Head Of Information Technology

Company: Flexi-Personnel

Location: Kilifi

Job Type: Full Time

Apply Before: 2026-08-10

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE:
The individual will provide strategic leadership and direction for the Programme’s information technology function, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and delivery of efficient, secure and compliant IT operations.
KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
IT Strategy, Policy and Governance 12% of time
Develop and implement the IT strategic plan in line with the Programme’s overall strategic goals and objectives
Develop, execute and maintain IT policies, standards and operating procedures across the Programme.
Assess the impact of relevant legislation and entrench compliance in the provision of IT services.
Lead the Programme’s digital transformation agenda, including cloud adoption, automation and responsible use of AI
Identify and champion opportunities for innovation and foster the development of creative IT solutions for the Programme.
Team Leadership and People Management 18% of time
Guide and lead the IT team across the five functional areas Service Delivery, Software, Development, Infrastructure, Project Management, Risk & Security.
Oversee individual performance of staff, set objectives and conduct performance reviews.
Ensure continuous professional development and capability building within the department.
Make recruitment and salary negotiation decisions for the team.
IT Service Delivery and Operations Management 18% of time
Oversee the efficient operation of all IT functions within the Programme
Monitor, manage and ensure continuous improvement of IT service delivery and service quality
Ensure IT services enable the Programme’s research and scientific computing needs, including HPC and research data platforms
Oversee change management governance including the Change Advisory Board to minimize service disruption
Ensure IT best practice and service management frameworks are followed
Drive proactive and effective communication on IT matters across the Programme
IT Project and Risk Management 12% of time
Lead and implement project activities for strategic IT projects
Manage and communicate risks and issues for IT projects
Oversee project implementation, ensuring delivery to scope, time and budget.
Identify departmental risks and develop and monitor mitigating measures
IT Security and Cyber Risk Management 12% of time
Develop, implement and maintain the information security and cybersecurity strategy, policies and controls for the Programme
Oversee the identification, assessment and mitigation of cybersecurity risks and threats across systems, networks and data
Ensure protection of data and systems through access management, monitoring, vulnerability management and incident response
Direct security incident management, security awareness and compliance
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery 10% of time
Develop and implement strategies that support IT Business Continuity planning in the Programme
Develop, maintain and manage testing of the disaster recovery plan for IT resources
Ensure resilience, backup and recovery arrangements for critical systems and data
Budgeting & Financial Management 8% of time
Develop budget proposals for the IT department and oversee implementation and monitoring of approved budgets
Make decisions on the procurement of departmental IT resources and manage related expenditure
Oversee management of IT vendors, contracts and service-level agreements, ensuring value for money and service performance
Lead supplier evaluation and contract negotiations for significant IT investments
Reporting and Compliance 8% of time
Prepare and submit regular, periodic and ad hoc technical and management reports as required
Report on IT performance, risks, projects and budgets to senior management and governance committees
Ensure ongoing compliance with relevant standards, regulations, audit requirements and internal controls
Key Performance Indicators:
Effectiveness of IT strategy and governance measured through alignment of IT initiatives with organizational priorities and compliance with established policies, standards and frameworks.
Quality of IT service delivery measured through service reliability, user experience feedback and adherence to agreed service management processes.
Timeliness of IT project execution measured through delivery against approved schedules and achievement of defined project milestones.
Effectiveness of cybersecurity management measured through incident response outcomes, risk mitigation actions and adherence to security protocols and controls.
Quality of business continuity and disaster recovery preparedness measured through outcomes of recovery testing, system resilience and restoration effectiveness.
Effectiveness of financial and vendor management measured through budget utilization trends, procurement efficiency and vendor performance against agreed service expectations.
Quality of stakeholder engagement and communication measured through feedback from internal and external stakeholders and responsiveness to IT-related needs.
Job Dimensions:
Manage & oversee the IT departmental budget.
Develop budget proposals and monitor approved CAPEX and OPEX; set and oversee delegated budgets held by the team; make salary negotiation decisions for the team; and drive cost optimization and value-for-money in IT investments.
The role is accountable for safeguarding and managing critical IT assets including data centre infrastructure, networks, end-user devices, software and licenses, enterprise systems and cloud environments, sensitive research and organizational data, access controls, IT policies and documentation, as well as vendor contracts, business continuity arrangements, and security tools and assurance records.
Lead a structured IT function comprising direct oversight of departmental managers and overall accountability for a multi-disciplinary team spanning service delivery, software development, infrastructure, project management, and risk and security functions.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Master’s Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or related field
Relevant certifications such as ITIL, PRINCE2/PMP, COBIT, CISM/CISSP
Membership to a recognized ICT professional body
Minimum 12 years’ relevant IT experience
At least 5 years at senior management level
Project management, IT governance, risk management, business continuity and disaster recovery planning
Technical Competencies job related
IT strategy development and digital transformation
IT service management and operations governance
Cybersecurity and risk management
IT infrastructure and enterprise systems oversight
Project and programme management
IT budgeting, procurement and vendor management
Behavioural Competencies personality
Strategic leadership and decision-making
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
High integrity and professionalism
Team leadership, motivation and delegation
Analytical thinking and problem-solving
Ability to operate under pressure and manage complexity
WORKING CONDITIONS
Office-based with oversight of IT infrastructure environments including data centres and occasional field/site interactions
Standard working hours with occasional extended hours and on-call support for critical incidents
Exposure to cybersecurity threats, system failures and high-pressure incident response scenarios that may impact critical organizational operations.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Flexi-Personnel on ats.flexi-personnel.com to apply
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Source: MyJobMag