Chief Officer.Information Technology at Kenya Airways

Job Purpose Statement

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) will oversee people, processes, and technologies within our Company’s IT organization to ensure they deliver outcomes that support the goals of the business. The CIO will play a key leadership role in the critical strategic, technical and management initiatives — from information security and algorithms to customer experience and leveraging data — that mitigate threats and drive business growth.  The CIO is expected to quickly understand the existing business’ processes, including security and compliance models, and communicate effectively with all levels of the Company while engaging with all stakeholders.

With digital transformation as being core to the business, the CIO will be involved in the transformation of corporate IT infrastructure and processes to support the achievement of business objectives and seamless customer experience. The candidate will cultivate relationships with business and operational organizations to create an environment for joint sponsorship to achieve favourable business outcomes with all key stakeholders.

Reporting to the Group Managing Director, the CIO is a senior management role and part of the executive leadership team of the Company.

Main Responsibilities include:

• Consulting and advising the CEO & Board on critical IT transformation strategies and champion digital transformation agenda to enhance business performance.
• Collaborate closely with the CEO to develop the IT strategy as per the Company’s Corporate strategy and ensure timely implementation.
• Oversee the Company’s technological infrastructure to ensure optimal performance and ensuring that full IT support services are consistently available
• Establish and manage Software Development related projects, directed towards strategic business and other organizational objectives.
• Evangelizing the transformation strategy internally and externally to drive both employee and customer adoption.
• Selecting and implementing suitable technology to streamline all internal operations and help achieve business benefits and performance.
• Prioritizing mission-critical projects that establish business growth in an efficient manner.
• Lead in the sunset of various legacy platforms while optimizing current and onboarded business systems and operations support systems across the Company to better support the company growth.
• Designing and customizing technological systems and platforms to improve customer experience with an emphasis on technical standardization.
• Ensure the establishment of bimodal capability- 2-speed IT to enable the Company’s flexibility to innovate quickly using agile and Dev/SecOps methodologies while ensuring the day-to-day business requirements and regular performance goals are consistently met.
• Create business value, drive innovation and revenue-generating ideas throughout the business.
• Develop, track, and control the Company’s IT annual operating and capital budgets based on an excellent understanding of the business, the operating context and supporting future business and IT needs.
• Coordinate and facilitate consultation with stakeholders to define business and systems requirements for new technology implementations.
• Take responsibility for the development and implementation of KQ’s IT Security in accordance with the information management, cybersecurity protocols, and ensuring KQ meet any statutory requirements on IT and Cyber Security.
• Continuously renovate the IT core especially for legacy systems including improved data access, big data analytics, integration and cloud infrastructure.
• Monitor changes and developments in the technology sector to discover and advise ways for the Company to grow.
• Ensure that robust contingency, risk management, and business continuity plans are in place.
• Cultivate a culture of organizational excellence throughout IT that includes high performance, high morale, integrity, teamwork, and business alignment.
• Lead the IT group so that it is focused on the company achieving its profitability and other key performance targets.

Qualifications

• University degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or a related field; MSc/MA will be a plus.
• 10+ years of proven experience as a CIO or similar leadership role, with at least a minimum of 5 years of senior leadership experience.
• 5+ years in transforming IT infrastructure and 10+ years of continuing evolutionary knowledge IT systems and infrastructure.
• Experience as Subject Matter Expert (SME) with Agile /DevSecOps methodologies.
• Deep expertise in implementing Service Delivery Platforms in service-oriented companies.
• Comprehensive knowledge of cybersecurity concepts, principles, methods, and products including a good understanding of NIST, PCI, Sarbanes Oxley, ISO 27001, NIST, CSF, COBIT, ITIL, SANS 20 and so on.
• Demonstrated success aligning business objectives with IT strategy, processes, and systems.
• Demonstrated success driving cross-functional adoption of new technologies, systems, and processes.
• Must have a strategic and business mindset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Project management and budgeting experience.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to develop and communicate an IT vision that inspires and motivates IT staff and aligns to the business strategy.
• Experience in Air transportation industry is a plus, not a mandatory requirement.