Role Summary

This role will be responsible for administration and safeguarding from an IT perspective, to help identify and improve business system needs and objectives, current operational procedures, problems, input/ output requirements, data scope and successfully deliver services to support the enterprise\xe2\x80\x99s strategy systems and networks installed in the International branch with full compliance with the Group IT, security, operations and BCP policies.

Role Description

Lead and manage the day to day activities within the IT data centre of the international branches. Act as a data centre supervisor responsible for and not limited to smooth operations of the systems, networks and reporting cycles.

Observes and promotes cost consciousness and efficiency, and enhance productivity, to minimize costs, avoid wastes, and optimize benefits for the bank

Act within the limits of the powers delegated to the incumbent and delegate authority to the respective staff and monitor exercise of the same.

Supervise IT vendors responsible for maintaining and supporting IT systems and networks.

Collaborate with architects, analysts and designers in the development and initiation of new software programs and applications.

Gather statistics and prepare written reports on the status of the programming process for discussion with management and/or team members.

Interact regularly with managers and business partners to field queries and questions.

Train, manage and provide guidance to users.

Work independently within own unit and will be required to supervise a team and maintain the systems of responsibility in case of international projects.

To assist customers in all their queries on Bank\xe2\x80\x99s product and seek solution to their requests

Maintain activities in accordance with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with internal departments/ units to achieve improvements in turn-around time.

Build and maintain strong and effective relationship with all other related departments and units to achieve the Group\xe2\x80\x99s goals/objectives.

Provide timely and accurate information to the external and internal Auditors, Compliance, Financial Control and Risk Functions as and when required.

Develop yearly budget for I.T. and project plan.

Responsible for ensuring service levels and quality metrics are achieved.

Accountable for ensuring effective utilization of available resources and a cooperative team atmosphere.

Ensure that architectural issues and core competency directions are considered and resolved across all I.S. Projects, including those involving internal development, package acquisition and outsourcing.

Ensure projects are completed within time, cost and quality requirements.

Apply and extend standardized methodology and analysis techniques to problem solving.

Research, document, and implement program requirements and specifications.

Write business analysis and business requirement specifications for all projects undertaken by the branch.

Consistently write, translate, and code software programs and applications according to specifications.

Oversee the quality assurance of program logic, data processing, and error resolution.

Administer diagnostic analysis of test results and deliver solutions to critical areas.

Determine, develop, and maintain user manuals and guidelines.

Take an active role in cross-departmental projects when needed.

Direct research on emerging application development software products, languages, and standards in support of procurement and development efforts.

Develop an awareness of programming and design alternatives.

Cultivate and disseminate knowledge of application development and testing best practices.

Establish vendor schedule to ensure proper coverage and support for systems.

Ensure backup DR readiness at the country level and head office level and conduct rehearsals. Update DR plan.

Responsible at DR site for bringing up applications, connecting all branches, monitoring, running EOD, starting normal replication and activate VPN concentrator.

Monitor the SLA level performance and ensure compliance with policies and regulations.

Dispatch all incoming messages to all the concerned departments and maintain archives of all messages.

Configure all IT hardware following H.O. specifications.

Maintain all external storage and media inventory.

Train Back-up on IT related tasks.

Produce all requested Equation Extracts.

Produce U.A.T. plan, U.A.T. issue documentation, and U.A.T. acceptance documents.

Produce test scripts for each and every department in the Branch.

Perform, supervise, and validate test scripts during projects.

Act as project manager for the branch; produce reports with updated status of the deliverables, issues and completion of tasks. Escalate all issues to H.O. management.

Develop the ability to perform and prioritize various support services.

Take decisive action to ensure speedy resolution of unresolved grievances or conflicts within Group Retail Banking staff in coordination with the incumbent\xe2\x80\x99s direct reports.

Proactively identify areas for professional development of self and undertake development activities

Seek out opportunities to remain current with all developments in professional field

Hold meetings with staff and assess their performance and the function\xe2\x80\x99s overall performance on a regular basis

Comply with all applicable legal, regulatory and internal compliance requirements including, but not limited to, the QNB Country Compliance manual; Group Compliance Policies and Procedures (Anti Money Laundering & Counter Terrorist Financing, Sanctions Policy, Data Protection Policy, Fraud Control Policy, Whistle Blowing Policy, Conflict of Interest and Insider Dealing Policy).

in accordance with the Branch Governance manual, contribute to and comply with the Branch\xe2\x80\x99s Risk Framework, consider Risk Appetite and promote a positive Risk Culture:

Understand and effectively perform your role under the Three Lines of Defence principle to identify, measure, monitor, manage and report risks.

Ensure systematic good outcomes for clients in accordance with Conduct Risk policy.

Support the framework of RCSA, KRI, Incident reporting and remediation, as appropriate, in accordance with the Operational Risk Management requirements.

Maintain appropriate knowledge to ensure to be fully qualified to undertake the role. Complete all mandatory training provided by the Bank and attain and maintain the required levels of competence.

Attend mandatory (internal and external) seminars as instructed by the Bank.

Ensuring high standards of data protection and confidentiality to safeguard commercially sensitive information. Maintaining utmost confidentiality with regards to customer and internal bank information obtained during the course of business and provide such information on a need to know basis only to Senior Management of QNB, Audit and Compliance functions, and relevant Regulators.

Maintains high professional standards to uphold QNB\'s reputation and strengthen its market leadership position.

All other ad hoc duties and/or activities related to QNB that management may request of the employee from time to time

Qualifications

University graduate majoring in Computer Science, MIS, Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field.

Master\xe2\x80\x99s degree preferred

Minimum of 7 years\xe2\x80\x99 experience in IT, preferable in the banking industry, with banking application knowledge

Excellent oral and written communication skills (including report writing) in English; with Arabic, French or applicable local language highly desirable