IT Infrastructure & Operations Director; Saudi Citizens

Are you a seasoned IT professional with expertise in managing complex infrastructure and operations in the manufacturing industry? Are you ready to lead the IT strategy and operations for a leading Saudi PIF manufacturing company, driving innovation and excellence across our technology infrastructure?

Our client is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation and driving growth in the manufacturing sector. As a rapidly growing company in the Saudi Public Investment Fund, they committed to leveraging technology to optimize the operations, enhance efficiency, and drive value for our stakeholders. This is the most senior role in the infrastructure and operations (I&O) function within IT, accountable for IT I&O throughout the organization.

The head of I&O is responsible for the delivery of all IT infrastructure and related IT operations used to enable business capabilities and services across the enterprise.

This role reports to CTO and has line management responsibilities for Infrastructure & Cloud Management (cloud first approach), IT Operations, and IT Security, working in collaboration with CFO, CMO, CSO, CHRO and CSCO.

The head of I&O brings experience, knowledge, and future vision for transforming the I&O function including its strategy, operating model, product and service offerings and workforce. The role holder is a senior stakeholder in all relationships with externally sourced infrastructure and operations capabilities.

NOTE:
This role is on-site in Riyadh, and we are only considering candidates who can join immediately with no notice period.

• Sets the mission, vision, and strategy of the I&O organization (infra on cloud) strategy to maximize the success of business and IT enterprise initiatives.
• Introduces innovative, differentiating infrastructure and operations capabilities that enhance our overall competitive capabilities and enhance employee productivity.
• Works with the IT senior leadership team on the service portfolio and governance required to prioritize resources, including budget. Works with key stakeholders to measure and prioritize technical debt remediation.
• Builds successful stakeholder relationships with other IT and business key stakeholders by developing a clear understanding of business needs, acting as a trusted advisor, and ensuring cost‑effective delivery of IT services to meet those needs.
• Creates and aligns an I&O value map by linking targeted business outcomes with the future‑state business capabilities required to achieve them.
• Drives alignment of I&O strategies to the organization’s environmental, social and governance goals.
• Develops and controls the annual I&O budget to ensure that it's consistent with the overall strategic objectives of IT and the enterprise and is within plan. Creates a culture of continuous cost optimization.
• Defines, develops, and manages a comprehensive and integrated IT Service Management (ITSM) landscape, based on best‑practice processes, disciplines, and related toolsets. This includes delivery of a comprehensive IT asset management program.
• Collaborates with the IT Security Officer to ensure I&O contributes to, embraces, and applies security strategy.
• Operates a formal governance mechanism to establish and monitor effective controls for the processes and functions performed by I&O teams. Supports periodic reviews by audit teams, compliance teams and other risk‑related functions as required.
• Develops and executes a strategy to improve awareness of the business value that the Infrastructure and Operations function provides, and continuously seeks to ensure alignment to customer needs.
• Designs and develops a strong and diverse I&O leadership team, together with a reporting structure for the function.
• Works collaboratively with direct reports to support their career progression, nurture their development and to help them realize their potential.
• Improves IT resilience by executing strategies that improve reliability, tolerability, and disaster recovery readiness.
• Keeps track of trends and provides direction on what emerging technologies should be incorporated into I&O products and services to successfully deliver overall IT…