The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is conducting a search for an experienced and highly qualified Head of Information Management and Technology Solutions (IM&TS), accountable for defining and delivering IT strategy and capabilities/ solutions across the Authority. The Head of Information Management & Technology Solutions (IM&TS) will be responsible for oversight direction to IT and business leaders on IT strategy, standards, and opportunities for shared services and economies of scale. The Head of IM&TS is a key contributor to FDA’s strategy and planning process and will be responsible both for IT operations and digital transformation. It is critical for the Head of IM&TS to build strong and productive relationships with all Functional unit leaders, acting as a true partner and making IT a critical enabler for the delivery of the Authority’s strategic and operational deliverables.

The Head of IM&TS will have responsibility for a team of IT professionals.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the function in the underlisted four (4) categories of strategy, leadership, Team Development and IT Operations:

Strategy

• Proactively advise the senior management team on the emerging technologies and digital trends that are most relevant to the FDA’s goals and evolving needs.
• Help determine capital investment parameters, priorities and risks for enterprise-wide IT initiatives to maximize the return on investment.

Leadership

• Develop an IT vision, strategy, and a roadmap, and lead the IT team and its business partners in effective execution.
• Ensure, on an ongoing basis, that current and planned technical architecture, investments and solutions are aligned with FDA’s objectives.
• Prepare and monitor IT operational budgets that meet prevailing objectives and constraints.
• Develop and execute an analytics programme that will enable FDA’s functional leaders to make critical decisions.
• Build strong relationships with functional groups and their leaders across the Authority, and develop a detailed understanding of their issues, challenges and opportunities to enable the development and deployment of fit for purpose solutions.
• IT project lead for the Authority in all information technology projects

Team Development

• Hire, develop, evaluate, reward, and retain a highly-qualified team of IT professionals.
• Foster a culture of innovation, transparency and accountability, promote a “business-first” mentality at all levels of the IT organization.
• Ensure that the organisation has strong systems analysis and project management skills, and the ability to execute operational critical projects.

IT Operations

• Direct the design, planning, implementation, and maintenance of the computing infrastructure that supports the Authority’s operations and business application needs.
• Establish metrics for managing IT effectiveness and for measuring the impact of IT on organisational outcomes
• Establish appropriate service levels and the processes to ensure that KPIs are met.
• Maintain oversight of all IT projects, ensuring that commitments are properly planned, staffed, monitored and reported.
• Establish a comprehensive enterprise information security program to ensure the integrity, confidentiality and availability of relevant data.
• Lead the design and implementation of an enterprise-wide disaster recovery and business continuity plan.
• Establish and enforce IT policies, processes, portfolio management, development standards and methodologies.
• Monitor the industry for developments in IT operations; evaluate and implement relevant new tools and service management frameworks.
• Review, recommend and oversee all vendors and managed service agreement for computing, telecommunications, IT services and equipment

Leadership and Communications

• Can create a clear strategic vision for information technology that supports business objectives, and can execute on that vision.
• Able to work collaboratively with diverse leaders, communicate an IT visor and strategy across all levels of the organisation, and build consent, around key initiatives and projects.
• Possesses exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, both 0, and written; able to articulate ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop and motivate a high performing IT team that values transparency and accountability.
• Possesses exceptional business acumen, analytical and problem-solving abilities, Excellent negotiating skills with internal customers and external service providers.
• Comfortable with ambiguity; can handle the unexpected with flexibility.
• A team player who favours collaborative approaches when working with internal and external partners.

Transformation

• Demonstrated experience driving digital transformation and organization& efficiency through innovation and the implementation of technology. Possesses solid knowledge in emerging technologies, and the ability to apply these in the service of the Authority’s key goals.
• Experience leading complex, major change initiatives; demonstrated skills in change management.
• Experience building an enterprise level data analytics capability.
• An entrepreneurial mindset; able and interested to pursue new business
• Customer-service oriented.
• Builder of strong technology vendor partnerships, and able to manage multiple vendor relationships to ensure the best performance and financial

IT Operations

• Knowledge of a range of vendor technology solutions; able to select and integrate the most appropriate technologies to support operations.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement comprehensive approaches to cyber security and risk management.
• Experience designing and managing an effective IT governance framework across the spectrum of IT service delivery.
• Outstanding organizational skills, and the ability to manage priorities in a fast paced, high-pressure environment.
• A strong background in operational and capital finances, and IT budget development.

Qualification Required & Experience

Professional Experience and Education

• Minimum of 10 years of career experience in technology, including a minimum of 5 years in a leadership position.
• Experience in Head of IT or equivalent position is preferred.
• Experience in Public Sector or a related sector is preferred.
• A Bachelor’s and an advanced degree in a related field, such as computer science, engineering and/or business (MBA) is preferred.