IT Governance & Architecture Lead - Banking

VAM Systems is currently looking for IT Governance & Architecture Lead for our Bahrain operations with the following skillsets & terms and conditions:

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Professional certifications such as TOGAF, COBIT, ITIL, CISA, CISSP, or PMP highly desirable.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in IT governance, enterprise architecture, or related roles.
• Proven experience working within a banking environment is a prerequisite.
• Strong knowledge of IT risk management, compliance, and audit processes.
• Demonstrated track record of defining and implementing enterprise architecture strategies and governance frameworks.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities for executive-level reporting.
• Analytical mindset with problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to balance governance rigor with business agility and innovation.
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity principles, security architecture, and InfoSec standards (e.g., ISO 27001, NIST).
• Understanding of emerging technologies, cloud adoption, and digital transformation trends.

Key Interfaces

• Internal: Head of IT, IT Security, InfoSec, EPMO, Business Units, Risk & Compliance, Internal Audit.
• External: Regulators, External Auditors, Vendors/Consultants.

Key Responsibilities

IT Governance

• Develop, implement, and maintain the IT governance framework, policies, and procedures aligned with COBIT, ITIL, and internal compliance requirements.
• Define and monitor IT performance metrics, SLAs, and KPIs to ensure accountability and transparency.
• Lead IT risk management practices including risk identification, assessment, and mitigation planning.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, security standards, and audit findings.
• Support IT committees, steering groups, and senior management with governance reporting and recommendations.

Enterprise Architecture

• Establish and maintain enterprise architecture standards and frameworks (applications, data, technology, and security).
• Assess current state architecture and develop target state aligned with business strategy and transformation initiatives.
• Provide architectural oversight for new projects, ensuring alignment with IT strategy, security, and integration requirements.
• Review and approve solution designs, ensuring consistency, scalability, and cost efficiency.
• Maintain technology roadmaps, ensuring planned evolution of systems and infrastructure.

Collaboration & Advisory

• Act as a trusted advisor to IT leadership, providing insights on governance, compliance, and architecture matters.
• Collaborate with business, IT, and InfoSec stakeholders to ensure solutions are aligned with enterprise standards and security requirements.
• Provide guidance on vendor evaluations and technology acquisitions to ensure architectural alignment and cost-effectiveness.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and best practices across IT teams.

Terms and conditions

Joining time frame: (15 - 30 days)

Terms and conditions:

Joining time frame: maximum 4 weeks