IT Strategy Lead For Pooling

UnionBank; Pasig; On-site; PHP 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

UnionBank is seeking an IT Strategy Lead to shape the bank's technology roadmap and drive strategic programs across IT and business units. The role collaborates with Enterprise Architecture to ensure coherence, regulatory compliance, and cost-effective delivery.

You will lead strategic planning, manage performance metrics, and engage stakeholders to transform technology-enabled business outcomes. A strong background in banking IT governance and digital transformation is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Strong knowledge of banking regulations and standards.
• Familiarity with Strategic Management, Digital Transformation, or Innovation.
• Familiarity with architecture frameworks (TOGAF, ITIL, COBIT) is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the bank's IT strategic roadmap aligned with priorities.
• Assess technology trends, regulatory changes, and internal capability readiness.
• Translate strategies into IT programs with value, cost, and risk considerations.
• Define guidelines on AI adoption including low-code/no-code and automation.
• Coordinate with Enterprise Architecture for feasibility and compliance.
• Define KPIs and prepare dashboards for executive insights.

Skills

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Analytics

Risk management

Enterprise Architecture alignment

Regulatory compliance

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

TOGAF

ITIL

COBIT

Job description

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.

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.

Requirements