WHAT DOES A HEAD OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DO?

Published: Apr 23, 2025 - The Head of Information Technology drives strategic transformation by setting a clear IT strategy aligned with a SaaS-based DevOps framework and overseeing the management of systems, infrastructure, and operations. This role ensures the security and efficiency of data, networks, and backup systems while leading IT staff through recruitment, training, performance evaluation, and policy implementation. The head also monitors team performance, manages budgets, audits systems, and delivers timely technical solutions to support business goals and operational continuity.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Head of Information Technology

1. Head of Information Technology Duties

  • IT Strategy: Formulate and implement information technology (IT) strategies and policies to support the strategic objectives of the Company
  • IT Oversight: Oversee the development, integration, and delivery of the Company’s IT activities to effectively and efficiently support the programs and work of the Company
  • Risk Management: Ensure that IT operational risks are identified and managed and that the IT infrastructure is robust and available to support business continuity under a wide range of operating scenarios
  • Architecture Governance: Provide oversight of IT architecture, governance, information security and cybersecurity
  • Innovation Leadership: Provide leadership to innovation, awareness and adoption of new tools and technology-enabled work practices that will improve productivity and effectiveness
  • System Harmonization: Ensure that IT systems, communication networks and technologies are cost-effectively harmonized with other company entities globally
  • Internal Service Management: Manage IT as an internal service provider for internal customers
  • Resource Management: Manage the IT function’s financial and other resources
  • Vendor Management: Manage IT’s external vendors for service delivery
  • Solution Architecture: Lead the development of solution architecture for a variety of strategic projects, partnering with Application Development, Infrastructure and Security teams to deliver a cohesive, forward-thinking and adaptable architecture
  • Global Team Leadership: Manage a Global team of Network, Systems and Database Engineers from around the world, providing 24/7 coverage to a global client base
  • Infrastructure Ownership: Own all Servers, Data Centers, Trading Platforms, Databases and Networks (Cloud/OnPremise)
  • Cross-Functional Communication: Interface across business and technology areas to communicate goals, guidelines, directions, road maps, patterns and blueprints
  • Executive Reporting: Serve on the Senior Management Committee, providing board reports, road maps and engineering solutions to support business growth

2. Head of Information Technology Details

  • Technology Operations: Oversee Soliya’s technology operations
  • Team Management: Manage the technology system and team
  • Technology Strategy: Develop a technology vision and strategy
  • Strategic Planning: Work closely with the Chief Program Officer to map out goals, resources, and delivery milestones
  • IT Needs Assessment: Work with the existing technology team as well as other internal departments to assess IT needs and to develop appropriate protocols and project management tools
  • Program Coordination: Work closely with the different programmatic teams to develop appropriate protocols and schedules that meet program needs
  • Vendor Management: Work with contracted developers and technology vendors to apply upgrades and bug fixes to Soliya’s Learning Management Systems and Soliya’s proprietary Video Conferencing platform
  • Tech Support Oversight: Manage Soliya’s contracted Tech Support team to provide seamless live tech support for Soliya’s programs and partner organizations’ Virtual Exchange programs
  • Solution Delivery: Ensure successful and user-friendly delivery of Soliya’s technology solutions to external partners
  • Systems Integration: Oversee the integration of new systems and tools
  • Process Improvement: Improve the productivity of Soliya’s IT processes by identifying deficiencies and recommending changes in technology tools, training, processes and reporting
  • IT Maintenance: Maintain and upkeep Soliya’s back-end office IT systems
  • IT Strategy Delivery: Responsible for devising and delivering the IT strategy
  • Cloud Transition: Manage the transition of their systems from legacy to cloud (AWS), so AWS experience is essential, along with O365
  • Call Centre Operations: Manage the Call Centre IT Operations and will be comfortable working under the pressure of maintaining uptime / minimising downtime

3. Head of Information Technology Responsibilities

  • IT Strategy Leadership: Lead IT strategy and operations for a deeply scientific and data-intensive R&D organization, preparing the company for future growth
  • Desktop Support: Be the face of IT responsible for providing technical IT assistance, including timely and customer-focused desktop support to the client's staff
  • Security Planning: Be responsible for contingency planning and maintenance of a robust information security program
  • Enterprise Projects: Lead development of strategy and implementation of enterprise IT projects to support scientific and G&A functions
  • Infrastructure Setup: Be accountable for setting up the IT infrastructure at a new local facility and ensuring data integrity and seamless operations during a multi-phased company move
  • Policy Compliance: Create and maintain IT policies, procedures and systems to ensure regulatory, compliance and quality needs are met
  • Vendor and Budget Management: Manage vendors, consultants and overall budget for IT infrastructure
  • Cloud Environment: Help build and maintain the company’s cloud-based computing environment
  • Lifecycle Management: Develop and implement systems for managing data and software life cycles
  • Data Governance: Champion the adoption across the company of best practices in data governance, management, and security
  • Technology Roadmap: Establishing IT strategy and roadmap aligned with business plans and future-proofing the architecture, e.g., SaaS solutions, cloud first, etc.
  • IT Resource Oversight: Be responsible for all internal IT staff as well as outsourced IT resources and IT partners
  • IT Operations Management: Be responsible for all applications, infrastructure and operations of the full IT landscape
  • Business Alignment: Closely aligning with business functions to continuously identify and implement improvements across the company, with specific attention to making use of data and insights to be used by company functions to increase value creation
  • IT Value Creation: Drive and be accountable for profitable and sustainable growth by ensuring that IT is a competitive edge for the company

4. Head of Information Technology Job Summary

  • Strategic Planning: Overseeing the IT strategic planning, talent management, IT budget management, performance management, communication and functional coordination goals
  • Policy Development: Devising and establishing IT policies and systems to support the implementation of strategies set by upper management
  • Requirements Analysis: Analysing the business requirements of all departments to determine their technology needs
  • System Maintenance: Maintenance and ensuring the optimum state of serviceability of computers and IT peripherals operational within the Campus and the office
  • Data Security: Ensuring data security and integrity from threats within and outside
  • Team Leadership: Lead a team that will remain promptly responsive to the student and staff requirements
  • Infrastructure Planning: Planning and executing the systematic upgradation of infrastructure and facilities in a phased manner
  • Global Best Practices: Seek and implement good practices of the finest global universities to enhance IT facilities and services and user experience
  • Compliance Enforcement: Ensure the implementation of the security and compliance policies
  • System Auditing: Periodic system and process audit for improvement and efficiency
  • ERP Utilization: Ensuring and supporting various activities towards full and efficient usage of ERP and other systems
  • Technology Procurement: Purchase efficient and cost-effective technological equipment and software
  • Functionality Inspection: Inspect the use of technological equipment and software to ensure functionality and efficiency
  • Service Monitoring: Manage IT operations and ensure that IT services/performance are monitored and measured to meet the highest levels of quality and performance
  • Vendor Management: Manage all aspects of vendor relationships, including managed service providers
  • Budget Management: Develop and manage the IT budget within organizational spending parameters

5. Head of Information Technology Accountabilities

  • Team Environment: Create an inspiring team environment with an open communication culture
  • IT Strategy: Set the IT strategy for the business moving towards a full SaaS offering, utilising a DevOps framework
  • Systems Management: Manage information technology and computer systems across the division, providing strategic and transformational direction
  • Operations Oversight: Plan, organize, control and evaluate IT and electronic data operations
  • Staff Management: Manage IT staff by recruiting, training and coaching employees, communicating job expectations and appraising their performance
  • Policy Implementation: Design, develop, implement and coordinate systems, policies and procedures
  • Data Security: Ensure security of data, network access and backup systems
  • User Alignment: Act in alignment with user needs and system functionality to contribute to organizational policy
  • Problem Solving: Identify problematic areas and implement strategic solutions in time
  • System Auditing: Audit systems and assess their outcomes
  • Asset Protection: Preserve assets, information security and control structures
  • Budget Management: Handle annual budget and ensure cost effectiveness
  • Performance Monitoring: Monitor team performance and report on metrics
  • Network Deployment: Proactively plan and deliver the build, deployment and maintenance of customer and internal networks and environments
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