Group IT Manager

**Purpose of Role**:
The Group IT Manager reports to the FSL Executive Director and is responsible for the strategic management of group shared business technology resources (including software systems, IT policies and the IT Shared Services function) as well as those specific to AGGPA and FSL.

The role includes responsibility for setting an agreed strategy and long-term plan for the Group IT function, managing software systems over their full lifecycle, IT change management, IT service operations and support; and IT policies, security and compliance.

The role requires leadership of a small team including IT professionals and business analysts.

‘Shared’ means that an IT system or service is shared by more than one entity in the group. The role does not include responsibility for entity specific IT, except for AGGPA and FSL.

**Objectives of Role**:
**Strategy**
- In consultation with stakeholders, understand and prioritise shared business technology needs in the group.
- Document the state of existing architecture (business and IT) that supports these needs and define an appropriate architecture roadmap.
- Define appropriate IT change and IT security strategies.
- Actively contribute to defining and continually evolving the technology vision for Shared Services.
- Provide strategic input on business technology in the group.
- Set clear goals and OKRs that align to the strategy and group

**Leadership**
- As a key leader in the group, help to build an overall culture that supports effective use of resources, continuous improvement, customer focus, compliance, and engagement with the group mission.
- Create an inspiring team environment with an open communication culture, motivating team members and devising and refining strategies to strengthen team engagement and development.

**Management**
- Build a cost effective IT team (including outsourced providers if appropriate) and set plans and objectives for it, including support processes, the use of technology, and talent strategy. Ensure the team is adequately equipped to perform their duties and
- Manage productivity and allocate team or outside capacity to ensure effective support to the entities.
- Take accountability for IT operations, planning, prioritization, change management, and systematic improvement in shared business technology resources.
- Take accountability for ensuring high availability of IT
- Manage team to meet and exceed KPIs, report on this regularly and transparently and provide justification and remediation strategies for poor Provide regular and effective performance feedback to team members.
- Drive innovation within the IT function, identifying opportunities to improve processes and implement new technologies that add value to the organisation

**Process and policy**
- Develop and implement policies, procedures, and governance and risk management frameworks to support effective use of business technology in the group, and that comply with relevant laws and are in line with group risk appetite.
- Maintain controls to ensure compliance with
- Ensure that scalable, effective, and sustainable processes are in place enabling the team to support the entities they service, and that these are enhanced and improved over time.
- Seek ways to improve the IT Shared Service offering to the entities (cost, accuracy, responsiveness, timeliness).

**Stakeholder Management**
- Work closely with the relevant stakeholders to set expectations and to ensure that services meet agreed needs and standards.
- Manage relationships with the entity leadership and IT teams to understand how to improve support and to inform the planned future state of the shared business technology team and resources.
- Establish partnerships with entity IT departments and manage the AGGP Group IT and Africa IT forums.

**Finance and Governance**
- Develop and manage the budget for Group IT including the shared business technology systems and team.
- Responsible for Finance and Risk management for Group IT
- Negotiate contracts, manage performance, and manage relationships with IT vendors and consultants.

**Experience and Qualifications**:

- Relevant qualification (preferably post-graduate level)
- 10 years functional experience
- 5 - 8 years in a relevant leadership experience
- Strong leadership and management skills.

**Competencies**:

- Identification with the AGGP Africa Vision, Mission and Values
- Customer oriented service mindset
- Enthusiastic collaborator
- Strong results orientation and drive
- Able to work on multiple assignments
- Able to build organizational talent and delegate
- Effective soft influencing skills
- Effective at coaching and knowledge sharing
- Proven record of performance in IT management at a senior level.
- Experience in analysis, implementation and evaluation of IT systems/infrastructure and relevant specifications.
- Experience of managing business critical relationships with suppliers and contractors.
- Firm grasp on IT Infrastructure and