Head, Information and Communication Technology Services

The Head of Information, Communication and Technology Services (ICTS) reports directly to the Chief of Central Support Services within the Administrative Division and provides strategic leadership for all ICTS activities in support of IMO’s programmes and long-term modernization objectives.

The role is responsible for developing and implementing IMO’s digital strategy, strengthening ICT governance, and ensuring that secure, reliable, and scalable technology services support business needs. This includes leading digital transformation, ERP integration, cloud adoption, cybersecurity maturity, and data-driven decision-making.

As the principal advisor to senior management on technology, digital services, data, enterprise architecture, and ICT operations, the Head of ICTS translates business priorities into practical technology solutions and maintains an information and technology architecture roadmap aligned with organizational goals.

The Head of ICTS leads the development, management, and enforcement of ICT policies, standards, frameworks, and guidance across IMO. The role also promotes continuous improvement, collaboration, service excellence, and innovation within the ICT function.

The Head of ICTS oversees information security operations, ensures appropriate controls are in place, and supports audit, investigation, and incident response activities by enabling secure access to required systems and data while maintaining confidentiality.

Strategic Planning:

• Leads the formulation and implementation of the vision strategy, and roadmap for transforming ICT solutions, operations, and service delivery to achieve the organization’s goals, fostering digital transformation and prioritizing IMO initiatives.
• Drives the design and execution of a comprehensive digital modernization roadmap, embedding innovation, interoperability, and resilience into ICT operations.
• Leads the development and enforcement of data governance frameworks, including data quality standards, analytics capabilities, and business intelligence tools that support informed decision-making.
• Leads the digital enablement and operational alignment of ERP/SAP systems with IMO’s core processes, ensuring enterprise-wide integration, data coherence, and improved resource planning through modern ICT platforms.
• Acts as champion for emerging technologies that advances organisational agility and effectiveness, providing direction for innovation, awareness, and adoption of new digital tools and IT-enabled work practices that fosters and contributes to a continuous change management environment.
• Translates strategic and complex requirements of stakeholders and clients, into innovative, scalable, value driven ICT plans and solutions.
• Facilitates organization-wide alignment on the ICT and data strategy, related investment decisions, and ICT and security risk management based on strategic and data-driven insight.
• Establishes enterprise standards and metrics to measure, guide and communicate  contribution of ICT and data services to optimizing internal operations and implementing secretariat mandates.
• Standardizes and modernizes approaches for the secure, continuous integration and continuous deployment of systems led and managed by the secretariat.

Leadership:

• Leads the ICTS section fostering a purpose-driven, client-oriented, and inclusive team culture that values excellence, innovation, and accountability to stakeholders and partners.
• Drives an inclusive, innovative, enabling and collaborative culture, that encourages diversity, job satisfaction, technical development, and individual well-being of the ICT section.
• Guides the organisation’s digital maturity and adoption planning through advocacy for   continuous transformative solutions and change management.
• Ensure development, oversight and adherence to service delivery metrics, ensuring that large-scale transformational projects are delivered within established time, cost, and quality parameters.
• Acts as a visible and inspiring leader, promoting agile and client-focused system development and service delivery.
• Actively participates in, leads, or co-leads UN forums and clusters to advance the broader UN mandate and demonstrate effective IMO leadership in information and technology.

Management:

• Oversees the planning, resourcing and monitoring of annual work plan of activities for ICTS, ensuring efficient  allocations of human and financial resources and technical expertise.
• Oversees the strategic management, integration, and optimization of the Organization’s enterprise platforms, ensuring their alignment with IMO’s operational needs and interagency standards
• Governance and management of ICT budget and oversees its implementation, ensuring balancing of strategic investment, operational need and financial transparency.
• Manages a complex and dynamic ICT environment, including high volumes of structured data exchanges with internal and external entities, as well as unstructured data related to content management.
• Oversees critical aspects of enterprise architecture and the development of a data services architecture.
• Oversees the enterprise-wide deployment, customization, and lifecycle management of ERP/SAP systems, ensuring their full integration with IMO’s core operational processes, financial management, and HR services.
• Provides strategic oversight to ensure optimal configuration, user adoption, and long-term system sustainability.
• Ensure coordination of the design and delivery requirements of ICT services to support onsite and offsite hybrid workshops, meetings, and conferences.
• Supervises the design and implementation of the Information Security Management Programme.
• Oversees the design and continuous strengthening of risk management and information security frameworks, promoting a risk-aware, compliant, and resilient ICT environment
• Ensures that the organization's business processes are supported by user-friendly, streamlined, and appropriately scaled technology solutions.
• Holds accountability for ICT’s IT systems, communication networks, and technologies, ensuring they are cost-effectively harmonized across the organization. In this regard, actively engages with other UN organizations to strive for system-wide coherence.

Representation and Partnerships

• Represents the secretariat in information technology at the international level and with its internal and external clients.
• Serves as a strategic and technical resource for Secretariat leadership in ICT-related intergovernmental processes
• Builds and nurtures partnerships with external entities, UN Agencies, and donor and government officials to exchange innovative approaches, best practices and service delivery metrics.
• Supports institutional efforts to build and develop integrated partnerships aligned with organisational goals and resource mobilisation strategies.

Performs other job-related activities required to support the goals and objectives of the Secretariat.

1. Strategic leadership in ICT strategy, governance, and service delivery.
   Expertise in hybrid infrastructure, enterprise systems, and cloud platforms (especially Microsoft Azure and M365).
2. In-depth knowledge of cybersecurity, data protection, and ISO frameworks (e.g., 27001, 27701, 20000, 9001).
3. Strong budget and procurement planning skills, including cost optimization and vendor management.
4. Proven ability to lead digital transformation projects, implement AI and automation tools, and improve service efficiency.
5. Excellent communication and stakeholder management across technical and non-technical audiences.
6. Strong organizational, planning, and risk management skills.
7. Ability to lead high-performing and diverse teams in a multicultural environment.
   Commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and client satisfaction.

A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in ICT management, including infrastructure, systems administration, cybersecurity, or enterprise application delivery.

At least 5 years of experience in a strategic leadership role managing ICT operations or teams.

Demonstrated experience leading major digital transformation or modernization projects.

Proven experience with hybrid cloud management (Azure), cybersecurity governance, and ISO implementation.

Experience in budget planning, procurement, and ICT governance frameworks.

Experience in UN system or intergovernmental organizations is desirable.

Experience in inter-agency collaboration or participation in UN/IGO digital governance initiatives is desirable.

A Master's degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, or a related field is essential. A first level or university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in these fields, combined with four additional years of qualifying professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Relevant technical or management certifications would be an asset.

Proficiency in English (oral and written) is essential. Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Advanced skills in Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Intune, Power Platform, and enterprise systems.
Strong understanding of IT service management (ITIL), information security (ISO 27001, 27701), and project management (PRINCE2, PMP).

Experience with procurement systems (e.g SAP) , budgeting tools, and data analytics platforms (e.g., Power BI).

Familiarity with ServiceNow, GitHub, automation tools, and digital workplace solutions.

Fixed-term for two years (first year is probationary) with the possibility of further extension, subject to satisfactory performance.