Head of Technology & Operations

Job description / Role

My client is a leading Financial Services institution based Saudi Arabia. They are currently seeking a Head of Technology & Operations to be based in either Riyadh or Al Khobar.

Purpose of the role:
Build and manage a functional operations and technology organization designed to support the strategic imperatives and client value creation objectives of the business.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Planning
• Leverage proven operational design principles to define the operations and technology strategy, optimize location footprint, and manage annual budget to support strategic intent and financial goals of the business.
• Develop and maintain business relationship to ensure full and consistent alignment with divisional, enterprise and internal strategy and standards
• Identify opportunities to increase efficiency and improve quality, quantify impact, prioritize initiatives, and develop execution plans
•Proactively monitor and assess industry, competitor, macro-economic, and regulatory trends to ensure operational capabilities optimally position the Firm to compete and respond to change.

Operational Support, Execution & Strategic Initiative Delivery
•Design and implement capability models to provide optimal operations within core brokerage – distribution, placement, and post placement and portfolio businesses as well as related functions.
•Establish and monitor operating level expectations through established service levels agreements (SLA’s) – service, cost, quality and other key performance indicators – and communicate to key stakeholders and report results
•Ensure successful strategic initiative delivery – including M&A and transformation – and full value capture to optimize risk adjusted return on the project portfolio

Information Technology Oversight & Coordination
•Oversee acquisition, installation, and maintenance of the full information technology application portfolio.
•Evaluate discretionary IT spend requests, recommend disposition – approve, reject, defer – and make the case for funding approval by divisional or global governance
•Ensure a responsive IT control environment – including management and resolution of internal audit findings – is maintained and adequate disaster recovery and business continuity plans are in place.

Organization Optimization, People Management & Communication
•Employ leading operational efficiency best practices and tools
•Define optimal organizational structure and recruit, develop, manage, and motivate a high performing team – results driven, accountable and collaborative
•Ensure optimal resource allocation – demand and skill matching – and expense management aligned with strategic intent
•Communicate and explain the operations and technology strategy and provide periodic performance updates to divisional leadership and other key stakeholders

Requirements

Requirements

•Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting or Computer Science with an outstanding academic track record deep business knowledge
•Minimum of 10 years operations and technology experience serving the financial services industry
•Quantitative, fact-based approach to decision making
•Demonstrated financial acumen and commercial mindset
•Proven team leadership ability, and able to lead a high quality team of outstanding professionals
•Experience developing and implementing operational improvement plans
•Experience leading M&A post-acquisition integration for transactions between $10-250M
•Significant successful experience managing IT solution delivery and complex technology initiatives
•Substantial experience working with 3rd party service providers, including contracting, delivery and ongoing support
•Qualifications in process optimization techniques (Lean, Six Sigma, CMM), and program management (PMI certification) highly preferred
•Excellent verbal and written communication skills

About the Company

Building businesses, changing lives

At Tandem, we’ve built a vast network of top-tier professionals across the globe. We empower businesses to thrive by delivering unmatched talent solutions. With our global reach, collaborative approach, and unwavering commitment to excellence, we drive transformative growth and shape exceptional teams.

Who we are.

We are a team of industry experts, driven by a passion for innovation and excellence. We are dedicated to providing unique talent solutions and nurturing collaborative partnerships that redefine success.