
Robert Walters
Chief Information Officer (CIO) ā IT & Digital Transformation
- Permanent
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Experience 10 - 15 yrs
Job expiry date: 28/05/2026
Job overview
Date posted
13/04/2026
Location
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Salary
AED 60,000 - 100,000 per month
Compensation
Job description
The Chief Information Officer (CIO) / Head of IT & Digital Transformation role is a senior executive leadership position based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, responsible for defining and executing the organisationās enterprise technology and digital strategy in alignment with long-term business objectives. The role oversees the entire technology function including enterprise IT, cybersecurity, operational technology (OT), infrastructure, applications, digital platforms, and enterprise systems, ensuring that technology acts as a strategic enabler of business growth, operational efficiency, innovation, and performance. The CIO leads enterprise-wide digital transformation programmes aimed at modernising systems, processes, and capabilities across the organisation, while identifying and implementing opportunities for automation, advanced analytics, and emerging technologies. The role ensures high availability, reliability, and security of all technology environments and drives optimisation of enterprise platforms including ERP systems and core infrastructure. The position also provides strategic leadership across operational technology and ensures seamless integration between IT systems and operational platforms to support real-time visibility, efficiency, and operational resilience. A key responsibility includes establishing and maintaining a robust cybersecurity and risk management framework aligned with global standards, covering both IT and OT environments. The CIO leads a large technology organisation of 60+ professionals across cybersecurity, enterprise IT, operational technology, infrastructure, applications, and digital solutions, fostering a high-performance, innovative, and collaborative culture. The role includes governance of technology investments, programme delivery, vendor partnerships, and budget management, while ensuring strong stakeholder engagement with executive leadership to deliver measurable business value. The CIO also acts as a trusted advisor on technology innovation, digital enablement, and emerging technology trends, ensuring that the organisation maintains a forward-looking and competitive technology landscape.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Define and deliver the organisationās enterprise technology and digital strategy aligned with long-term business objectives and executive leadership priorities
- Lead enterprise-wide digital transformation programmes to modernise systems, processes, platforms, and capabilities across the organisation
- Oversee enterprise IT operations including infrastructure, applications, cloud platforms, ERP systems, and service delivery ensuring system availability, reliability, and security
- Provide strategic leadership across operational technology (OT) and ensure integration between enterprise IT and operational systems for real-time visibility and efficiency
- Establish and maintain enterprise cybersecurity and risk management strategies covering IT and OT environments in compliance with global security standards
- Lead and manage a technology organisation of 60+ professionals across six departments including cybersecurity, enterprise IT, OT, infrastructure, applications, and digital solutions
- Manage technology governance frameworks including investments, programme delivery, vendor relationships, budgets, and strategic planning
- Engage with executive leadership and senior stakeholders as a trusted advisor on technology innovation, digital transformation, and emerging technology trends
Experience & skills
- Must be a UAE National with eligibility for senior executive leadership appointment
- Demonstrate experience as a senior technology executive in complex, operationally intensive environments
- Proven track record of leading enterprise IT strategy and large-scale digital transformation programmes
- Experience managing large multidisciplinary technology teams of 50+ professionals across multiple domains
- Strong knowledge of enterprise IT systems, operational technology (OT), cybersecurity, infrastructure, and digital platforms
- Demonstrated experience delivering large-scale technology modernisation and transformation initiatives
- Strong leadership, strategic planning, governance, and stakeholder management capabilities
- Bachelorās or Masterās degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; MBA or postgraduate qualification preferred