Role summary
We are hiring a Corporate IT Manager to lead IT across all our pharmaceutical companies. The role has two equal priorities: keep day-to-day IT operations stable, secure and cost-effective, and lead the group-wide ERP implementation.
Purpose of the role: be the group’s IT leader, keeping current operations running reliably, securely and in line with pharma compliance, and building the IT foundation the group needs to grow. The Corporate IT Manager is a strategic partner to the business, aligns IT solutions with business objectives, and applies a strong financial focus to every IT initiative: cost-effectiveness, Return on Investment (ROI) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The ERP implementation is the main strategic project within this mandate. It should give the CFO and group leadership consolidated, reliable, real-time data while plants, warehouses, sales and all functions keep running without disruption. The Corporate IT Manager must do all of this while working with each company’s own leadership style, priorities and level of digital maturity.
Key responsibilities
1. ERP implementation leadership (key strategic project)
- Own the ERP implementation end to end: business case, roadmap, budget, timeline and go-live for each company.
- Manage the existing implementation partner against contract, scope and SLAs.
- Run fit-gap analysis with each company/function and design a common template (common chart of accounts, master data, core processes) with controlled local variations.
- Lead process harmonization in finance, procurement, inventory, production planning, quality, IT, HR…
- Own data migration, cleansing and master-data governance.
- Plan and run testing (unit, integration, UAT), cutover and hypercare.
- Drive change management and training so users actually adopt the system.
- Report program status, risks and budget to the CFO and steering committee.
2. IT strategy, governance and policies
- Design, propose and implement the group IT strategy, guidelines and procedures in line with long-term objectives and operational needs.
- Set group IT policies, standards and architecture while allowing justified local needs.
- Establish an IT governance framework that ensures compliance, security and alignment with best practices.
- Set up an IT steering committee with representation from each company.
3. Business partnership and business applications (MIS)
- Partner with senior leaders in each company and function to understand their goals and operational challenges.
- Validate business requirements and oversee the selection, customization and implementation of business applications.
- Define, design and implement Management Information Systems (MIS) and reporting aligned with business objectives.
- Ensure seamless integration between the ERP and other systems (e.g. HRMS, quality, warehouse and plant systems).
- Manage and supervise the IT business-solutions team.
4. Pharma compliance and audit
- Align with the Compliance department on data protection, security and regulatory requirements.
- Prepare IT for internal, external, regulatory and customer audits, and close audit findings on time.
5. Infrastructure, network and day-to-day operations (business as usual)
- Run daily IT operations: infrastructure, networks, helpdesk/end-user support and current business applications, with clear SLAs per company.
- Ensure systems are robust, reliable and scalable for current and future needs.
- Supervise internal and vendor teams for troubleshooting, maintenance and end-user support.
6. Cybersecurity
- Lead the group information security program, working with all business units.
- Establish and coordinate the Information Security Committee.
- Own access control, security monitoring and incident response.
7. Disaster recovery and business continuity
- Put in place technology disaster recovery and business continuity plans for all companies.
- Test these plans regularly and update recovery procedures as the business and technology change.
8. Procurement, vendor and financial management
- Build the group IT budget, give a single budget view across companies and track spend per entity.
- Control and monitor spending so it stays within budget without lowering service quality.
- Validate business cases for IT projects against strategic priorities;
- Negotiate contracts, service agreements, licenses and equipment purchases; monitor vendor delivery against agreed targets.
- Run due diligence on vendors and review contract terms to reduce contractual risk, in line with company policies.
9. Team leadership
- Lead, develop and, where needed, restructure the IT team across entities.
- Set yearly objectives, coach regularly, and apply performance management tools, including appraisals.
- Identify training needs with HR and ensure the team attends assigned training.
- Build a motivated team with strong team spirit, cost consciousness and ethical conduct, and ensure smooth communication across departments.
10. Technology innovation
- Follow emerging technologies and industry trends.
- Assess and recommend new technologies that improve business performance.
- Develop and lead the company’s AI roadmap, including prioritization, implementation, and adoption.
11. General
- Perform other tasks within their competencies, as required by management and in line with company objectives.
- Contribute to the organizational culture and abide by company ethics, quality requirements and procedures.
Qualifications and Experience
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or Engineering.
- 15+ years of overall IT experience.
- 5+ years leading IT teams across infrastructure, business applications, and support.
- At least one full-cycle ERP implementation (from selection through go-live and hypercare), including at least one as project lead.
- Hands-on ERP module experience in finance and controlling, procurement, inventory/warehouse, and sales and distribution, plus integration with HRMS.
- Solid knowledge of infrastructure, networks, cybersecurity, disaster recovery, and business continuity.
- Proven experience in IT budgeting, building business cases (ROI/TCO), and negotiating and managing vendor contracts.
- Background in pharma, life sciences, FMCG, chemicals, or other regulated manufacturing.
- Understanding of IT general controls and data integrity.
- Fluent in English and Arabic.
Preferred
- MBA or Master’s in Information Systems or Business; a finance background is a plus.
- Experience in a group or regional IT role.
- Experience with multi-entity or multi-country ERP rollouts.
- Experience with more than one ERP platform.
- Experience setting up an information security program (e.g., ISO 27001).
- Direct pharma experience with GxP and Computer System Validation (CSV).
- Relevant certifications such as PMP/PRINCE2, ERP vendor certification, ITIL, CISM/CISSP, or ISACA (CISA/CGEIT).
Finance literacy: the candidate should be comfortable with financial processes, closing, consolidation, costing, IT budgeting, ROI and TCO analysis, and contract negotiation.
Competencies and personal attributes.
Ideal personality: a calm, persistent, diplomatic builder who is business-minded and cost-conscious, comfortable with ambiguity and conflict, able to stay neutral across companies, and a coach who develops the team.
