Regional Information Technology Director, West Africa

Job Description

The Regional Information Technology Director, West Africa will facilitate the advancement and operation of all IT systems in our offices and sites located across the West Africa region. In this capacity, the RITD will need to develop close working relationships with country program management and serve as an advisor on the most effective and strategic use of IT in the field. This individual will also serve as the main liaison between the HQ IT staff and regional management teams. This position will also directly manage country IT teams in the region in partnership with DDOs or equivalent country operations lead.

Scope

In a matrixed management model reporting to the Director, IT Business Relationship Management and the Regional Vice President for West Africa, the Regional IT Director will have significant management and international experience, a passion for humanitarian relief and development work, relevant language skills, and be capable of thoroughly understanding and successfully leading all aspects of information technology program design and delivery in Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon and Burkina Faso. The RITD will ensure the quality of and compliance to IRC's IT programs and drive performance and results in the region in line with the IRC Global Information Technology Strategy and key Global IT initiatives. S/he is expected to be an outstanding communicator and team leader, and a committed humanitarian. Additionally, as a member of the IRC Global Information Technology team this individual will share responsibility and accountability for the delivery of global IT initiatives.

Major Responsibilities:

• Serve as partner to West Africa regional leadership, providing strategic support and guidance in how to sequence and prioritize offices IT needs, from core infrastructure to programmatic application needs

• Ensure that corporate IT strategy is properly aligned with country programs needs and priorities

• Ensure that country programs compliance to global IT standards and policies

• Communicate the IT strategy and initiative updates to the appropriate senior management and staff in offices, and synthesize feedback from senior management back to HQ IT

• Champion and decide if/when offices are appropriate for pilots and how to sequence IT rollouts across the region

• Make sure project and initiative rollouts are a success through close communication with project team and local teams

• Synthesize needs for ICT for programs systems and coordinate their delivery across IRC programs

• Relay business application, ICT for programs, infrastructure, and other IT services needs of the region to HQ IT teams

• Work with HQ IT Communications and Internal Communications teams to ensure the region is fully advised of and understands key initiatives and policies

• Work with local IT team, helpdesk and program management on IT budget for upcoming fiscal year

• Develop, in coordination with in-country management, plans for growing IT capacity in field-offices, including both systems capacity and personnel capacity

• Participate in the recruiting of field-based IT staff and ensure that professional standards are met

• Develop clear strategy and plan for field-office visits related to IT initiatives and support

• Work with HQ IT Training team to provide in-country trainings to local IT and communications as needed

• Train and mentor field-based office staff as well as direct reports

• Arrange regular weekly meetings with points of contact analyzing current issues and plans

• Ensure local points of contact maintain up-to-date Network/Application/Assets documentation for country program

• Generate, analyze and provide recommendations based on Support, Training & Infrastructure reporting and metrics for both regional and country level

• Ensure IRC staff in the region are receiving timely and appropriate IT related support

• Stay ahead of all relevant technologies, with a particular focus on remote connectivity and offline systems usage

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: IT Business Relationship Management Director & Regional Vice President

Position directly supervises: Country IT Team Leads (through Management in Partnership)

Indirect Reporting: No

Other internal and/or external contacts:

Internal:

• IT and HR Training Teams

• Service Desk Support Team

• Data governance and privacy Team

• Software Application Team

• Infrastructure Team

External:

*This position will eventually have additional direct reports as the regional layer of IRC management expands.

Job Requirements

Formal Education & Certification

• College degree or equivalent work experience.

Knowledge & Experience

• 5+ years of work experience in customer success or leading service desk teams

• 7+ years of enterprise technology project management experience

• Strong leadership skills.

• Ability to work with and lead both technical and non-technical teams.

• Strong, solid knowledge of Supply Chain, Financial and CRM applications.

• Knowledge and experience with networking and communications technologies; including but not limited to: server operating systems, network architecture, IP based networks (voice and data), satellite communications, desktop solutions, email systems, etc.

Personal Attributes

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

• Strong planning and organization skills

• Works well within a team environment and individually

• Works with a sense of urgency without sacrificing quality or accuracy

• Excellent business and employee customer service skills

• Remains calm under pressure

Preferred

• Extensive experience working in West Africa handling similar role

Working Environment:

• This position is preferably based in Senegal. The role will require regular travel to Country Offices in West Africa and other locations as necessary.

Language Skills:

French and English required. Additionally, other Local languages spoken in West Africa will be a plus.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

IRC et les employés de IRC doivent adhérer aux valeurs et principes contenus dans le IRC WAY (normes de conduite professionnelle). Ce sont l’Intégrité, Egalite, le Service, et la Responsabilité. En conformité avec ces valeurs, IRC opère et fait respecter les politiques sur la protection des bénéficiaires contre l’exploitation et les abus, la protection de l’enfant, le harcèlement sur les lieux de travail, l’intégrité financière, et les représailles.

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