Summary
Wataniya Insurance is seeking an IT Planning and Governance Manager in Jeddah to lead IT planning, portfolio governance, financial performance, quality assurance, compliance, and supplier oversight. The role translates IT strategy into plans and KPIs, reviews investment proposals and project performance, and oversees budgets, risks, controls, and supplier results. It also manages and develops direct reports, including the Financial Controller, IT Quality Supervisor, PMO Supervisor, and Governance Specialist. Applicants need a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field and 8–10 years of IT experience, including at least 2 years in a managerial position; a relevant master's degree is preferred.
The posting
As published on wataniya.com.sa. Pulled from the employer's site and shown as they wrote it.
Lead the IT Planning and Governance function, overseeing IT planning, portfolio governance, financial performance, quality assurance, compliance, and supplier performance. Ensure IT investments and activities support organizational objectives, operate within approved resources and budgets, and comply with applicable policies and requirements. Provide direction to the Financial Controller, IT Quality Supervisor, PMO Supervisor, and Governance Specialist, review their consolidated results, and resolve or escalate matters requiring management decisions.
- Job Responsibilities:
Strategy & Operational Planning
- Contribute to the development of the IT strategy and roadmap by providing planning, governance, financial, quality, and portfolio inputs.
- Translate the IT strategy into functional plans, priorities, KPIs, and resource requirements.
- Review progress against approved plans and direct corrective actions where performance falls below expectations.
- Align the work of direct reports to ensure coordinated delivery of the function’s objectives.
Portfolio & Demand Oversight
- Lead the evaluation of IT investment proposals using business value, strategic alignment, affordability, delivery capacity, dependencies, and risk.
- Review business cases supported by financial analysis from the Financial Controller and delivery assessments from the PMO Supervisor.
- Recommend portfolio priorities and resource allocation to the appropriate approval authority, and make decisions within delegated authority.
- Oversee the IT PMO through the PMO Supervisor, ensuring effective project governance and visibility of portfolio performance.
- Review consolidated project reports and resolve or escalate significant delivery risks, resource conflicts, and proposed changes affecting portfolio objectives.
- Ensure IT project governance aligns with enterprise PMO requirements.
Governance, Compliance & Risk Oversight
- Set priorities for the IT governance framework and oversee its effectiveness through the Governance Specialist.
- Review proposed IT policies, procedures, and controls, and endorse them for approval through the established governance process.
- Review compliance assessments, control exceptions, and IT risk reports, ensuring responsible owners and action plans are established.
- Oversee IT audit readiness and remediation performance, and escalate material or overdue findings.
- Coordinate with Information Security, Risk, Compliance, and other relevant functions on matters requiring shared oversight.
- Escalate risks exceeding approved tolerance levels to the authorized management or governance body.
Performance & Quality Oversight
- Establish the function’s reporting requirements and review consolidated financial, portfolio, governance, and quality performance.
- Review IT performance against approved KPIs and SLAs, working with relevant IT owners to address deviations.
- Oversee the adoption and effectiveness of quality standards developed by the IT Quality Supervisor.
- Review significant quality risks and remediation plans, ensuring unresolved concerns reach the appropriate release or change approval authority.
- Direct improvement priorities based on performance trends, audit findings, delivery results, and recurring issues.
Financial & Supplier Oversight
- Review and consolidate IT budget proposals and forecasts prepared with the Financial Controller and relevant IT managers.
- Monitor overall budget performance and direct action on significant variances, financial risks, and savings opportunities.
- Endorse expenditure and investment recommendations within the established approval framework.
- Oversee IT supplier performance, ensuring relevant service owners assess delivery against contractual obligations and SLAs.
- Review supplier selection criteria and performance concerns with technical owners, Procurement, Finance, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Support contract and renewal decisions using service-performance evidence and financial analysis.
People Management & Continuous Improvement
- Set objectives, assign accountability, and review the performance of direct reports.
- Coach and develop employees, identify capability gaps, and support recruitment and succession requirements.
- Resolve cross-functional ownership issues and promote effective coordination within the team.
- Sponsor improvements to planning, governance, financial management, PMO, and quality practices.
- Promote a working environment based on accountability, collaboration, and organizational values.
Requirements
Educational Background and Certifications:
Bachelor's degree in computer science or any related field is required. Master's degree in computer science/business administration or equivalent is preferred
Experience:
8-10 years of experience in Information Technology, with at least 2 years of experience in a managerial position