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Overview:
Summary:
Technical Capability:
Soft Skills:
Education
Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, The First Group is a dynamic, integrated global property developer with a fast-growing portfolio of upscale hotels, residential properties, F&B brands and real estate asset management services. Since our launch in 2005, we have carved a highly successful niche offering unrivalled property investment opportunities in high-growth markets to clients from more than 70 countries worldwide.
We were among the first developers to identify the tremendous potential in providing private investors the opportunity to purchase hotel guestrooms, suites and serviced apartments in our collection of upscale properties located in highly popular locations across Dubai. We back up our success with a list of International Property awards along with strategic partnerships with companies such as Wyndham Hotel group, Millennium Hotels, Emirates Airlines and Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts.
To successful candidates, we offer a diverse progressive corporate working environment with clear growth potential along with award winning sales & marketing tools, a state of the art showroom featuring Dubai’s only virtual helicopter tour and endorsements from a number of international sporting celebrities.
Job Description:
Summary:
Across The First Group Hotel and Restaurant divisions, the Director of IT – Hospitality is responsible for ensuring that all major applications, interfaces, and technology components operate smoothly. Under the direction of the SVP of Technology, this role works independently and in close collaboration with vendors, subject matter experts, and stakeholders. Managing a growing group of IT specialists, he or she provides strategic guidance and oversight for day-to-day operations, not being scared to jump in the trenches when needed. Deliver consistent IT support services to the business to satisfy both internal customers and hotel guests. Identify and recommend new technology solutions to improve operational efficiencies throughout the Hotel and F&B portfolio.
Responsibilities:
- Strong knowledge and practical experience of hospitality solutions and integrations. For example – PMS (Opera, Protel etc), POS (Simphony, etc), CRS (Amadeus etc), Financials (SunSystems), Material Control (FMC), Telephone Systems
- Coordinate with business partners and develop strategies to implement various technology solutions effectively
- Liaise with department heads to gather requirements and determine deliverables according to business expectations
- Administer effective delivery of all technology projects within an appropriate budget and timeframe, providing regular feedback to the relevant stakeholders
- In collaboration with Senior Stakeholders and according to the business priorities and requirements, develop a practical roadmap and technology plan and ensure adherence
- Evaluate and suggest new technologies and systems to improve operational efficiency, guest satisfaction and improved competitiveness
- Maintain knowledge on emerging trends and initiate appropriate decisions for various technology
- Administer maintenance, licensing and purchase of all information technology software systems
- Analyse all business objectives and recommend solutions to all technology investments across the Hotel and F&B divisions
- Establish, administer and maintain software and hardware installations that provide IT services to all departments across the portfolio
- Manage Vendor/Partner relations for technology supplies and project implementations, as well as interfacing with the business stakeholders to completion
- Ensure Vendor/Partners comply with SLAs in terms of timeframes, deliverables, compliance and performance metrics
- Ensure that excellent customer service and communication is a hallmark of the IT department
- Ensure effective use of resources to provide a 24/7 1st & 2nd level support service
- Nurture and coach the IT team on technology best practices, process improvement, problem solving, skills development, and stakeholder engagement.
Desired Skill & Expertise:
Technical Capability:
- Strong technical skills with the ability to troubleshoot.
- Experience with Server Storage
- Experience with Ethernet networking, LAN/WAN network technologies, Wi-Fi, IP addressing, DHCP, DNS, VLAN and GRMS.
- Experience with planning, architecting, implementing, and maintaining IT systems in a high-availability and multi-property environment
- ITIL and ITSM practical experience and knowledge; prior experience in managing a helpdesk
- Experience with virtualized computing environments including VMWare, FusionCube and HyperVisor
- Experience managing backup Solutions and Disaster Recovery
- Experience with Audio & Video systems, IPTV and in-room technologies
- Hands on knowledge of Microsoft products and platforms, such as Office 365, Microsoft Windows server and desktop technology, Active Directory/Azure AD, SCCM, IIS, DNS and DHCP
- Thorough understanding of IT security concepts and principles
Soft Skills:
- Excellent customer service skills
- Excellent listening, oral and written communication skills
- Ability to communicate with, present to and manage the expectations of Senior Stakeholders (SVP, CXO) within the organisation
- Detail oriented, self-motivated, and able to work independently
- Excellent organizational, problem solving and time management skills
- Must exhibit highest levels of confidentiality
- Must be able to convey information and ideas clearly and to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form
- Must be able to evaluate and select among alternative courses of action quickly and accurately and work well in stressful, high-pressure situations
- Must be able to show initiative in job performance, including anticipating what needs to be done before it becomes a necessity
- Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying the issues raised by Associates, Supervisors, Department Heads, Senior Management, Guests and Vendors
- Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from system users in a professional and friendly manner
- Understands high-priority scenarios and acts accordingly
- Strong administrative abilities and organizational skills
- Ability to work under pressure, manage ambiguity, change and time constraints
- Vendor management experience ability to drive business value from partners
- Team player
Education
- A bachelor’s degree in computer science, or a related field
