Principal Officer, ICT at Universities Fund (UF)

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required:

Academic Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in Computer Science, Information Science, Information Communication and Technology or any other relevant, related and equivalent qualifications;
2. Master’s degree from a recognized university in Computer Science, Information Science, Information Communication and Technology or any other relevant, related and equivalent qualifications will be an added advantage.

Professional Qualifications / Membership to professional bodies

• Previous relevant work experience required
• At least four (8) years’ relevant work experience in related duties in the Public Service or Private Sector, where three (3) of which must be in supervisory position.

Functional Skills:

Behavioral Competencies/ Attributes:

A supervisory course lasting not less than Four (4) weeks from a recognized institution; Be a member of a relevant professional body where applicable;

1. Microsoft certified professional 
2. MS Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultant;
3. Microsoft Certified Dynamics 365 Developer; and
4. MS SQL server certification
5. Communication;
6. Applications development;
7. Database;
8. Information Technology;
9. Analytical;
10. Project Implementation;
11. Negotiation; and
12. Report writing.
13. Interpersonal Skills;
14. Leadership skills;
15. Team player;
16. Time management;
17. Emotional intelligence;
18. Demonstrate Appetite for Disruptive Technologies; and
19. Fulfil the requirements of Chapter 6 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.

Responsibilities:

The job holder is responsible for Business applications strategic planning, innovations, improvement of operational processes, support for critical business strategies by directing and coordinating the development, implementation, and maintenance of innovative solutions for business applications.

Key Responsibilities / Duties / Tasks

1. Leading project teams during development and implementation of ICT Software Projects to ensure implementation of applications that meet user requirements;
2. Ensuring timely development and implementation of innovative and effective systems within the Institution to enhance customer service delivery;
3. Ensuring alignment to Enterprise Risk Management Framework to mitigate directorate risks, hence institutional risks;
4. Spearheading the formulation, interpretation and application of ICT business applications’ policies, procedures, rules and regulations within the department;
5. Ensuring safe custody, access control and uptime of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) which holds over one million (1,000,000) customers with a monetary portfolio of over KShs.113 Billion to ensure sustainability of confidentiality, integrity and availability of customer information.
6. Ensuring uptime and high availability of all business applications as per the Institution Charter to ensure continuous customer service delivery;
7. Ensuring the security of all organizational data to ensure availability and reliability of information;
8. Ensuring maximum productivity of the organization through the right use of business applications to enhance customer service delivery;
9. Coordinating systems analysis, design and program specifications for ensuring implementation of applications that satisfy user requirements;
10. Ensuring ICT software development standards are followed for maintenance and knowledge transfer to other developers;
11. Supervising overall systems documentation for maintenance and knowledge transfer to other developers;
12. Ensuring development and implementation of security controls in the Institution’s ICT Business Applications;
13. Ensuring maintenance of implemented business applications; 
14. Ensuring effective Change Management in business applications to mitigate disruption of systems;
15. Driving the department’s Business Continuity Management activities to ensure human and other departmental assets are protected and continuity of operations in the event of disruptions or a disaster;
16. Driving implementation of Quality Management System (ISO) procedures;
17. Ensuring continuous end user training on business applications to enhance utilization of implemented business applications;
18. Ensuring the development and maintenance of the departmental Risk Register; and

Operational Responsibilities / Tasks

1. Participating in development of the Division’s Work plan and budget;
2. Preparing monthly, quarterly and annual Departmental reports;
3. Mentoring and coaching staff to enhance performance and hence realize institution’s objectives;
4. Participating in the implementation of the performance management system in the Department;
5. Evaluating the business applications vis, a vis business requirement;
6. Carrying out research on new technologies in the market which can be utilized by the Institution;
7. Coordinating data management, data control and data protection;
8. Developing reports for management on business applications utility (performance/data/uptake);
9. Providing technical assistance to Systems Analysts and Programmers;
10. Developing of business cases for disposal, acquisition and development of business applications and coordinating Proof of Concepts;
11. Ensuring uptime and high availability of all business applications as per the Institution Charter;

Financial Responsibility:

1. Development of divisional budget with a value of over KShs.80 million to enhance ICT systems for quality service delivery;
2. Approval of divisional expenditures to support prudent management of institution finances;
3. Approval of requisitions to support prudent management of institution finances;
4. Approval of divisional petty cash expenses to support prudent management of institution finances; and
5. Accountability of divisional budget and utilization whose value is over Kshs.40 million to enhance control of institutions finances to promote transparency.
6. Responsibility for physical assets around the area of work:
7. Responsible for physical assets assigned to ICT division by the institution such as laptops, desktops, printers, desks and chairs all valued over Kshs. 5 million

Decision Making/ Job Influence:

1. Makes strategic, operational and financial decisions on applications to be implemented or retired;
2. Chairing business applications departmental staff meetings to provide strategic direction on the departmental operations;
3. Mentoring and coaching staff to enhance performance and hence realize institution’s objectives;
4. Assigning work to staff to realize the Fund’s mandate; and
5. Monitoring staff work performance to ensure realization of the Fund’s objectives.

Working Conditions:

• Works predominantly in an office environment with occasional field assignments