IT Manager

Our client is seeking an IT Manager to join their team. The purpose of this role is to direct, plan, coordinate and oversee the implementation of technology solutions delivered by cross- functional teams, in alignment with business objectives and operational requirements, ensuring consistency with the overall IT strategy.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the cross functional teams responsible for deployment, monitoring, maintenance, development, upgrade and support of all IT systems, including telecommunications, servers, PCs, operating systems, hardware, software, peripherals and office automation equipment.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders in other departments to identify, recommend, develop, implement and support cost-effective technology solutions for all aspects of the organisation.
• Contribute to defining and implementation of IT policies, procedures, and best practices to support the implementation of strategies set by the Chief Information Officer, including those for architecture, security, disaster recovery, standards, purchasing and service provision.
• Lead the business area’s operational and strategic IT planning, including fostering innovation, planning projects and organising and negotiating the allocation of resources.
• Oversee the provision of end-user services, including help desk and technical support services to ensure services are running optimally.
• Develop business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for IT spending and initiatives as and when needed.
• Practice asset management for IT hardware, software and equipment to ensure assets are correctly accounted for.
• Identify needs for upgrades, configurations or new systems and discuss requirements with the Chief Information Officer in line with business requirements.
• Select software, and complete configuration and integration in a manner that is scalable to meet the company’s needs.
• Purchase efficient and cost-effective technological equipment and software and ensure all IT systems are safe and secure.
• Collaboratively design solutions that fit and promote efficient business processes and deploy solutions timely and accurately.
• Provide authoritative, expertise and advice to clients and stakeholders.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients and internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to the process of negotiating objective and realistic service level agreements, monitor appropriateness and recommend adjustments.
• Define service practices which builds rewarding relationships, encourages innovation and allows others to provide exceptional client service.
• Deliver on service level agreements made with clients and internal and external stakeholders in order to ensure that client expectations are managed.
• Make recommendations to improve client service and fair treatment of clients within area of responsibility.
• Participate and contribute to a culture which builds rewarding relationships, facilitates feedback and provides exceptional client service.
• Create a positive work climate and culture to energise employees, give meaning to work, minimise work disruption and maximise employee productivity.
• Demonstrate exemplary leadership behaviour, through personal involvement, commitment and dedication in support of organisational values.
• Select and recruit suitably qualified talent in line with Employment Equity principles and the client's values.
• Drive a culture that guides and directs best practice, fostering an environment of continuous
• learning, improvement and cohesiveness.
• Enable a learning and growth culture whereby information regarding successes, issues, trends and ideas are actively shared between team members.
• Execute effective workforce planning practices to ensure that staffing requirements are accurately forecasted.
• Identify employee growth and development needs and schedule interventions to enable ongoing development, training and personal growth.
• Effectively manage performance within the team in order to ensure business objectives are achieved.
• Encourage innovation, change agility and collaboration within the team.
• Implement and compile budgets to minimise expenditure in alignment with tactical delivery plans.
• Control the budget for area, including the authorisation of expenditures and implementation of financial regulations.
• Manage high risk and problematic financial issues in area of accountability and contribute to the development of policy.
• Plan and implement a cycle of medium-term improvements to drive pricing of services and products.
• Implement risk management, governance and compliance policies in own practice area, to identify and manage governance and risk exposure liability.
• Investigate reported wilful acts of non-compliance to organisation policy and practice and report on findings.

Key Skills:

• Is determined and decides on actions; willingly assumes responsibility; is definitive and stands by own decisions.
• Motivates individuals by empowering them; seeks to inspire people and groups; gives encouragement to others.
• Manages tasks by being organised and methodical; plans activities systematically; sets priorities for tasks.
• Is creative in producing ideas; assumes an original approach when generating ideas; adopts radical solutions.
• Interacting with People Is lively and projects enthusiasm; is talkative in making contact; is focused on interacting and networking with people.
• Directing People Is comfortable leading people; coordinates and directs groups; seeks to control things.
• Providing Insights Is focused on continuously improving things; provides insights by identifying key issues; makes intuitive judgments.
• Taking Action Takes action to make things happen; uses initiative to start things up; shows drive and invests personal energy.
• Copes with change and variety; tolerates uncertainty and ambiguity; adapts to new challenges.
• Examining Information Analyses and processes information; asks probing questions; strives to find solutions to problems.
• Developing Expertise Is open to taking up learning opportunities; is quick in acquiring knowledge and skills; develops expertise by updating specialist knowledge.
• Showing Composure Stays calm and relaxed during events; is not worried and tolerates stress levels; is composed in dealing with pressure.
• Team Working Works participatively with others; is democratic and encourages team contributions; collaboratively involves others in decision-making.
• Knowledge of the software development life cycle (SDLC).
• Knowledge of business area's specific technology environments.
• Knowledge and understanding of database and networking principles and best practices.
• Knowledge of life cycle design and development covering solution design, application design,development, testing and maintenance, network software, operating systems, multi tier environments, desktop and workgroup software, middleware, server technology, fault tolerant environments, and development tools.
• Knowledge of COBIT and ITIL frameworks.
• Knowledge of Solutions Architecture and/or Enterprise Architecture.
• Knowledge of data integration and warehousing tools.
• Communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Planning and organising skills.
• Business acumen.
• Problem-solving skills.
• People management skills.
• Analytical skills.

Qualifications:

• Relevant qualification in Computer Science, IT, Systems Administration or related discipline.
• 5-7 years’ IT experience (essential).
• 2-3 years’ management experience (essential).
• Insurance or financial services industry experience (desirable).