Regional Director - IT Operations at NewGlobe

NewGlobe supports visionary governments to transform public education systems, the cornerstone of a prosperous, equitable, and peaceful society. With a comprehensive system transformation platform and data-driven educational services, NewGlobe delivers rapid and dramatic improvements in learning outcomes at state and nationwide scale. Through building impactful partnerships and programmes, NewGlobe ensures that all children have access to an education that will develop their full potential and create a foundation for growth and prosperity.

NewGlobe leverages more than a decade of educational experience and proven impact in integrated school management, teacher professional development, instructional design innovation, technological system support, child-centered classroom practice, and parent engagement -  all grounded in learning science - to ensure each teacher is empowered to engage children in transformational learning, and all children have the opportunity to develop to their full potential. Every day, NewGlobe supports governments to solve what were once seen as intractable problems, and by doing so, ensures this generation will be able to grow up to lead more fulfilled lives, while simultaneously building economic prosperity for themselves, their communities, and the globe.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Regional Director - IT Operations

Location: Nigeria
Employment Type: Full Time

IT Operations

• IT Operations is responsible for last mile delivery of technology, ensuring that everyone, from school staff to executives, all have the functioning technology they need to excel at their jobs. Our portfolio involves proprietary, offline-first, cloud-based applications running in challenging environments - inconsistent power, unreliable network connectivity, technically unsophisticated users.
• IT Operations also oversees the technical infrastructure that supports and connects all of our global offices, as well as the back-office systems that power our call centres, finance teams, people teams, and so forth.
• Within the Technology Group, IT Operations also holds the distinction of being the only department with a dedicated presence in each of our programmes, meaning that it is also the key conduit and primary advocate for all aspects of Technology, ensuring the work done by the other Technology departments delivers on its potential.
• This means that in addition to the traditional portfolio of IT Operations - infrastructure, asset management, governance, etc. - we expect our IT Operations team members to be comfortable working directly with our software development and product management teams, and to use data and analytics to operate at scale and with leverage.

About the Role

• As a Regional Director of IT Operations, you will provide functional oversight for multiple independent programmes, working with and mentoring the IT Operations Manager of each programme to implement best practices, solve programme-specific challenges, and ensure the transparent and reliable flow of information.
• To achieve this, you will require deep knowledge of NewGlobe’s tools and processes, an exceptional ability to collaborate, listen, and communicate, and a passion for continuous improvement. And you will need to be a fast-moving and resilient problem solver - while simultaneously being obsessed with ensuring the scale and sustainability of our operations.  In short, you will be the glue that holds together the complex technical offering that enables the entire model to work. You’ll need to understand the technology, people, and processes that make it all go.
• Keeping our teachers and pupils at the centre of everything we do, your ability to lead, develop, and engage with both in-programme and shared services teams in a fast paced environment is critical to maintain service levels and drive growth.
• This role will be a member of the core Technology Leadership team, alongside other leaders in IT Operations, as well as the heads of Software Development and Product Management. This role reports to the Vice President, IT Operations.

What You Will Do

• Overseeing multiple IT Operations teams to ensure they are implementing core systems and processes with fidelity and to best effect for their programmes;
• Enabling schools to succeed by focusing on IT Operations core mission of ensuring a working device in the hands of each and every professional in our schools - and in the field, and in our support offices.
• Communicating and maintaining core IT Operations playbooks and ensuring programme teams leverage NewGlobe’s core knowledge bases;
• Providing additional horsepower for strategic initiatives for your programmes;Acting as the thought leader for continuous strategic and operational improvements in our programs.   
• Monitoring relevant KPIs and ensuring the achievement of operational performance  
• Developing the domain knowledge, critical thinking, project management, and leadership skills of the IT Operations teams through guidance, mentoring, and growth opportunities.
• Driving operational excellence in each programme on key IT Operations metrics, ensuring our IT Operations teams can understand, communicate, and devise appropriate action plans around these metrics.
• Ensuring the integrity and operational effectiveness of all relevant transactional and analytical systems
• Using tools and techniques to anticipate problems and be tirelessly data driven. Advocate relentlessly for - and personally embrace - the use of data and reports to drive facts-based and at-scale decision making.
• Being the trusted Tech advisor of the Managing Directors and associated leadership teams for your programmes - not just on matters related to IT Operations, but also for product strategy, software systems, and partnerships.

What You Should Have

• A “build the aeroplane while we’re flying it” mindset - we’re trying to do something ridiculously ambitious - and fast! That means having a vision and plan for how to get us to massive scale, while also being willing to roll up one’s sleeves and get dirty fixing problems. It’s going to be hard work.
• Experience in IT support across a large network of distributed locations, including expertise with large mobile device networks, including hardware and software.
• Strong communication, both written and verbal - the ability to “tell the story” and articulate the “so what”  at an executive level
• Proven project management experience, capable of creating effective delivery strategies and managing multiple priorities in a fluid and dynamic environment.
• A keen sense of ownership, speedy execution, and scrappiness.
• A track record of successful leadership, with an ability to hire, train, mentor, and motivate staff and make sure they have clear direction and understanding of the mission.
• Data-driven mentality - deep understanding of the management of data driven business environments with focus on reliable tracking and measurements, data integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Understanding of ITIL/ITSM, Information Security/Governance, and Identity Management best practices.
• An interest in and ability to travel across locations, visiting numerous sites to meet local teams, understand the local context, and “walk the floor”.
• A passion for lifelong learning. You believe you can always do better. You welcome constructive criticism and provide it freely to others. You know you only get better tomorrow when others point out where you’ve missed things or failed today.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.