OQ8 - Head, IT Operations

Job Title

Head, IT Operations

Company

OQ8

Function

IDS – IT Operations

Location

Oman (Muscat)

Budget control

*OPEX and/or CAPEX and/or Revenue amount as relevant*

Reporting to

VP, IDS & Facility

Direct reports

2

Job Purpose:

Lead and manage the team and activities for IT Operations at OQ8, under delegated authority from VP, IDS & Facility as owner of IT Operations standards & solutions for OQ8, through:

Lead the Help Desk and End User Support
Lead the IT Service Management
Lead the IT Infrastructure & Cloud
Lead IT Back office & Demand
Lead SAP support services

The position will act in accordance with the OQ8’s Mission, Vision, Values & Strategies, as well as, policies, guidelines and standards, supported by an IT Technology platform, HSE standards, Omani’s government & other legal justifications, and best international practices in consonance with national objectives.

Main Accountabilities:

Manage day-to-day IT operation services
Ensure that transitioned services have been developed to meet Operational and Service Level Requirements
Monitor, measure, report and review current performance of services and components in the enterprise IDS environment and ensure IDS capacity meets business needs
Maintain a single source of consistent information on all IDS services delivered to the business Units / functions (active and dormant services)
Plan, direct and coordinate operations of the Service Desk and End User Support for OQ8
Assess and evaluate change requests and ensure proposed changes are implemented with minimum disruption of services being delivered
Plan and oversee the successful roll-out of IDS service changes into the live environment
Ensure Configuration Items are identified, accounted, reported, verified and audited.
Manage and support live application & database technical environment on a day-to-day basis
Implementation, operational management and ownership of all technical security areas
Enforce information security procedures & compliance across IT systems & services
Ensure that practices and procedures are in place to recover technology infrastructure in the event of a disaster
Oversee the successful roll-out of IT operations projects
Manage service providers and monitor SLA compliance to ensure effective service delivery and timely resolution of operational issues.
Prepare and present regular IDS performance reports covering service levels, incidents, capacity, risks, and improvement actions.
Manage IDS demand, portfolio planning, and technology roadmap execution in alignment with business priorities and enterprise architecture.
Oversee IDS back-office operations, budget management, procurement, contracts, and financial governance.
Oversaw daily SAP operations, addressing system issues promptly to minimize business disruption
Lead and govern SAP support services to ensure reliable, secure and business-aligned service delivery.

Key interactions
Internal: all OQ8 Functions
External: Staffing specialized Contractors, Vendors & Suppliers

Notable working conditions: office-based environment with intensive computer screen use and occasional visits to operational sites.

Education requirements

Bachelor’s degree in IT, computer science, Engineering or relent field.

Background and experience

Competencies and skills

14 years of relevant experience
Experience in IT Operations (systems analysis, networks, Data Centre, IPT, MS, platforms, tools and technologies relevant to infrastructure development inclusive of 5 years’ experience in a similar IT environment within a large industrial organization, preferably in the Oil and Gas industry)
Experience of leading cross functional teams delivering IT service and managing IT service
Experience of working with multiple third-party vendors
Preferred certifications: Industry certification in IT infrastructure (e.g. CCNP, AWS, CompTIA, DCDC, MCSE, etc.), IT Service Management (e.g. ITIL, etc.)
Proven experience in managing SAP application support, IT service delivery, demand management, project portfolios, and vendor-managed services.
Strong experience in budgeting, procurement, contract management, and governance within a complex enterprise environment.
Exposure to SAP S/4HANA, SAP SuccessFactors, SAP Fiori, SAP BTP/CPI, and enterprise application ecosystems is highly desirable.

Soft & Leadership:

People Leadership / People Management
Effective communication and interpersonal skills
A highly analytical and strategic thinker
Ability to manage and direct activities of others in a multi-project environment
Ability to build, maintain and extend relationships across the organization
A strong entrepreneurial flair and commercial acumen
Ability to perform business and process analysis
Understanding and experience in administration of large scale networks
Excellent problem-solving, Analytical and organisational skills

Technical:

Proficiency in M/S Office.
Projects management
QA / QC Knowledge.
Contract Administration (Development / Review).
Structured System Analysis, System Design
HP networks, Cisco networks.
Strong knowledge of Data Centre & advanced technical infrastructure skills
Excellent Project management skills
Working knowledge of best practices in information technology management and ability to work to a high degree of accuracy
SAP AMS Vendor Management & SLA Governance
Budget Planning, Financial Control & Cost Management
Procurement, Contract & Commercial Management
Demand Management & Portfolio Governance