JOB PURPOSE :

The person will be responsible for defining and driving Jio Institutes overall information technology vision, strategy, and operations. The role involves conceptualizing, developing, and implementing innovative and scalable IT systems, platforms, and solutions that support academic, research and administrative functions. The role also includes managing the IT team and related functions to deliver comprehensive support services for classroom operations, events, and other institutional activities. The position ensures the delivery of reliable, secure, and high-quality IT services, fosters technology-enabled innovation across the Institute, and builds a future-ready IT infrastructure that supports current needs and long-term institutional growth.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES :

Description Functional Strategy and Plans :

- Develop and implement Institutes IT strategy and roadmap that ensures use of latest and best suited technologies for efficient functioning of the Institute across academics, research and other areas.

People Management :

- Direct and engage the IT team by overseeing their recruitment, training, development and performance management in order to ensure high levels of technical competence and commitment to Jio Institute.

Change Management :

- Contribute to the management of change through own team by providing inputs for and partaking in change initiatives, programs and projects considering international leading practices, changes in international standards and changes in the external environment which demands proactive action plans.

IT Projects Portfolio :

- Liaise with the representatives of the major areas of the institution to identify emerging IT needs and activity volumes to establish a baseline of IT requirements for the short-, medium- and long-term.

- Direct and guide the comprehensive translation of institute needs into an IT plan and assess IT initiatives based on objective criteria such as criticality for the institution, impact on teaching and research ability, risk of failure for the university etc. to identify the IT priorities.

- Develop an IT implementation plan with work streams, forecasted budgets, resources, timelines and performance indicators to steer IT efforts in a coordinated and efficient manner.

IT SLAs and Audits :

- Provide overall direction to the IT Support Services function to ensure the effective development, implementation and maintenance of quality assurance processes and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to ensure the provision of high-quality IT services to the university, in accordance with the agreed upon quality standards.

- Ensure the effective execution of internal and external IT audits and the collaboration of all relevant parties to achieve defined quality standards.

IT Architecture and Systems :

- Direct the conceptualization, planning, development and testing of new IT solutions, systems and architecture in order to ensure the fulfilment of end-users requirements and the creation and maintenance of a fit-for-purpose university-wide IT infrastructure.

- Direct and guide the continuous improvement of the IT architecture, security, systems and processes in order to ensure they are cost-efficient and fit-for-purpose.

IT Support Services :

- Oversee the effective provision of internal IT support services to academic and non- academic functions, including IT and Audio-Visual set-up in classrooms and other spaces, hardware and software configuration etc. in order to ensure that all end-user IT needs are fulfilled in an efficient and timely manner.

- Direct the delivery of awareness sessions and end-user trainings in order to enhance their IT capabilities and reduce the number of basic IT work orders, thus optimizing IT resources.

Vendor Relations :

- Develop an IT sourcing plan and establish effective relationships with suppliers to ensure effective vendor relationship management and sound IT sourcing channels for the institution.

- Oversee end-to-end vendor lifecycle management, including selection, negotiation, performance monitoring, and contract compliance.

- Ensure vendors deliver high-quality, cost-effective, and timely IT products and services aligned with institutional needs and standards.

- Drive continuous improvement by evaluating vendor performance, identifying risks, and implementing corrective actions where required.

Technological Improvement :

- Conduct research and remain abreast of the latest developments in the IT areas within higher education institutions, including online teaching and learning instruments, knowledge sharing platforms etc. in order to ensure that the institution progresses towards the implementation of best practice IT frameworks and systems.

Budgets and Plans :

- Recommend the IT budget and continuously monitor financial performance versus the budget so that the institution is aware of anticipated costs, areas of unsatisfactory performance are identified and potential areas of cost reduction or performance improvement opportunities are capitalized upon.

Policies, Procedures and Processes :

- Develop and oversee the implementation of the department policies, procedures and controls covering all areas of the departments activity so that all relevant procedural requirements and standards are fulfilled while ensuring that Jio Institute delivers world- class services to all its stakeholders and constituencies.

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS :

Internal :

- Provost

- Faculty, Staff and Students

- Administrative and Non-Academic staff

- Technology Advisors and partners

External :

- IT Service Providers

- OEM and Vendors

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS :

Minimum Qualifications :

- Bachelors degree in Computer Science/ Engineering or other similar field.

- Masters in Business Administration, Information Systems or equivalent is desirable.

Minimum Experience :

- 12 to 15 years of experience in Information Technology in a higher education institution or equivalent