Director, IT Regional Leader

The Business Relationship Manager, IT Regional Leader will act as the primary relationship manager with business partners and stakeholders in a region ensuring engagement, establishing trust, and facilitating two-way communication between the Corporate IT employees, the regional leadership team, regional vendor partners, and the IT senior leadership team. The person in this role is accountable for resolving general issues, managing the regional human resources and legal processes in conjunction with the remote line managers, and aligning business and IT strategy for the business in the region. The person in this role ensures the strategic direction and vision of Corporate IT is communicated, executed against, and updated where appropriate to support of the geography’s unique needs. The person in this role is also accountable to ensure employee engagement, productivity and continuous improvement, in support of the IT VP Tower leaders. The Business Relationship Manager, IT Regional Leader will be a problem solver - will consider all aspects of providing the services or products spanning development through application support working closely with partner IT groups in those areas and with enterprise architecture. S/he is not directly responsible for system project delivery or application support but represents the combined vision and quality of the service provided to business partners working within a matrixed organization. S/he may be asked to manage vendors in the region on behalf of other parts of the IT organization.

Relationship Management, Business Outcomes and Advocacy:

• Deliver leadership and take responsibility for the success of Corporate IT and its contributions in the region, in support of the regional Business area(s).

• Partner effectively within a matrix, generating outcomes in teams without line management responsibility. Functional strategy and resources are owned by a peer, but the successful execution, two-way communication, and productivity environment are the responsibility of this role.

• Develop a high level IT vision for the region, aligned with the defined strategies of the product lines and/or business areas.

• Develop needed regional IT processes, which may include the establishment of governance, planning and prioritization.

• Design, develop, implement, and monitor regional IT solution roadmaps that consist of a multiyear plan including major programs, projects, upgrades, support levels, SLAs, service volumes, business capabilities, maintenance plans and costs.

• Monitor and stay current of technological, legal and operational changes that affect the product area and roadmap

• Drive the evaluation and prioritization of initiatives on the product roadmaps,

• Proactively manages demand and prioritization

• Take a leading role in product and vendor evaluations

Communication:

• The role will supplement other operating lines of communication by providing a comprehensive view of IT services and has overall accountability that communication is working.

• Overall comprehensive communication with business partners and stakeholders

• Organizational and relationship issue resolution independently, and at times with assistance of VP

• Facilitation of regular communications and governance meetings

Delivery Oversight:

• Sequencing, structuring and establishment of regional IT programs and projects

• Ongoing review and evaluation of services delivered

Business Relationships:

• Partner with and develop strong stakeholder relationships with business leaders. This includes working closely with business units and business owners on a global basis

Virtual Team Leadership:

• Maintain a positive, results orientated work environment, building partnerships and modeling teamwork, communicating to the team in an open, balanced and objective manner. As appropriate, responsible for organizational growth and personnel management.

QualificationsKnowledge and Experience:

• Business facing and/or relationship management experience

• Experience working with cross functional teams in the successful completion of assigned deliverables

• Experience of managing large and complex programs/projects in a dynamic and technical environment

• Experience in technology/software, project management, quality management, planning, customer service, and process improvement

• Engaged with operations and project management lifecycle processes, procedures and tools

• Lead and presented technical information in face-to-face presentations to varied audiences; including executive management

• Experience in working business process issues and implementing IT solutions

• Minimum 5 years in Product Management and/or Relationship Management roles

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

• Advanced degree in a relevant technical area (Information Systems/Technology Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Project Management (PMP), Relevant Business Area such as Accounting, Pharmacovigilance) or equivalent experience.

Language:

• Native language and proficiency in verbal and written English.

Skills:

• Detail oriented yet attuned to the corporate “big picture”. Ability to drive strategy and to dive deep where necessary

• Aptitude to comprehend, adapt and succeed in diverse business areas

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to communicate and facilitate meetings with executive management

• Ability to organize, plan and present solutions for large complex efforts

• Process design, improvements and evaluation

• Client focused approach to work with sense of ownership and responsibility for overall quality of services

• A flexible attitude with respect to work assignments and new learning

• Ability to manage multiple and varied tasks with enthusiasm and prioritize workload with attention to detail

• Willingness to work in a matrix environment and to value the importance of teamwork.

• Expert knowledge of responsible product or business area

• Expert knowledge of SDLC requirements in a GxP regulated industry (if applicable)

• Ability to translate strategic objectives into objectives/tasks specific to team members