IT Head

Overview

1. IT Strategy & Governance

• Develop and execute the organization's IT strategy, digital roadmap, and technology transformation initiatives aligned with business objectives.
• Establish and maintain enterprise IT governance, architecture standards, policies, and best practices in accordance with the SAMA IT Governance Framework.
• Drive technology innovation, modernization, and continuous improvement across the enterprise.
• Lead IT budgeting, resource planning, and technology investment decisions.

2. Infrastructure, Cloud & IT Operations

• Lead the design, implementation, and management of cloud and on-premises infrastructure while ensuring compliance with Kingdom data residency requirements under PDPL, CITC, and SAMA regulations.
• Ensure high availability, scalability, performance, and security of customer-facing digital platforms and enterprise applications.
• Manage enterprise IT operations using ITIL best practices, including Incident, Problem, Change, Configuration, and Service Level Management.
• Establish operational KPIs and continuously improve IT service delivery.

3. Enterprise Applications, Core Systems & Integrations

• Manage mission-critical business applications and enterprise platforms supporting lending, payments, customer onboarding, and finance operations.
• Oversee integrations with SIMAH, Nafath, Absher, SADAD, mada, payment gateways, and SAMA regulatory reporting platforms.
• Enable API management and Open Banking capabilities in accordance with the SAMA Open Banking Framework.
• Support digital customer journeys, embedded finance solutions, and partner ecosystem integrations.

4. Information Security & Cyber Resilience

• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of cybersecurity controls aligned with the SAMA Cyber Security Framework and NCA Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC) and Cloud Cybersecurity Controls (CCC).
• Oversee Identity & Access Management (IAM), Security Operations, Vulnerability Management, Security Monitoring, and Incident Response.
• Promote Secure-by-Design principles throughout technology delivery.
• Partner with the Information Security/CISO function to strengthen enterprise cyber resilience and organizational security awareness.

5. Risk Management, Compliance & Business Continuity

• Ensure full compliance with SAMA regulations, PDPL, outsourcing requirements, and applicable technology governance standards.
• Develop, maintain, and regularly test Disaster Recovery (DR) and Business Continuity (BCP) capabilities in line with the SAMA Business Continuity Management Framework.
• Lead IT readiness for regulatory audits, internal audits, external audits, and SAMA inspections.
• Ensure timely remediation and closure of audit findings.

6. Vendor & Technology Partner Management

• Manage strategic technology vendors, cloud providers, system integrators, and outsourced service providers.
• Oversee vendor selection, due diligence, contract negotiations, SLA governance, performance monitoring, risk assessment, and exit strategies in accordance with SAMA outsourcing regulations.
• Optimize vendor performance while maintaining operational resilience and cost efficiency.

7. Data Governance & Analytics

• Establish enterprise data governance policies covering data quality, classification, privacy, lifecycle management, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure compliance with the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and related regulatory requirements.
• Enable analytics, reporting, and data-driven decision-making across Credit, Risk, Finance, Product, Compliance, and Shariah Governance functions.

8. Leadership & People Management

• Build, mentor, and lead high-performing IT teams across infrastructure, applications, cybersecurity, cloud, and support functions.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Drive workforce planning, capability development, succession