Job Description

The ICT Applications Manager leads a team of technical resources responsible for the provisioning of fit for purpose corporate software applications.The ICT Applications Manager provides Enterprise class software design, deployment & implementation including day-to-day support to the end-user population. He/She is familiar with industry developments in the software/applications space incl. Modern Systems Architecture, SDLC, Databases, Software development methodologies, SaaS etc.The role involves proactive environment monitoring, identifying, investigating and resolution of technical software incidents / problems. The ICT Applications Manager is responsible for ensuring software applications environment security planning, implementation and monitoring. This includes the application of policies to the Applications environment (administration & usage). He/She is expected to provide Support to the system owners and end-users, as well as day-to-day administration of systems hosted locally, cloud-based and other 3rd party hosted deployments.Job RequirementsSkills/Qualifications:

• Information Technology Qualification (Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent)
• Advanced business/systems analysis skills
• Strong understanding of software development, standards & tools.
• Must have strong skills on management of change related to changes in business processes, software/applications and organisational structures.
• Must be able to define clear vision for the team
• Must have strong inter-personal skills
• Able to supervise senior and highly skilled staff
• Must have strong business principles
• Highly motivated, self-starting individual with ability to achieve results through strong leadership and motivation,
• Pragmatic approach to problem solving
• System reporting and database query scripting
• Sound, proven problem analysis and resolution skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to articulate ideas and thoughts
• Budget proposals
• Budget control and reporting
• Risk management (operational / project related)
• Ability to work independently & a positive team player
• Customer Focused skills - Self-motivated and able to work under pressure, Customer orientated, listening skills, Proactive, Good decision making skills, Good analytical skills, be able to interact at all levels.

• Oversee the ICT Applications environment to provide support for the users of the company's business applications, and to ensure the integrity of the Applications and their associated Data.
• Is responsible for selection and implementation of software tools and solutions to improve or automate SAPREF's business processes, while at the same time ensuring that his/her team and/or contracted resources are in a position to support these tools post implementation (e.g. train the team on new or updated technologies, negotiate support contracts and control licensing matters related to each application).
• Formulate strategies to ensure the long term sustainability of SAPREF's Business Applications - includes assessment of versions and patch levels of underlying operating system, programming tools, database software (DBMS), and other technical supporting software
• Identify business and process opportunities, and make technical or process recommendations to Application Owners from a support, performance, and technical enhancement perspective
• Provide plans to manage application related business risks (with special reference to system security, user roles, and documentation) and ensure quality delivery through deployed business applications.
• Implement frameworks and standards related to the design, development, deployment and maintenance/support of information and software systems.
• Advise ICT Management Team on capacity requirements and performance capability for infrastructure and operating platforms.
• Contribute to the development and testing of Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity plans for Business Applications and underlying/supporting software
• Provide team leadership (which includes assigning tasks or work, holding regular team meetings, setting context, conducting performance evaluations, mentoring, and coaching) while balancing user demands and maintenance/support imperatives.
• Must lead development of strong relationships between the Applications support team and all internal/external customers (users of SAPREF applications).
• Must provide budget and cost controlling necessary to maintain/update the organization's portfolio of software applications.
• Proficiency in Backup /Restore & Disaster Recovery.
• Proficiency in documenting processes and monitoring performance metrices.
• Ability to build effective, trusted Customer relationships and to ensure that their IT capabilities evolve to meet changing business needs, identify strategic demand for new capabilities/ services.
• Analyzes business requirements to determine and recommend solution design based on acceptable software deployment architecture/IT strategy.
• Handles technical problem escalations to resolution incl. making use of established relationships with Software vendors.
• Plan, control, guide the execution of DR tests
• Full IT asset management
• Budget management applicable to the corporate applications environments.
• Contract management incl. 3rd party performance management.
• Promote cybersecurity considerations w.r.t. application solutions.
• Provide technical input towards IT strategy development
• Drive compliance with upgrade & patch management policies & procedures.
• Standardizes process and procedures and provides continual improvement.

SAPREF