Regional IT Director

Overview

This leadership role entails overseeing IT operations throughout a region covering more than four medium to large countries encompassing multiple divisions and business areas. The position functions as the primary IT liaison for the BTS organization and divisional IT, guiding IT solution delivery, supporting system usage, and steering regional IT strategic alignment through participation and chairmanship of the Regional Council.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal point of contact for all IT affairs within the region.
• Lead consolidation and integration efforts into the BTS framework by preparing essential materials and adhering to integration milestones.
• Report regularly to site executive leadership for Business Advisory Committee decision support.
• Coordinate delivery of both application and infrastructure IT solutions aligned with BTS offerings.
• Maintain an up-to-date portfolio of projects and applications while executing business user requirements with excellence.
• Facilitate communication between BTS, divisional IT, and site stakeholders.
• Build strong collaborative relationships with other Abbott IT organizations and internal customers to support business projects.
• Manage IT portfolio for multiple business units or geographic areas, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and efficient execution of IT programs and projects.
• Lead, develop, and manage the regional IT team and participate in affiliate strategic decisions.
• Oversee affiliate-specific IT and infrastructure solution delivery in connection with business lines.
• Play a strategic advisory role in executive management decisions relating to IT solutions.
• Maintain direct business relationships to ensure transparent communication and relationship management across all management levels.
• Oversee IT portfolio administration and ensure adherence to corporate global solutions guidance.
• Function as the quality and regulatory liaison for IT, coordinating audit activities, enforcing compliance with policies and handling IT controls findings and remediation.
• Take ownership of local IT supplier management audits and alert global teams on emergent IT regulations.
• Coordinate comprehensive IT delivery responsibilities across applications and infrastructure.
• Manage cybersecurity practices including policy enforcement, collaboration with legal for personal data protection, and compliance with payment card industry standards.
• Lead the Regional IT Council, ensuring alignment on IT strategies, policies, and procedures across the region.
• Communicate and align business-aligned IT strategies with demand management processes and support functions including knowledge transfer and compliance.
• Manage work prioritization, integration activities, and affiliate IT requests as a regional or country IT manager.
• Serve as business liaison and council member providing strategic IT insights for affiliate decisions.
• Drive collaboration across IT teams to optimize outcomes for the affiliate.
• Oversee the entire IT solution delivery lifecycle including requirements gathering, testing, change management, training, and documentation.
• Ensure IT operational compliance with corporate and local policies.
• Lead and manage IT staff, budgeting, and internal audits specific to IT functions.
• Maintain efficient organizational structures linking to global IT frameworks to ensure guideline compliance.
• Create a motivating workplace fostering staff development within IT teams.
• Support core infrastructure services operation, including computing environments, servers, PCs, peripherals, and applications.

Professional Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Informatics or related field; MBA is preferred.
• Minimum 15 to 20 years of IT experience, preferably in the healthcare sector.
• Fluency in English along with at least one local language; additional languages are advantageous.
• Strong integrity, reliability, and ability to meet deadlines and customer expectations.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with a capacity to engage with all organizational levels.
• Excellent coordination and project management skills to oversee service provider activities.
• Technical proficiency spanning standard computing environments including business systems, Windows OS, Microsoft Office, ERP, LAN/WAN, network security, and system security.
• Basic accounting understanding and familiarity with commercial business processes like finance, controlling, purchasing, and logistics.
• Superior communication skills to engage internally and externally at multiple levels.