IT Director

About the Company

A privately owned energy firm headquartered in Abu Dhabi is spearheading the development of a major LNG export terminal in Alaska, alongside its marine, pipeline, and administrative infrastructure. Currently in the development phase, the organization is expanding from a small founding team to build the corporate and project delivery structures.

Role Overview

The IT Director will be the inaugural senior IT leader, tasked with designing and implementing the company's technology framework across both Abu Dhabi’s corporate headquarters and the US-based project entity.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and take full ownership of the IT strategy, architecture, and planning for both the corporate and project arms.
• Establish the foundational corporate IT systems from scratch, including identity and access management, cloud infrastructure, document and collaboration tools, endpoint management, networking, and telephony solutions spanning two geographic locations.
• Evaluate, select, and deploy essential enterprise systems such as ERP, finance, HR, procurement, document control, and project controls; overseeing vendor relationships throughout.
• Implement robust cybersecurity policies and governance with continuous threat monitoring, incident handling, and disaster recovery processes that comply with critical energy infrastructure standards and US regulatory frameworks.
• Design IT infrastructure suited for remote operations and construction sites in Alaska, tackling challenges like low connectivity, harsh climate, onsite networks, field device management, and support systems.
• Manage the IT financials including budget formulation and controlling capital and operational expenditures, besides supervising contracts with managed service providers, systems integrators, and software suppliers.
• Ensure adherence to data protection and residency laws across UAE and US territories and uphold compliance obligations to lenders, partners, and regulators pertaining to IT and cybersecurity.
• Recruit and guide the IT team as the company scales from final investment decision through construction phases.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of 12 years' experience in IT, including at least 5 years serving as Head of IT or IT Director reporting directly to senior management.
• Demonstrated ability to establish IT functions from the ground up, including involvement in greenfield projects, new entity launches, or significant carve-outs.
• Proven involvement in oil & gas, LNG, power, or intensive industrial capital projects, preferably with exposure to stages spanning development, construction, and operations.
• Strong technical expertise in cloud platforms such as Azure and/or AWS, Microsoft 365 ecosystem, identity management, and enterprise-grade networking.
• Hands-on experience directing cybersecurity efforts within critical infrastructure or operational technology contexts; familiar with NIST CSF, ISO 27001, or comparable standards. Knowledge of OT/ICS security and IT-OT convergence is advantageous.
• Complete lifecycle experience in ERP system selection and implementation.
• Robust skills in commercial negotiations and managing large-scale vendor contracts worth millions.
• Experience coordinating operations across diverse jurisdictions and time zones, with a preference for US engagement.
• Educational background in computer science, information systems, or engineering, complemented by professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM, TOGAF, or cloud architecture credentials.
• Fluent proficiency in English.
• Willingness to be stationed in Abu Dhabi with frequent travel to the US and worldwide availability without restrictions.