Principle Head Of It Operations - Jhb

Leads the development, implementation, and execution of organization-wide information technology plans and strategy that contribute to the development and delivery of IT Operations Functions that support and lead the business objectives.

JOB PURPOSE

Leads the development, implementation, and execution of organization-wide information technology plans and strategy that contribute to the development and delivery of IT Operations Functions that support and lead the business objectives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Functional Strategy Formation and Implementation
   • Develop, implement, monitor, review and evaluate the delivery of Technology Operations, to formulate and implement Technology strategy.
   • Develop the strategy for a significant area of responsibility such as function, anticipating complex issues, challenges and opportunities.
   • Ensure the strategy is successfully implemented and meets medium-term business needs.
   • Enable businesses to capitalize on new opportunities and build out new capabilities.
   • Develop and implement a cost-effective strategy for business that simplifies processes and procedures.
   • Lead the development and implementation of strategy for a significant area of responsibility, anticipating complex issues, challenges, and opportunities, ensuring integration with wider corporate strategy.
   • Create, monitor and analyze financial and operational metrics that track performance and provide insights for functions.
   • Evaluate and advise on the impact of long-term planning, introduction of new Technology platforms, programs/strategies and regulatory action.
   • Manage business information strategy, development and implementation of business systems, streamlining processes to assist with analysis on productivity and performance improvement.
   • Partner with business executives to run Group strategic projects, understand business requirements and products, provide insights into market demands and trends based on digital platforms available.
   • Support the Group Technology CEO with implementation of Tech strategy across all companies within the business.
   • Oversee the deployment and management of current and future technology systems, ensuring their scalability and flexibility to meet evolving business needs.
   • Communicate the function's strategy and its relationship to the organization's mission, vision and values; clarify the actions needed to implement it within the area of responsibility; motivate people to commit to these and to do extraordinary things to achieve the organization's business goals.
2. Information, Business Advice, Policies and Procedures
   • Provide authoritative specialist advice to the leadership team across Tech and business to guide the implementation of policies, the design and implementation of projects and change initiatives.
   • Lead the development of policies, procedures, and related guidelines for the entire delivery, product design, architecture and governance, ensuring compliance with external requirements and integration with the broader corporate policy framework.
   • Ensure reduction of fraudulent activities by providing a secure and trusted environment for business needs.
   • Build and formulate infrastructure frameworks, Service Management SLAs that are tangible, and business can relate to.
3. Internal Client Relationship Management
   • Lead the development of partnering relationships with Business unit and technology managers throughout the organization, building high levels of professional credibility and mutual trust.
   • Ensure that internal clients have access to high-quality advice and guidance to support in delivering business strategy and plans.
   • Establish and maintain strong relationships with Business Leaders to identify their needs and seek a full range of business solutions.
   • Being obsessed with customers and focused.
4. Information Security & Risk Operations
   • Implementation and continuous enhancement of robust security measures and risk management strategies to safeguard the organization's IT infrastructure, data, and assets, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and minimizing potential threats.
5. Business Case and Planning
   • Develop and gain agreement to annual business plans for a function or substantial business area, ensuring alignment with strategy; quantify business outcomes (i.e. revenues or other key performance indicators); detail expense, and headcount budgets; and develop business cases for key projects, ensuring cross-functional integration.
   • Lead the development, presentation, and continuous review of program and project business cases; make evidence-based recommendations on the initiation and termination of key projects.
   • Full responsibility for external audit and any other statutory and regulatory reporting.
   • Establish and maintain strong relationships with the board, shareholders and Business Leaders to identify their needs and seek full range of business solutions.
   • Ensure the business complies with the statutory legislation and corporate governance frameworks.
   • Accountable for the formulation of policies and procedures in line with relevant legislation and ensure implementation thereof.
   • Implement and maintain systems, procedures and controls for efficient performance and productivity.
   • Define policies, procedures and processes to streamline the Business and optimize efficiencies.
6. Leadership, Direction and Budgeting
   • Manage the functions technology budget, ensuring cost effectiveness of resources.
   • Establish rigorous financial controls and challenge pricing internally and with external vendors.
   • Take responsibility for setting and managing area budgets so they align with business strategy.
7. Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
   • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and define project scopes.
   • Champion the transition of new ways of work and integration of tech and business delivery and operating model.
   • Cultivate strong relationships with key stakeholders, provide regular updates on project status and address concerns promptly.
   • Recognize outcomes which resulted from effective collaboration between teams.
   • Be an effective inspirational leader to facilitate the creation of motivated and accountable, full-service teams who understand and strive to meet the needs of all business stakeholders.
   • Coach and counsel operational managers and staff to develop and sustain an environment that fully understands delivery and its impact on business.
8. Team Coordination & Managing Complexity
   • Lead and mentor IT Operations function in fostering a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and accountability.
   • Coordinate with external providers and partners to ensure alignment of IT Operations, identify project goals and deliverables.
   • Build and evolve the IT Operations and Service Management capability across the business.
   • Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
9. Performance Management & Business Capability Building
   • Build and lead a high-performance technology team by driving employee engagement, productivity, high performance and delivery focus.
   • Manage and report on the performance of the function/business area; set appropriate performance objectives for direct reports and hold them accountable for achieving these; take appropriate corrective action where necessary to ensure the achievement of annual business objectives.
   • Identify the capabilities needed to meet the current and emerging business needs of a significant business area.
   • Evaluate current capabilities, identify gaps, and prioritize development activities.
   • Motivate others to develop their capabilities and fulfill their personal potential.
   • Build capabilities elsewhere in the entire business through mentoring and other informal methods.
   • Build strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
   • Ensure that the team has the right mix of skills; leverages individual strengths effectively.
10. Change Management
    • Develop and implement change management plans to facilitate smooth transitions during technology rollouts for budgets.
    • Conduct training sessions for internal teams and customers to ensure proper adoption of financial models and services.
    • Apply best practices to implement and/or resolve financial issues.
11. Business Continuity
    • Develop and maintain robust disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
12. Strategic Mindset and Business Acumen
    • Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.
    • Effectively integrates long-term opportunities and challenges with day-to-day activities.
    • Applies knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the business's goals.
    • Define the detailed organization structure for a business area to align with corporate principles.
13. Situational Adaptability and Communication
    • Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.
    • Understands the cues that suggest a change in approach is needed; adopts new behaviors accordingly.
    • Develop and deliver multi-mode communication that conveys a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
    • Pays attention to others' inputs and perspectives, asks questions and summarizes to confirm.
14. Business Insights and Accountability
    • Applies knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the business's goals.
    • Gives strong messages about how people's efforts make a difference to the broader organization.
15. Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments
    • Measures and tracks team’s and own performance, and helps the team learn from success, failure, and feedback.
    • Adheres to, and enforces, goals, policies, and procedures.

Job Requirements

EDUCATION

• Matric
• Postgraduate degree in Information and Technology, MBA advantage

EXPERIENCE

• 18+ years of experience in IT Operations or relevant experience.
• 15+ years of experience in Service Management experience is an advantage.
• 15+ years experienced in strategic management and leadership across company functions directing substantial resources over long-term frames.
• Agile certified, knowledge of the relevant Information Technology governance and legislative framework (such as COBIT, ITIL, TOGAF, SDLC, ASAP, SOA).
• Good understanding of Azure DevOps, APIs.
• Knowledge MS Project, JIRA (preferred), advanced MS Office skills.
• Relevant experience in Fintech, ICT.
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) advantageous.
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) advantageous.
• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) advantageous.
• Oracle Systems Knowledge and experience advantageous.