Senior Director- Information Technology

The Senior Director – Technology is a critical executive leadership role responsible for the complete end-to-end ownership of the organization’s technology ecosystem across the UAE. This role carries full strategic, operational, financial, governance, cybersecurity, infrastructure, applications, data, and digital transformation accountability. The position demands a highly experienced technology executive capable of aligning enterprise-wide IT strategy with business growth objectives, regulatory frameworks, and digital innovation priorities.

The role is both strategic and operational, overseeing mission-critical systems, enterprise architecture, cybersecurity posture, IT governance, risk management, vendor ecosystems, digital platforms, and technology-enabled business transformation initiatives across multiple business units.

Key Responsibilities

1. Enterprise IT Strategy & Digital Transformation

• Develop and execute a comprehensive enterprise-wide IT and Digital Strategy aligned with corporate vision and growth objectives.
• Lead multi-year digital transformation initiatives across operations, finance, HR, customer experience, and commercial functions.
• Define enterprise architecture standards and long-term technology roadmaps.
• Drive adoption of cloud-first strategies, AI, automation, analytics, IoT, and emerging technologies.
• Establish measurable KPIs and ROI frameworks to ensure value realization from digital investments.

2. IT Operations, Infrastructure & Service Delivery

• Oversee 24/7 enterprise IT operations, ensuring high availability, scalability, resilience, and performance.
• Manage data centers, cloud environments (Azure/AWS), networks, endpoints, and enterprise platforms.
• Implement ITIL-based service management frameworks and continuous service improvement programs.
• Ensure Disaster Recovery (DR), Business Continuity Planning (BCP), and redundancy strategies are tested and compliant.
• Lead IT helpdesk, technical support, and enterprise systems administration functions.

3. Cybersecurity, Risk & Compliance

• Establish and lead an enterprise cybersecurity framework aligned with UAE regulatory standards.
• Oversee SOC operations, threat monitoring, vulnerability management, penetration testing, and incident response.
• Ensure compliance with UAE Data Protection Law and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Conduct enterprise risk assessments and deliver board-level cybersecurity reporting.
• Develop and enforce data governance, privacy, and information security policies organization-wide.

4. Enterprise Systems & Applications

• Lead ERP, CRM, HRMS, Finance, Procurement, and operational system implementations and optimization.
• Ensure seamless integration across enterprise platforms to enable efficient digital workflows.
• Drive automation initiatives to enhance productivity and cost efficiency.
• Oversee system modernization, upgrades, and migration programs.

5. Financial Oversight & Vendor Governance

• Manage large-scale IT budgets (CAPEX & OPEX) with full financial accountability.
• Lead vendor selection, contract negotiations, and SLA governance for strategic technology partners.
• Ensure cost optimization, measurable ROI, and value realization from technology investments.
• Oversee procurement strategies for hardware, software, and managed services.

6. Executive Leadership & Organizational Impact

• Build and lead high-performing IT teams across infrastructure, applications, cybersecurity, and data functions.
• Develop succession planning and leadership development strategies.
• Present technology strategy, risk posture, and performance metrics to executive leadership and Board.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as strategic advisor to executive leadership on technology-enabled growth opportunities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Master’s Degree (MBA or technology-focused) preferred.
• 15–20+ years of progressive IT leadership experience.
• Minimum 8–10 years at Director / VP / SVP level managing enterprise-scale environments.
• Professional certifications such as ITIL, PMP, CISSP, CISM, or TOGAF preferred.
• Strong experience within the UAE or GCC regulatory and operational landscape.