Group Chief Information Officer

responsible for managing the company’s information technology services across all of its sites, driving business objectives with an IT strategy, solutions and services

Specific Responsibilities

• Strategy - create and maintain Information Technology & Management strategies in line with stakeholder needs and in keeping up with current best practice; Ensure tech systems and procedures lead to outcomes in line with business goals; Manage vendor relationships, contracts, costs and SLAs including transaction processing platforms, services provided by the Musson Group IT team and ERP software providers; Develop and maintain an appropriate IT organizational structure that supports the needs of the business

• Planning - Support IT strategic and operational planning to achieve business goals by fostering innovation, prioritizing IT initiatives, and coordinating the evaluation, deployment, and management of current and future IT systems across the organization

• Governance - ensure Information Technology and Management are in-line with agreed strategy and policy. Ensure that policy and strategy is in compliance with legislation and standards in those countries in which the Group operates. Work closely with the Musson team to ensure we are compliant with the standards and policies in place

• Project Management - manage the implementation of current projects and integrated accounting packages, along with future projects such as group accounting integration with current systems. Continual management of operational projects for:

• Ongoing integration, upkeep and improvement of IT systems;
• Review of procurement and contractual arrangements;
• Migration of core technologies and tools to the 'cloud';

• Implementation - Direct the day to day operations of IT systems, ensuring that planning, end-user impact, change management, training, quality management are properly addressed and monitored to ensure that deadlines, budgets and service levels are met and results delivered. Direct the planning and implementation of all enterprise platforms that supports business operations and critical business initiatives

• Platforms and Network Maintenance - Lead and coordinate critical events, including planned maintenance and system outages, to minimize disruptions and ensure seamless execution. Provide expert guidance and leadership to ensure timely resolution, effective communication to the internal business and external partners, integrators and merchants, with minimal impact on business operations

• Supply management - manage relationships with external agencies and suppliers, ensuring contracts and service levels are negotiated in line with strategic aims and financial constraints and ongoing service is in-line with agreed contracts; Oversee the development of customer service platforms.

• Budget - manage the annual information technology capital and operational expense budgets for all sites globally. Specifically, to be responsible for the review, audit and prioritisation of all information management systems and the replacement cycle of information technology hardware.  Develop business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for IT spending initiatives

• Cybersecurity - Develop and implement robust cybersecurity strategies to protect Interlinc's assets, data, and systems from malicious threats. Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of security controls, threat detection, and incident response plans. Ensure compliance with industry standards, particularly NIST and ISO 27001, while fostering a culture of security awareness throughout the organization. Stay up-to-date on emerging threats and technologies to continuously enhance the organization's cybersecurity posture.

• Service- organise and implement servicing and support of all IT systems to agreed service level standards. In particular:
  • Collaborate with key partners and carriers to understand and manage their requirements, ensuring alignment with business objectives and delivering high-quality services that meet business needs
  • Ensure training is provided on any new systems that are introduced;
  • Provide remedial support where necessary;
  • Work with the Marketing team to ensure IT systems support marketing and campaigns;
  • manage and develop the information technology teams, working with them to plan and prioritise their workloads, set objectives, conduct appraisals and supported to continually improve their performance and results. To work with various stakeholders where IT support is supplied via 3rd party vendors.
  • Working alongside product and commercial teams to provide a robust platform (or platforms) that can be utilised for growth and expansion initiatives.
  • Ensure continued agility of the IT Group and the ability to respond to and implement new initiatives, alongside the product teams in all markets.

• Research- develop and implement plans, in consultation with key stakeholders, research, analyse and present material relating to the educational sector. Develop and implement plans in consultation with key stakeholders, to research, analyse and present material relating to the strategic direction of IT within the corporate sector.
• Business continuity - develop and maintain the Major Incident & Business Continuity plan for IT and to implement measures designed to safeguard the Information Technology and Management needs of the company in the event of major incidents or disasters; Information risk management (IRM)

Education and Experience        

(a)              Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer/Information Science or related discipline
• Master’s Degree in Business Administration or equivalent qualification and evidence of continuous professional development in an IT role
• A minimum of ten (10) years senior management experience with at least three (3) years in the Distribution/Transactions industry.

Specific Knowledge/Competencies Required:

• Expert knowledge of IT management principles and practices.
• Knowledge of CRM data and database systems; understanding of data security and other compliance responsibilities
• Experience of commissioning services from third parties and managing relationships with suppliers and contractors
• Previous line management experience with teams spread across multiple geographic locations
• Experience with data protection policies and compliance thereof within multiple geographic locations
• Experience with Information Technology networks and systems at a global level and daily operational management thereof
• Resource management - has skills to Influence results through appropriate staffing, budgetary    management and maximisation of available resources
• Strong interpersonal, communications, negotiation and presentation skills
• Experience managing vendors and suppliers including contracts, SLA’s and KPI’s.
• Experience managing a team across diverse cultural backgrounds and in multiple time zones.
• Strong written and spoken communications skills, and ability to clearly articulate IT related concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Solid understanding of financial concepts, budgeting, and business analysis.
• Technical understanding of IT infrastructure, software development lifecycle and application support
• Experience in Logistics, Warehousing and/or Electronic Transaction Processing businesses an advantage

D.         WORKING CONDITIONS

• Normal office environment with occasional local and overseas travel to visit partners, and represent the Company;
• Frequently required to work beyond normal hours to achieve deadlines.