Senior Director - Platforms & Infra.

Senior Director – Platforms & Infrastructure

JOB PURPOSE:

To plan, lead and manage all activities of the Platforms & Infrastructure department to ensure day-to-day management of all IT operations and user support, and to maintain uninterrupted operations of EGA’s IT systems while delivering on defined service level agreements and quality standards.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Strategy

         Develops the IT Services departmental strategy in line with the functional strategy to ensure vertical alignment and horizontal integration with other interfacing departmental strategies across Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA).

Policies, Processes  & Procedures

         Develops, seeks approval and oversees the implementation of policies, procedures and controls covering all areas of IT Services management activity so that all relevant procedural/legislative requirements are fulfilled while delivering a quality, cost-effective service to customers.

Budget

         Oversees the consolidation and recommends the IT Services budget and monitors financial performance versus the budget so that the business is aware of anticipated costs/revenues, areas of unsatisfactory performance are identified and potential areas of cost reduction or performance improvement opportunities are capitalized upon.

Data center management and Operations

         Manages and oversees IT Systems Support Management, Infrastructure Support Management, Help Desk Support and other Operational functions to achieve established quality standards and timelines, and ensures user requirements are met.

         Leads the effective provision of application support and troubleshooting for ensuring satisfaction of internal and external customers whilst maintaining uninterrupted operations.

         Ensures effective provision of IT systems operations for application support deployment.

         Leads and develops the process to consult and communicate with users to determine and clarify their current and future operational business needs, and ensure all users’ requests are fully documented to the required standards.

         Ensures all major systems, applications, networks and hardware are operated and maintained cost-effectively, and meet defined service levels and standards, as well as user and business needs.

Technical Architecture / Network & Telecomm

         Leads and guides the IT Infrastructure Support management in the provision of optimum infrastructure operations and support deployment to facilitate organizational operations.

         Leads the monitoring and ensures that the hardware is running as per the SLAs defined while proactively identifying areas of improvement and recommending solutions.

         Manages the execution of the received deployment plans for infrastructure upgrades from IT Governance and Projects in accord with defined quality standards and SLAs.

         Guides the provision of input in to the development of technical standards, infrastructure hardware (i.e. routers, switches, modems, PC’s, printers, scanners, projectors, etc.) and evaluates new products and services in order to make recommendations for infrastructure upgrades and enhancements.

Information help center

         Leads the development and maintenance of formal procedures for providing support to all IT users in order to ensure timely and efficient resolution of all IT and communication related issues.

Training

         Monitors and analyses organization wide IT training needs and liaises with the HR function to provide appropriate training provision so that all employees have the required IT user capability to enable delivery of business objectives.

         Ensures that required training and documentations are provided for the support staff on received updates and fixes for both applications and infrastructure.

Information Security and Operations

         Together with IT Security, participate in the effective administration of an effective and robust control, back up, Virus defense and security systems to safeguard and protect all IT operations to ensure the reliability and integrity of data.

         In coordination with the IT Security, lead the implementation of disaster recovery plans as required to safeguard and protect all IT operations.

Relationship Management

         Develops and maintains effective business relationships with all relevant internal departments and external entities such as vendors, contractors, consultants and other stakeholders etc with highest standards of business ethics, whilst promptly attending to all critical issues in-order to ensure the services required by the organization are delivered in the most effective manner.

Leadership

         Manages the effective achievement of departmental objectives through the leadership of the IT Services department – setting individual objectives, recruiting qualified staff, managing performance, developing and motivating staff, provision of formal and informal feedback and appraisal – in order to maximize subordinate and departmental performance.

Safety, Quality & Environment

         Ensures compliance to all relevant safety, quality and environmental management policies, procedures and controls across the department in order to guarantee employee safety, legislative compliance and a responsible environmental attitude.

Related Assignments

         Performs other related duties or assignments as directed.

AUTHORITY/ DECISION MAKING:

Guidelines:

         Thinking within defined policies, standards, and specific objectives.

Decision Making:

         Work is subject to broad practices and procedures, general direction of output is managed.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

Minimum Qualifications:

         Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering or Computer Science or equivalent.

         A professional qualification in Project Management is preferable.

Minimum Experience:

         8-10 years’ experience in IT Operations and Systems Support, preferably with a large manufacturing organization with at least 4 years in positions of progressively increasing managerial responsibilities.

         Experience in managing IT vendor and contractor relationships.

Skills:

         Detailed understanding and knowledge of software and hardware applications.

         In-depth knowledge of the aluminium manufacturing sector and EGA’s products and business strategies.

         Sound knowledge of latest technological innovations related to the industry.

         Project management skills.

         Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

         Experience in coaching and mentoring.

         Risk management.

         Problem solving.

         Planning and organizing skills.