Head of IT at Sabi

Job Purpose

• We are seeking an accomplished and visionary Head of IT to lead and scale our technology infrastructure, security architecture, and application landscape. The ideal candidate is a dynamic technology strategist with deep technical skills in cybersecurity, core banking systems, infrastructure scaling, and network management. This role is pivotal in aligning IT strategy with business objectives, mitigating risks, and delivering reliable, secure, and scalable technology solutions across the organization.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Define and implement the IT strategy aligned with business goals and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee and manage the IT team, budget, vendors, infrastructure, and internal systems.
• Foster a culture of innovation, automation, and security-first principles.

Cybersecurity & Risk Management

• Design and execute enterprise-grade cybersecurity frameworks including threat prevention, detection, response, and recovery.
• Lead risk assessment and management processes to identify, analyze, and mitigate internal and external IT risks.
• Ensure organization-wide compliance with information security standards such as ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, or NIST.

Infrastructure & Scalability

• Architect and maintain highly available Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) solutions across cloud and on-premise environments.
• Design and implement vertical and horizontal scaling strategies to support business growth and operational efficiency.
• Drive improvements in system performance, reliability, and cost optimization.

Database Management

• Possess in-depth knowledge of SQL and NoSQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Lead database architecture design, replication strategies, indexing, and performance tuning.
• Ensure data integrity, availability, and security across the data lifecycle.

Core Banking Systems

• Demonstrated expertise in core banking applications such as Fineract, BankOne, or Finnacle, including integrations, customization, upgrades, and security patching.
• Collaborate with business units to optimize financial processes and reporting through technology.
• Evaluate and implement fintech innovation to enhance customer and back-office capabilities.

Programming & Software Engineering

• Strong familiarity with modern programming languages and frameworks (e.g., Java, Python, JavaScript, Node.js).
• Ability to guide teams in software development best practices, version control, and CI/CD pipelines. ● Provide high-level oversight and technical direction on internal applications and automation initiatives.

Network & System Administration

• Expertise in debugging network issues, latency analysis, and performance troubleshooting.
• Design and enforce robust network architectures including VPNs, firewalls, load balancers, and endpoint protections.
• Optimize WAN/LAN environments and enforce network security protocols.

Incident Management & Threat Response

• Lead IT incident management, root cause analysis, and resolution planning for security breaches or system failures.
• Establish and manage a SOC (Security Operations Center) and SIEM systems.
• Regularly conduct penetration tests, red/blue team exercises, and vulnerability assessments.

Security Algorithms & Best Practices

• Deep understanding of cryptographic algorithms, secure hashing, encryption/decryption mechanisms, and secure key management.
• Implement improved security use cases through advanced algorithms, AI/ML integration for anomaly detection, and behavioral monitoring.
• Maintain familiarity with industry advancements and emerging threats to proactively strengthen organizational security.

Requirements

Special Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in IT leadership roles, with at least 4 years in a strategic executive capacity.
• Proven track record of managing complex IT ecosystems in regulated industries (preferably banking, fintech, or financial services).
• Hands-on experience with core banking platforms (e.g., Fineract, BankOne, Finnacle) and related integrations.
• Demonstrated history of overseeing IT infrastructure, cloud strategy, security architecture, and enterprise systems at scale.

Candidate Specification

• Motivated by the mission of Katsu
• Pragmatic with quantitative and analytical ability and attention to detail
• Driven, independent thinker and leader who can juggle multiple projects simultaneously with fast-changing priorities
• High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency.
• A focus on execution. Willing and able to get hands dirty.
• Flexibility to roll up your sleeves and attack problems and projects as they arise, where you will need to set out a clear structure, method and outcomes yourself .