Head (Applications)

Olive Tree search; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Olive Tree search is seeking an experienced Head (Applications) for a top ranking higher learning institution. The role reports to the Director of Applications and will shape product vision, roadmaps, and end-to-end delivery of digital capabilities across the core application suite to realise user value and impact.

Lead a multidisciplinary team, drive IT strategy, stakeholder engagement, and architectural governance while transforming the team from project delivery to product ownership and

Job description

Our Client, a top ranking higher learning institution in the world is looking for an experienced and visionary Head (Applications) to join their team, reporting directly to the Director of Applications. This role is pivotal in shaping the product vision, roadmap, and end-to-end delivery of digital capabilities across this specific core business application suite, ensuring sustained value realisation and user impact.

Duties & Responsibilities

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of project managers, product managers, business analysts, scrum masters and support staff handling this core application suite (~20 staff)
• Set clear vision, priorities, and performance expectations aligned with IT & User Community’s objectives
• Mentor and develop a high-performing, accountable culture grounded in ownership, innovation, and continuous improvement

IT Strategy and Stakeholder Management

• Define and execute the technical vision and roadmap across this domain, ensuring alignment with the client’s strategic goals
• Rationalisation of existing tactical systems to leverage enterprise platforms to drive integration and reuse
• Serve as the senior IT partner to business unit leadership and key functional stakeholders
• Engage stakeholders in shaping digital roadmaps, ensuring alignment between business aspirations and enterprise guardrails

Technical and Delivery Oversight

• Provide architectural oversight to ensure solutions adhere to enterprise architecture standards, cybersecurity requirements, and data governance policies
• Responsible for technical budgets, resources, and timelines, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with business priorities

Team Transformation

• Evolve the team from project-centric delivery to product-centric ownership with clear domain accountability
• Develop product managers who deeply understand core business workflows and proactively shape solutions
• Cultivate forward-deployed engineering skillsets capable of partnering closely with business units to prototype, integrate, and solve complex problems hands-on.
• Build AI-enabled capability within the team, leveraging automation and agentic tools to increase productivity.
• Shift KPIs from "on-time delivery" to measurable organizational outcomes and adoption

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