Job Purpose
The Director – Governance, Architecture & Strategy will lead the Digital Transformation Governance, Enterprise Architecture, and IT Strategy functions at Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA). The role is responsible for establishing strong digital governance frameworks, developing enterprise architecture, supporting digital transformation strategy, and ensuring technology initiatives remain aligned with business objectives.
The position will oversee Digital Transformation governance, financial planning, policies, audits, service management, architecture standards, technology contracts, project methodologies, and business value realization. The role will also work closely with senior leadership to strengthen technology governance, optimize investments, manage risks, and support EGA’s long-term digital transformation objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Digital Transformation Governance
- Lead the governance, architecture, and strategy function within the Digital Transformation organization.
- Develop and manage the Digital Transformation Governance annual OPEX and CAPEX budget.
- Monitor financial performance against approved budgets and identify opportunities for cost optimization and operational improvement.
- Establish mechanisms to measure and track the business value delivered by Digital Transformation products, services, projects, and programs.
- Develop and implement governance frameworks, policies, procedures, standards, and controls for Digital Transformation activities.
- Ensure Digital Transformation operations comply with organizational requirements, regulatory obligations, and established governance standards.
- Support the Chief Digital Officer in defining departmental performance objectives and relevant corporate and Digital Transformation KPIs.
- Establish quality-related KPIs to monitor Digital Transformation service performance and continuous improvement.
Audit, Compliance & Quality Management
- Coordinate Digital Transformation audits and ensure audit activities are completed within established timelines.
- Monitor compliance with approved policies, standards, controls, and quality requirements.
- Review audit findings and coordinate corrective actions with relevant Digital Transformation teams.
- Ensure identified audit findings are addressed and closed within agreed deadlines.
- Develop governance and compliance mechanisms to strengthen the organization’s technology risk management framework.
- Support adherence to applicable IT governance, information security, quality, and regulatory requirements.
IT Service Management
- Lead the development and implementation of the Digital Transformation service management model.
- Define Digital Transformation services, service ownership, delivery processes, and performance standards.
- Apply appropriate IT Service Management (ITSM), Agile, and service delivery methodologies.
- Improve internal customer experience through effective service management practices.
- Oversee internal customer satisfaction measurement programs and employee feedback initiatives.
- Analyse survey results and coordinate improvement plans with relevant Digital Transformation teams.
- Monitor service quality and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Enterprise Architecture
- Lead the development and implementation of EGA’s target enterprise architecture.
- Ensure the organization’s technology landscape supports current and future business requirements.
- Develop scalable, secure, resilient, and future-ready architecture principles and standards.
- Align enterprise architecture with business strategy, Digital Transformation objectives, and technology investment priorities.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and assess their potential relevance to business operations and strategic objectives.
- Monitor technology trends and provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
- Establish architecture compliance models and monitor architecture performance against recognized industry benchmarks.
- Promote appropriate standards for data management, metadata, regulatory compliance, technology governance, and change control.
- Work with stakeholders to secure management alignment and adoption of enterprise architecture standards.
Technology Procurement & Contract Management
- Lead the procurement and optimization of Digital Transformation software licenses, technology services, and contracts.
- Oversee renewal of software licenses, service agreements, outsourced technology contracts, and hardware maintenance agreements.
- Review technology contracts to ensure appropriate value, commercial efficiency, and alignment with business requirements.
- Identify opportunities to optimize technology spending and improve supplier and contract performance.
Digital Transformation Strategy
- Support the Chief Digital Officer in developing the organization’s Digital Transformation strategy.
- Align Digital Transformation priorities with EGA’s overall business strategy and long-term objectives.
- Ensure vertical alignment between Digital Transformation strategy and business requirements.
- Promote effective integration between Digital Transformation initiatives and other departmental strategies.
- Translate strategic priorities into actionable technology programs, initiatives, and investment plans.
- Monitor external technology developments and identify opportunities that could support business transformation.
Project & Program Management
- Lead the development and implementation of effective Digital Transformation project management methodologies.
- Establish appropriate Agile, Waterfall, and Scrum practices based on project and program requirements.
- Support the delivery of technology projects within approved timelines, budgets, quality standards, and risk parameters.
- Establish appropriate governance mechanisms for monitoring project and program performance.
- Ensure technology project portfolios remain aligned with strategic business priorities.
Digital Transformation Business Value
- Establish processes for evaluating and monitoring the business value generated by Digital Transformation projects and programs.
- Track benefits realization across the Digital Transformation portfolio.
- Establish target returns on investment for major technology initiatives.
- Analyse project and portfolio performance to identify opportunities to improve business value and investment returns.
- Provide management with clear reporting and insights on Digital Transformation value realization.
Leadership & People Management
- Lead the Governance, Architecture & Strategy team and ensure effective achievement of departmental objectives.
- Set clear objectives and performance expectations for team members.
- Recruit, develop, motivate, and retain qualified Digital Transformation professionals.
- Manage individual and team performance through regular feedback, coaching, and development.
- Build a collaborative culture focused on innovation, accountability, service quality, and continuous improvement.
- Encourage knowledge sharing and professional development across the Digital Transformation organization.
Safety, Quality & Environment
- Ensure compliance with applicable safety, quality, environmental, and organizational policies and procedures.
- Promote responsible and compliant working practices throughout the Digital Transformation function.
- Ensure departmental activities meet relevant legislative, regulatory, quality, and corporate requirements.
Additional Responsibilities
- Perform other related duties and assignments as directed by senior management.
- Support strategic Digital Transformation initiatives and organizational priorities as required.
Decision-Making & Authority
- Make decisions within the established authority and governance framework.
- Refer major decisions with significant departmental or organizational impact to the appropriate reporting manager for approval.
- Provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership on technology governance, enterprise architecture, Digital Transformation strategy, investment, and risk.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related discipline.
- Master’s degree in a relevant technology or business field is preferred.
- Professional certification in Project Management is desirable.
- Relevant professional certifications such as TOGAF, ITIL, CGEIT, PMP, ISO 20000, or ISO 27001 are advantageous.
Experience
- Minimum 10 years of overall IT experience.
- At least 5 years of experience in IT Governance, Enterprise Architecture, IT Strategy, or related areas.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in a senior management or leadership position.
- Demonstrated experience developing and implementing IT strategies, governance frameworks, policies, and technology standards.
- Experience managing large technology budgets and complex Digital Transformation portfolios.
- Experience with enterprise architecture, IT service management, Agile methodologies, technology governance, and strategic planning is preferred.
Key Skills
- IT Governance
- Digital Transformation Strategy
- Enterprise Architecture
- IT Strategy & Planning
- Technology Governance
- IT Service Management (ITSM)
- Agile, Scrum & Waterfall Methodologies
- Digital Portfolio Management
- IT Financial & Budget Management
- Business Value & Benefits Realization
- Technology Risk Management
- IT Policies & Compliance
- Audit & Quality Management
- Technology Procurement & Contract Management
- Emerging Technology Assessment
- Enterprise Technology Planning
- Leadership & Team Management
- Stakeholder Management
- Strategic Decision-Making
- Change Management
- Communication & Presentation
- Continuous Process Improvement