Head of IT-Latest IT jobs UAE 2025
- Head of IT Governance
- Location: Dubai, UAE
- Contract Type: Permanent | ???? Full-time
- Compensation: AED 45,000 – AED 50,000 per month (Approx. AED 540,000 – AED 600,000 per year)
- Job Reference: JN-072025-6789772
- Recruiter Contact: James Jefferson
The Opportunity
A reputable regional bank is looking for a highly seasoned and strategic Head of IT Governance to become part of their leadership team in Dubai. This is a critical position that will define the direction of the bank’s IT governance framework, provide strong risk management, and head a multidisciplinary team across various core areas of IT compliance, continuity, and control.
If you possess a robust background in IT governance, ideally in financial services or consulting, and a strong history of leading governance teams, aligning against regulatory frameworks, and delivering high-level advisory to C-suite leaders—this opportunity provides a unique chance to leave a lasting legacy on a mission-critical function at a leading organization.
About the Client
Our client is one of the preeminent financial services organizations with an established presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Known for its stability, innovativeness, and customer focus, the organization is a pioneer in digital transformation and operational resilience.
With substantial investments in IT infrastructure, security, and online banking, the organization is creating a future-proof setup for its clients, staff, and stakeholders. Along this journey, it puts governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) as the focus of its strategic imperatives.
The Head of IT Governance will work within this ambitious, forward-thinking culture, reporting to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and collaborating closely with risk, audit, compliance, and regulatory groups.
Role Overview
You will be the Head of IT Governance and will be responsible for designing, implementing, and managing the enterprise IT governance framework to ensure technology operations and investments align with business goals and are in accordance with internal policies and external regulations.
You will be responsible for overseeing cross-functional teams in four major areas:
- Compliance Management
- IT Service Continuity (Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery)
- Security Governance (non-operational)
- Vendor Governance & Contract Administration
- You will serve as a strategic advisor to the CIO, delivering risk-based advice, maturity evaluations, and regulatory convergence proposals. The position is suitable for a candidate with a strong IT GRC background, especially in the banking or financial sector, and experience within or collaborating with Big 4 consultancy organizations.
Key Responsibilities-Latest IT jobs UAE 2025
IT Governance Frameworks & Strategy
Develop, execute, and refine the bank’s IT governance framework, aligning with business strategy, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices (e.g., COBIT, ITIL, ISO 27001).
Create governance policies, standards, procedures, and control mechanisms to track IT performance and risk exposure.
Develop frameworks to assess IT investment decisions, prioritization models, and resource use.
Risk, Compliance & Audit Engagement
Work closely with Internal Audit, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Regulatory Affairs, and Compliance to support and align enterprise risk posture.
Track and ensure compliance with domestic and international regulatory requirements like CBUAE, PCI DSS, GDPR, ISO, and Basel III.
Function as the principal liaison for regulatory audits and inspections, coordinating documentation, issue resolution, and control improvements.
Team Leadership & Operational Oversight
Lead, manage, and mentor governance teams in the four core domains above, to create a high-performance and accountable culture.
Set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) for all governance activities and report regularly to senior leadership.
Work with IT Operations, Cybersecurity, Enterprise Architecture, and Project Management to facilitate control integration across the IT lifecycle.
Business Continuity & IT Service Continuity
Direct the IT Service Continuity framework to ensure that complete Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP) and Business Continuity Plans (BCP) exist, are properly tested, and are aligned with enterprise continuity plans.
Asure major systems and applications have Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO), and oversee resilience maturity assessments.
Security & Vendor Governance
Implement information security governance processes, aligned with CISO and cybersecurity teams, in the areas of policies, third-party risk, and regulatory reporting.
Oversee IT vendor governance processes, such as contract compliance, performance measurement, SLA enforcement, and risk analyses.
Serve as the technology procurement review, sourcing strategy, and risk review governance lead for third-party engagements.
Ideal Candidate Profile
✅ Required Experience & Qualifications
10+ years of continuous experience in IT governance, risk, and compliance.
Background in banking and financial services, or Big 4 consulting with emphasis on IT risk and control advisory (EY, PwC, KPMG, Deloitte).
Experience establishing and managing multi-domain governance teams, including compliance, continuity, and vendor management.
Strong regulatory and industry standards knowledge: COBIT, ISO 27001, ITIL, NIST, PCI DSS, CBUAE, GDPR, etc.
Experience in advising CIOs and executive management on IT risk, control maturity, audit preparedness, and strategic programs.
Desired Certifications
CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) – Highly preferred
CRISC (Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control)
COBIT Foundation / Practitioner Certification
ITIL 4 Foundation / Intermediate
CGEIT or PMP is a plus
Skills & Characteristics
Excellent leadership and team-building skills
Good stakeholder management and communications skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
Analytical thought with the capacity to make sense of intricate data and yield actionable insights
Heavily disciplined, self-driven, and at ease working in regulated, high-risk settings
Why Join This Institution?
You’ll get a strategic seat at the table of a reputable financial institution that’s committed to governance, compliance, and digital transformation.
What you can look forward to:
Direct impact on IT governance frameworks that underpin key banking services throughout the MENA region
Chance to work with C-suite leaders, such as CIO, CRO, CISO, and Audit and Compliance Heads
A high-performance culture that sees IT risk as a strategic differentiator rather than mere compliance
Access to career advancement opportunities, professional certifications, and promotions within the institution
Delivering high-impact projects, such as regulatory audits, cloud transformation governance, fintech integrations, and operational resilience programs
How to Apply
If you are an IT governance strategic leader with a commitment to compliance, risk reduction, and operational excellence, we encourage you to apply.
Application Requirements:
Updated CV or résumé with an explicit description of your governance background
Optional: Short cover letter describing your suitability for this position
Certifications or references (on request)
link: https://www.michaelpage.ae/job-detail/head-it-governance/ref/jn-072025-6789772
Contact:
James Jefferson
Quote job reference: JN-072025-6789772
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further discussion.
Job Summary Table
| Position | Head of IT Governance |
| Location | Dubai, UAE |
| Contract Type | Permanent |
| Salary | AED 45,000 – AED 50,000/month |
| Industry | Financial Services |
| Function | Technology – Governance, Risk & Compliance |
| Reporting Line | Chief Information Officer (CIO) |
| Preferred Background | Financial Services, Big 4 Consulting |
| Key Certifications | CISA, COBIT, CRISC, ITIL |
| Job Reference | JN-072025-6789772 |
