Section Head - Engineering and IT

at  Dubai Government Media Office

The Section Head - Engineering and IT is responsible for the development of the overall Engineering and IT strategy in line with GDMO’s vision, direction and needs. This includes each of the strategies across Engineering and across IT. He/she is responsible for developing, communicating, updating and implementing the Engineering policies and procedures in line with audit, compliance and security standards, recommendations and best practices. He/she is additionally responsible for ensuring the development of the IT policies and procedures. The Section Head - Engineering and IT is also responsible for the development of the Engineering and IT team, in both technical and soft skills, using on-the-job training as well as in-person or online classroom training. The role holder is expected to demonstrate leadership skills, financial and budget management acumen and carry out his/her duties in accordance with the relevant business policies and procedures.

General Responsibilities:

• Develop the strategy for Engineering and IT in line with the GDMO strategy and roadmap
• Manage the implementation of the strategic vision for Engineering and IT, to achieve the strategic objectives set out for the department in line with the overall GDMO strategic vision
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with Directors across GDMO, working together when needed to support and deliver their Engineering and IT needs in line with the GDMO vision and strategy
• Manage the Engineering and IT team in their day-to-day and project work, providing technical skills support and direction to ensure smooth and successful delivery of results and strategic projects/initiatives in line with the GDMO strategic vision
• Produce monthly KPI reports, providing supporting documents used to capture and calculate the KPI metrics
• Develop talent within the Engineering and IT team through on-the-job training and other training (online and classroom), covering both technical and soft skills
• Identify Engineering and IT budget requirements based on planned initiatives, technology requirements and manpower needs

Engineering and IT Strategy and Roadmap

• Establish Engineering policies and procedures to fulfil strategic Engineering needs, across infrastructure, networks, satellite and broadcast
• Develop the strategy for the deployment of Engineering services/solutions, including change policies such as pre and post development metrics and business impact, processes, procedures and tools required
• Oversee the development of the strategy and implementation roadmap for the deployment of IT services/solutions, including change policies such as pre and post development metrics and business impact, processes, procedures and tools required
• Understand Engineering needs across GDMO departments, conducting current versus desired analysis where needed to assess current capabilities in comparison to desired capabilities
• Oversee the IT department’s assessment of IT needs across GDMO departments, intervening where necessary and where additional information needs to be provided to the IT Manager in his/her assessment of these needs
• Develop and communicate Engineering services, with information on how to request them, the inputs and approvals required, and the estimated timelines and SLAs for completion
• Develop the Engineering roadmap, documenting planned and future projects and initiatives, delivery timelines, budget requirements and expected impact
• Strategically align with departments to identify Engineering needs, analyze the requirements, identify opportunities, prioritize the outcomes, develop business cases and develop roadmaps for the projects/initiatives
• Establish, measure and report corporate Engineering and IT KPIs
• Identify and plan initiatives to improve KPIs which don’t meet the set targets
• Build and maintain Engineering and IT strategic intelligence, understanding business and industry trends that present threats or opportunities for Engineering and IT within GDMO, monitoring, mapping and evaluating upcoming technology to meet the current and future plans and requirements for GDMO’s business operations
• Communicate new Engineering and/or IT plans/initiatives, develop calendar of implementation and timelines and provide updates to the DG and Directors
• Monitor, report and update strategy, plans, and policies in line with the Engineering and IT KPIs and contribution to GDMO strategy and objectives

Policies, Procedures and Compliance

• Define the Engineering and IT governance strategy, including development, usage and security of technology and facilities for efficient business operations
• Determine and evaluate the Engineering and IT regulatory and audit requirements, training employees and maintaining records and approvals for changes across technology, networks, security and infrastructure in line with the requirements
• Determine and evaluate the Engineering and IT resilience strategies and develop mitigation approaches so that prospective risks can be avoided
• Set and control guidelines for Engineering and IT risk, compliance, and security in line with regulatory requirements, compliance obligations and information security steering committee requirements and recommendations, analyzing security threat impacts across departments and functions and maintaining compliance standards through architecture, training, policies and processes
• Plan and manage Engineering systems, facilities and technology continuity and its ability to recover from internal and external threats and/or exposure
• Conduct assessments and analyze compliance control systems and tools to ensure compliance with audit findings and requirements
• Develop, document and execute resilience and continuity operations to be able to rapidly adapt and respond to any internal or external opportunity, demand, disruption or threat across Engineering and IT

Engineering Team Management

• Oversee the plans, upgrades, roadmap, maintenance, platforms and technology across Engineering networks, broadcast, satelite and production facilities
• Ensure Engineering networks, broadcast, satellite efficiently and effectively carry out their responsibilities across each of these areas
• Provide support where needed to the Engineering team to help them in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities

IT Team Management

• Oversee the plans, upgrades, roadmap, maintenance, platforms and technology developed by the IT Manager across IT security, infrastructure and networks and support services, ensuring they are in line with the GDMO needs and requirements
• Oversee the development of the IT roadmap in line with the GDMO strategy
• Provide support where needed to the IT team to help them in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities

QUALIFICATIONS

Functional Experience :
A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience with at least 4 - 5 years in a similar role

Leadership/Supervisory

• A minimum of 5 years leading and managing teams
• A minimum of 3 years managing a budget

Education and Qualification Required
Master’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering or a related field
Key Interactions & Nature of Interaction

Internal:

• Collaborate with other Directors to achieve the shared GDMO objectives of promoting and protecting Dubai and its Leadership
• Collaborate with Strategy & Excellence to work on strategic projects and initiatives, ensure process excellence and adhere to KPI achievement and reporting
• Collaborate with other Corporate Support departments, such as Procurement and Finance for approvals and collaboration related to projects, initiatives and budgets

External:
Collaborate with vendors and partners for support required on systems, upgrades and maintenance

Technical Skills

• Expert: Knowledge of media communications and the press industry
• Expert: Knowledge of broadcast engineering and media production technology
• Expert: Knowledge of information technology
• Proficient: Knowledge of existing regulatory laws and procedures within UAE
• Proficient: Command of written and spoken Arabic and English

Behavioural Competencies

• Proficient: Strategic thinking and vision development
• Proficient: Enabling change
• Advanced: Effective communication
• Proficient: Leading and inspiring others
• Advanced: Decision making and problem solving
• Proficient: Financial awareness
• Advanced: Team Management and People Development

Key Performance Indicators

• Development of Engineering and IT policies and procedures (%)
• Development of Engineering and IT roadmap (%)
• Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT) (%)
• Change success rate / projects implementation success rate (%)
• Compliance with audit requirements and standards (%)

• Develop the strategy for Engineering and IT in line with the GDMO strategy and roadmap
• Manage the implementation of the strategic vision for Engineering and IT, to achieve the strategic objectives set out for the department in line with the overall GDMO strategic vision
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with Directors across GDMO, working together when needed to support and deliver their Engineering and IT needs in line with the GDMO vision and strategy
• Manage the Engineering and IT team in their day-to-day and project work, providing technical skills support and direction to ensure smooth and successful delivery of results and strategic projects/initiatives in line with the GDMO strategic vision
• Produce monthly KPI reports, providing supporting documents used to capture and calculate the KPI metrics
• Develop talent within the Engineering and IT team through on-the-job training and other training (online and classroom), covering both technical and soft skills
• Identify Engineering and IT budget requirements based on planned initiatives, technology requirements and manpower need