P&O Maritime Logistics - Head of Information Technology (IT)

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Based at the Corporate Office in Dubai, the Head of IT will lead and manage the IT function in alignment with the strategic goals of the offshore marine industry, ensuring seamless and secure IT operations across global assets. This includes developing and executing an IT strategy that drives digital transformation, enhances operational efficiency, and supports business growth. The Head of IT will be responsible for overseeing infrastructure, applications, cybersecurity, and data-driven innovation, while providing robust support to both onshore and offshore operations to improve safety, efficiency, and compliance.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES 

     IT Strategy

• Lead the development of the IT strategy and roadmap ensuring its integration with the company’s strategic plans.
• Lead the execution of a digital workplace strategy that ensures employees have the tools and work environment to be more engaged, productive and effective.
• Provide direction and oversight for the design, development, operation and support of IT systems and programs that fulfill the needs of the business, including enterprise architecture management, application management, security and risk management, and infrastructure and operations support management.
• Drive Innovation and Emerging Technologies integration into POML such as new technologies, like cloud solutions and AI-driven analytics.

      Business Relationship Management 

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders to ensure cost-effective delivery of IT services to meet the organizations needs 
• Create synergies across organisation to enable cost-effective and innovative shared solutions in achievement of business goals.
• Ensure high levels of professionalism and support services within the IT team

      Digital Transformation

• Collaborate with the management to define and execute the digital business strategy. 
• Participate in and contributes to the assessment of external digital opportunities and threats, and internal technology capabilities required to achieve desired competitive positioning.
• Monitor and report on the performance of core business processes.

     Data Science

• Provides leadership and direction across a programme of multidisciplinary data science projects, managing resources to ensure delivery.
• Interpret, organize, and present data as and when needed 
• Guide the use of analytic to optimizing fleet routes, fuel consumption and providing data visualization.

      Policies & Procedures

• Oversee the implementation of Corporate IT directives, policies, procedures and security standards
• Ensure all relevant procedural and legislative requirements are fulfilled, while delivering a quality and cost-effective service to all internal customers

     Outsourcing and Vendor Management

• Identify aspects of IT operations which require additional third party service support in order to meet business objectives. 
• Oversee the selection and management of IT contractors in terms of both cost and quality. 
• Monitor and review the performance of all outsourced IT supply contracts to ensure that standards and performance criteria agreed upon are met.

      IT Infrastructure and Applications

• Infrastructure design and project management 
• Monitor the IT Infrastructure and applications across all locations. 
• Ensure compliance to statutory requirements in relation to intellectual property, copy rights, data protection etc.
• Facilitate utilization of collaborative tools such as SharePoint, internal blogs etc.
• Manage P&O Maritime Logistics  intranet and website in order to improve communication and support process efficiency. 
• Liaise with business units  to identify future requirements 

       Information Security & Disaster Recovery

• Ensure the adequacy and effectiveness of security policies, standards and guidelines to avoid any potential data leakage or loss.
• Ensure implementation of a disaster recovery plan to enable the company’s recovery of business data in the event of an emergency and ensure IT availability for business continuation post such an event.
• Ensure the management of cybersecurity frameworks and compliance with international maritime security regulations (e.g., IMO’s ISM Code).

       Budget

• Organise quotations (including work scope specification) and capex approval process 
• Develop and control annual operating and capital expenditure budget for IT to ensure it is consistent with overall strategic objectives.

      Management 

• Develop and maintain an IT workforce with the appropriate mix of business knowledge, technical skills and competencies that balance the needs between growing the agility required to achieve digital business objectives and ensuring the core IT functions are reliable, stable and efficient.
• Provides leadership, coaching and direction to the IT team. 
• Manage performance management (performance reviews, performance recognition and management of non-performance). 

      Other

• This position description provides a general guide as to the major accountabilities of this role. It should not be taken as a definitive list of duties that may be reasonably expected of the incumbent and may vary from time to time and include any tasks commensurate with the role and required by the Line Manager.

QUALIFICATION & EXPERIENC 

    Minimum Qualification: 

• Tertiary qualifications in IT and/or Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) certification
• Cloud computing (AWS, Azure)
• Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Cybersecurity frameworks (ISO 27001 or NIST).

   Minimum Experience:

• Must have minimum 10 years’ experience in a similar role preferably in the maritime industry
• Proven experience in IT project management and implementation
• Develop and maintain an infrastructure system which includes SAN, VMWare, Windows and Messaging environment globally
• Implement, support and management of network infrastructure including routers, firewalls, switches, LAN and WAN globally
• Develop upon the existing infrastructure safeguards relating to system security within a global environment
• Ensure comprehensive and reliable enterprise backups of all systems
• Develop and implement approved procedures for IT infrastructure management
• Develop and implement internal procedures and guidelines to ensure consistent application of IT standards
• Implement business continuity processes globally
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery (DR) processes 

      Key Attributes 

• Well developed planning and project management skills
• Negotiation skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Effective time management and prioritisation skills
• Strong customer focus and listening skills