Head of Information Technology

As the Head of Information Technology at our Financial Services company in Thrissur, Kerala, you will play a crucial role in leading the technology function and driving digital transformation. Your strong foundation in software development, testing, and project execution, along with expertise in vendor management and IT governance, will be key in enhancing system performance and ensuring a secure IT infrastructure. **Key Responsibilities:** - **Technology Leadership** - Lead the design, development, deployment, and support of enterprise applications (web, mobile, and backend). - Stay updated with modern technology stacks and guide the adoption of appropriate tools and frameworks. - Ensure robustness, scalability, and performance of internal platforms and customer-facing solutions. - **Software Development & Testing** - Review and contribute to the codebase as needed across full-stack technologies. - Establish and enforce best practices for code quality, security, and performance. - Oversee functional, regression, and user acceptance testing (UAT) processes. - **Project & Program Management** - Drive IT projects end-to-end including planning, resource allocation, timelines, and budget tracking. - Coordinate cross-functional teams and ensure timely project delivery. - Implement Agile/Scrum-based methodologies for product and system development. - **Vendor & Partner Management** - Evaluate, select, and manage relationships with third-party IT service providers and software vendors. - Monitor SLAs, resolve escalations, and ensure timely delivery from external partners. - Negotiate contracts and ensure cost-effective procurement of software/hardware/services. - **IT Operations & Infrastructure** - Manage enterprise IT infrastructure including networks, servers, cloud services, databases, and cybersecurity. - Ensure business continuity, backup protocols, and disaster recovery mechanisms are in place. - **Compliance & Risk Management** - Ensure compliance with regulatory and data protection norms (e.g., RBI, ISO standards, etc.). - Work with internal audit and risk teams to address IT vulnerabilities and gaps. In addition to the responsibilities outlined above, you will also be expected to have the following qualifications: - **Desired Candidate Profile:** - Education: B.Tech/B.E. in Computer Science, IT, or related field. MBA or equivalent is a plus. - Experience: 10+ years in IT, with at least 3 years in a leadership role in BFSI or Fintech domains. - Strong hands-on experience in programming (e.g., Java, .NET, PHP, Python), frontend/backend frameworks, and databases (SQL/NoSQL). - Experience managing web and mobile app development, APIs, and integration projects. - Deep understanding of software testing methodologies and QA automation tools. - Proven ability to manage large-scale IT projects, budgets, and external vendors. - Strong interpersonal, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.,