[Maldives] Director/ Head of IT (Banking)

This position will lead the Bank’s Information Technology division, ensuring the seamless daily operation of all IT systems and the effective management of core banking systems to ensure system stability, security, and scalability. This strategic role will oversee the bank’s technology infrastructure, drive innovation, ensure cybersecurity, and lead cloud adoption efforts to support business goals. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the full spectrum of Technical banking operations , ensuring the smooth and efficient running of critical banking applications such as core banking systems, payment gateways, and digital banking solutions.
• Oversee the end-to-end management, optimization, and performance of the Core Banking System, ensuring high availability, minimal downtime, and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to design, implement, and optimize banking systems, ensuring high availability and reliability for customers and financial transactions.
• Drive the integration of banking platforms with third-party services, ensuring seamless interoperability and compliance with industry standards and local regulations.
• Work closely with internal departments to design, implement, and enhance IT solutions aligned with business needs and service delivery objectives.
• Lead the integration of banking systems with external services and ensure full compliance with local and international regulatory standards.
• Develop and enforce comprehensive IT security policies and controls to protect sensitive data and IT assets, ensuring compliance with frameworks such as GDPR, PCI-DSS, and ISO/IEC 27001.
• Lead the bank’s cloud strategy, including the migration of legacy systems to cloud platforms (AWS) to achieve operational efficiency and scalability.
• Establish robust monitoring and incident response systems to mitigate cyber threats, system failures, and data breaches.
• Manage vendor relationships, licensing, and IT budgets, ensuring cost-effective delivery of technology services and long-term IT sustainability.



Key Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Advanced certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect or similar are highly desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of IT experience in the banking or financial services sector.
• At least 4 years in a senior IT leadership role (Manager/

Director/ Head 

of IT or equivalent) with direct accountability for core banking systems, daily IT operations, and IT transformation.

• Extensive hands-on experience managing Core Banking, banking applications, and integrated technology ecosystems.
• Experience in managing a team of 20-30 employees.
• Proven track record in leading cloud migration, cybersecurity implementations, and infrastructure modernization in a regulated banking environment.
• Experience of setting up a new bank system from scratch: Core Banking, Cards, Cloud Infrastructure
• Experience working with, managing the system remotely
• Deep knowledge of banking IT operations, core banking platforms, and financial transaction systems.
• Experience with AWS and hybrid/cloud-based IT environments.
• Strong understanding of IT security frameworks, firewalls, intrusion detection, data encryption, and access control.
• Strategic leadership with the ability to manage cross-functional IT teams and drive performance.
• Excellent communication skills, with fluency in English (written and spoken) to effectively engage with internal and external stakeholders.