Job Details

Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Geographical Scope: Tanzania and other group operating markets
Department: Group Technology and Digital Transformation
Reporting To: Group Chief Executive Officer
Direct Reports: IT Operations Manager, Enterprise Applications Manager, Infrastructure and Cloud Manager, Cybersecurity Lead, and Business Systems Manager

About the Company

Our client is a diversified regional business group with interests in transport, logistics, mobility and related commercial services. The group operates through multiple business units, each with distinct operational requirements, customer segments and technology needs.

As the organisation expands, it is investing in technology to improve operational visibility, strengthen governance, enhance customer experience and support more efficient coordination across its businesses.

The group is seeking an experienced technology executive to establish a cohesive technology strategy, modernise its technology infrastructure and ensure that digital investments deliver measurable commercial and operational value.

Role Purpose

The Group Head of IT & Digital Transformation will lead the group’s overall technology strategy, enterprise IT operations, digital transformation agenda, information security and technology governance.

The role will ensure that technology is treated as a strategic business enabler rather than a support function. The successful candidate will work closely with the Group CEO, business-unit leaders, Finance, Operations and other executive stakeholders to identify opportunities for automation, improve information flow and strengthen the group’s ability to scale.

The executive will be accountable for technology investment decisions, systems integration, infrastructure reliability, cybersecurity, vendor management and delivery of the group’s digital transformation roadmap.

A key priority will be to establish common technology standards across the group while allowing individual business units the flexibility required to serve their customers and operating environments.

Key Responsibilities

1. Group Technology Strategy

• Develop and implement a group-wide IT and digital transformation strategy aligned with the corporate growth agenda.
• Translate business objectives into technology priorities, investment plans and implementation roadmaps.
• Assess the current technology landscape and identify gaps in infrastructure, applications, data management, security and systems integration.
• Establish an enterprise architecture that supports interoperability, scalability and consistent technology governance.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and determine their relevance to the group’s operational and commercial objectives.
• Advise the Group CEO and executive leadership team on technology investment, digital risk and transformation priorities.
• Establish a multi-year technology roadmap with clear milestones, ownership and expected business outcomes.
• Ensure technology decisions support long-term business resilience and avoid unnecessary duplication of systems.

1. Enterprise Systems and Business Applications

• Oversee the implementation, integration and optimisation of enterprise systems, including ERP, CRM, HRIS, financial management, procurement and operational platforms.
• Ensure technology applications support efficient workflows, accurate reporting and effective decision-making.
• Lead the evaluation and selection of technology platforms, considering total cost of ownership, scalability, security and business requirements.
• Establish standards for system configuration, data migration, user access and application maintenance.
• Improve integration between operational systems and corporate reporting platforms.
• Work with business-unit leaders to identify opportunities to digitise manual processes.
• Ensure systems implementations have clear business ownership, user acceptance criteria and post-implementation reviews.
• Monitor system performance and ensure application support arrangements meet business requirements.

1. Infrastructure, Cloud and IT Operations

• Oversee the reliability, availability and performance of the group’s technology infrastructure.
• Develop infrastructure strategies covering cloud services, networks, connectivity, endpoints, servers and data storage.
• Establish appropriate service-management processes for incident resolution, change management and problem management.
• Ensure business-critical systems have suitable backup, recovery and continuity arrangements.
• Monitor technology service levels and resolve recurring infrastructure issues.
• Establish standards for IT support, escalation, service availability and user experience.
• Evaluate opportunities to consolidate infrastructure and improve operational efficiency.
• Ensure technology capacity is sufficient to support growth and changing business requirements.

1. Cybersecurity and Information Risk

• Establish and maintain an enterprise information-security strategy.
• Oversee cybersecurity controls, identity and access management, endpoint protection and security monitoring.
• Ensure appropriate governance of sensitive business, customer, employee and financial information.
• Lead technology risk assessments and ensure vulnerabilities are addressed in a timely manner.
• Establish incident-response and cybersecurity escalation procedures.
• Coordinate security reviews, penetration testing and relevant independent assessments.
• Ensure technology suppliers meet appropriate security and data-protection standards.
• Work with Legal, Risk and Compliance to address applicable data-protection, cybersecurity and industry requirements.
• Report material technology and security risks to executive leadership.

1. Digital Transformation and Automation

• Identify high-impact opportunities to automate business processes and reduce reliance on manual workflows.
• Lead transformation programmes that improve productivity, accuracy, customer experience and cost efficiency.
• Develop business cases for technology-led process improvement.
• Establish clear baselines against which the impact of transformation initiatives can be measured.
• Coordinate process redesign, technology implementation, testing, training and adoption.
• Work with operational leaders to ensure technology solutions address actual business problems.
• Monitor adoption and benefits realisation after implementation.
• Build a continuous-improvement culture across technology and business functions.

1. Data, Analytics and Management Reporting

• Establish appropriate data-governance and reporting standards across the group.
• Improve the accuracy, consistency and accessibility of management information.
• Oversee the development of dashboards supporting financial, commercial and operational decision-making.
• Work with business leaders to identify critical data requirements and performance indicators.
• Improve data integration across business units.
• Establish appropriate controls for data quality, retention, access and integrity.
• Evaluate business intelligence and analytics solutions that improve operational visibility.
• Ensure executive reports are timely, reliable and actionable.

1. IT Governance and Financial Management

• Develop and manage the group technology budget.
• Establish controls over technology procurement, licensing, vendor contracts and expenditure.
• Evaluate technology investments based on business value, risk and total cost of ownership.
• Develop technology policies, standards and governance frameworks.
• Monitor supplier performance and enforce contractual service levels.
• Identify opportunities to optimise licensing, infrastructure and support costs.
• Establish appropriate approval processes for technology investment and expenditure.
• Report technology expenditure, savings, risks and investment performance to the executive team.

1. Leadership and Stakeholder Management

• Build and lead a high-performing group technology function.
• Establish clear accountability, performance objectives and development plans for technology leaders.
• Develop succession plans for critical technology positions.
• Work closely with business-unit leaders to understand operational requirements and priorities.
• Communicate technical issues in terms of business impact, cost, risk and strategic value.
• Build strong relationships with technology vendors, implementation partners and strategic suppliers.
• Promote collaboration between central IT and local business-unit teams.
• Support change management and employee adoption during major technology initiatives.

4. Key Performance Indicators

Performance will be assessed against agreed targets, including:

• Availability of critical business systems.
• Delivery of approved technology and transformation programmes.
• Technology expenditure against budget.
• Return on investment from major technology initiatives.
• Reduction in manual processes and avoidable operating costs.
• Cybersecurity incident management and remediation.
• Disaster-recovery readiness and business continuity.
• ERP, CRM and other enterprise-system adoption.
• Data accuracy and management-reporting reliability.
• IT service response and resolution times.
• Supplier performance and technology cost optimisation.
• Stakeholder satisfaction with IT services.
• Delivery of the approved digital transformation roadmap.

5. Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or a related discipline.
• Master’s degree in Technology Management, Business Administration or a related field is advantageous.
• At least 12 years of progressive IT and technology leadership experience.
• At least five years leading a substantial IT function or technology portfolio at senior management or executive level.
• Experience managing technology across multiple business units, locations or countries.
• Demonstrated experience implementing enterprise systems and technology transformation programmes.
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity and IT service management.
• Experience developing and managing significant technology budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with CEOs, Boards and business-unit executives.
• Experience managing complex vendor relationships and technology contracts.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen.
• Excellent leadership, analytical and stakeholder-management skills.

Relevant certifications in IT service management, cloud architecture, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture or programme management will be advantageous.

6. Leadership Competencies

• Strategic technology leadership.
• Commercially informed decision-making.
• Enterprise-wide thinking.
• Cybersecurity and risk awareness.
• Transformation leadership.
• Financial discipline.
• Vendor and contract management.
• Executive communication.
• Talent development.
• Change management and organisational influence.

7. First-Year Priorities

During the first 12 months, the successful executive will be expected to:

1. Complete a group-wide technology and digital maturity assessment.
2. Present an approved technology strategy and investment roadmap.
3. Identify and prioritise critical infrastructure, security and enterprise-system improvements.
4. Establish group technology governance and reporting standards.
5. Implement priority digital transformation initiatives.
6. Improve technology service reliability and user experience.
7. Establish a benefits-realisation framework for major technology investments.
8. Develop a technology leadership structure capable of supporting future expansion.

8. Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a business-oriented technology executive who understands how to connect technology investment to measurable commercial outcomes. The successful candidate will be comfortable engaging at Board and executive level while retaining sufficient technical depth to challenge architecture decisions, assess risks and hold implementation partners accountable.