards, and industry best practices.
• Embed compliance considerations into early‑stage planning, technology adoption, data governance, and solution design.
• Collaborate with Risk, Compliance, and Audit units to assess and mitigate strategic and operational risks.
• Integrate Business Continuity Planning (BCP) strategy, ensuring readiness and intra‑year implementation across IT and critical platforms.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage with business leaders to understand priorities, regulatory trends, and operational pain points, ensuring IT remains a strategic partner.
• Facilitate cross‑functional collaboration with IT, Risk, Compliance, Finance, Operations, and external partners.
• Support strategic governance forums, investment committees, and performance review boards.
• Communicate strategy updates, regulatory impacts, performance outcomes, and technology roadmaps to senior management and key stakeholders.

People & Capability Strategy

• Support the development of IT capability roadmaps, competency frameworks, and workforce planning.
• Provide strategic input on talent development, succession needs, and future skills, including AI proficiency, coding standards, and automation literacy.
• Promote a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and engineering discipline across IT teams.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business Management, Human Resources, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• Strong knowledge of banking regulations, compliance requirements, and industry standards.
• Familiarity (preferably with certification) in Strategic Management, Digital Transformation, or Innovation (e.g., Balanced Scorecard, ITIL, COBIT).
• Familiarity with architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF) is beneficial but not required.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical mindset with a focus on problem‑solving and decision‑making.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives concurrently.