[ref. n66651504] Toa Payoh - IT Infrastructure Lead

Position Objective

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 100+ schools in 16 countries - in Europe & North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 85,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, ‘Thrive in a rapidly evolving world’.

The IT Infrastructure Lead is a key pillar of the Asia IT regional team.

This is the regional role responsible for ensuring that IT infrastructure in Asia is optimized, secure and resilient. The key aspects of this role are:

1. Asia IT infrastructure
2. IT Service Management
3. BRP/BCP
4. Project Management

This role reports to the Asia IT Director and works closely with the Asia IT PMO and Application Lead as members of the Asia IT Leadership Team responsible for transforming IT in Asia.

This role is also required to work closely with Global IT teams, local (school) IT teams, vendors, and consultants.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to those listed below:

1. Asia IT Infrastructure

• Overall responsibility for ensuring that IT infrastructure across Asia is robust and supports school operations. This includes building an infrastructure and technology roadmap in line with Regional IT strategy, incorporating new capabilities, planning for IT transformation, and retiring obsolete technologies.
• Partner with Finance to build IT infrastructure investment and support budgets (including license, maintenance and support costs), in line with the IT technology roadmap.
• Optimize infrastructure spend while adapting to changing priorities and emergent issues.
• Drive transformation activities for continuous improvement initiatives.

1. IT Service Management

• Close alignment with Global IT, oversight of local (schools).
• Monitors ITSM SLAs and KPIs across the region.
• Helps to drive operational convergence with Group IT ITSM platform and team.
• Manage IT support for Asia regional office (helpdesk, infrastructure, IT assets).

1. Project Management

• Manage capital build and regional infrastructure projects.
• Provide oversight to local (school) infrastructure projects.
• Conduct Post Implementation Reviews (PIRs).
• Close alignment with IT PMO on resources and timelines.

1. Disaster Recover Planning (DRP)

• Work with country/school IT Leads to ensure DRPs are in place across schools in Asia.
• Identify investments required to build DRPs (infrastructure).
• Oversight of annual DRP tests at schools.
• Support any BCP initiatives from IT perspective.

• At least 10 years of infrastructure experience.
• Experience in education sector and EdTech is an advantage.
• Experienced in IT transformation and change management.
• Able to orchestrate change through influence.
• Able to bring clarity to complex and ambiguous situations, uncover issues and facilitate their resolution.
• Able to operate in a matrixed organization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective and adaptive communication skills – ability to manage internal stakeholders of various levels
• Positive work attitude and strong team player – focus on making things happen Is a ‘go-getter’ who rises to meet challenges.
• Able to multitask and manage conflicting priorities.
• Has the ability to work effectively individually and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Self-starter who takes the initiative.
• Must be a good listener.
• The successful candidate will possess an entrepreneurial mindset; understanding that IT is a “business within a business” where we must earn the right to ‘sell’ our services to our internal customers.

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent. Advanced degree is a plus.
• Relevant experience in lieu of degree will be considered.
• Professional certifications (PMP, ITIL) will be an advantage.

• Group IT teams
• School IT Leads, Helpdesk Managers
• 3rd party solution providers and vendors
• Regional Senior Leadership
• School Senior Leadership (Heads of Schools, MDs of Operations)
• End users (as required) – students, teachers, and operations staff

• Office & School environment
• Ability to travel when required
• Extended working hours to facilitate PMO and project-related activity as required

• Working hours: 9:00 am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday, plus occasional meetings after hours.
• Medical Benefits: Covered under Group Medical Insurance
• Sick Leave/Hosp: 60 days
• Annual Leave: 20 days
• Referee Check: Required
• Background Check: Required

Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.