Head of Information Technology

Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan

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Posted date	24th June, 2025	Last date to apply	7th July, 2025
Country	Pakistan	Locations	Karachi
Category	Others
Type	Contractual	Position	1

Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan is looking for a seasoned and dynamic senior leadership team member for the following role:

Head of Information Technology | Karachi

The Head of IT will provide leadership to align IT strategy and process improvement initiatives with the organization’s healthcare goals and quality standards. S/he will drive the development and implementation of innovative, scalable IT solutions and robust infrastructure, ensuring seamless support for evolving care models and cross-functional projects. A key focus will be on embedding strong information security practices and compliance with international standards such as ISO, NABH, and JCI, while fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness and risk management. S/he will also lead and shape the organization’s digital health strategy and implementation, ensuring alignment with overarching objectives, and managing the execution of digital health programs and initiatives. Her/his strategic oversight will also encompass business continuity planning and support for critical healthcare programs like the National Health Insurance (NHI), positioning the organization as a leader in healthcare technology innovation and operational excellence. S/he will uphold the ethical principles and values of integrity, respect, compassion and inclusiveness in all his/her endeavors.

Leadership and Institutional Collaboration: Together with the CEO and other members of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), s/he will play a crucial role in influencing the institutional strategic policy direction to ensure that IT projects are implemented smoothly and within budget, as well as in guiding heads and managers in all IT matters in accordance with institutional guidelines. Establish strong alliances with sister agencies locally and internationally to leverage the technological advantage wherever possible by fostering partnerships where agencies actively exchange technology, share best practices, and support each other’s growth.

Key Objectives of the Role:

Strategic IT Leadership & Process Improvement

Provide leadership for IT and process improvement programs aligned with the organization’s strategic goals and healthcare quality standards.
Lead the design, implementation, and continuous enhancement of process improvement methodologies, ensuring IT solutions effectively support evolving care models.
Foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning by developing IT staff capabilities and embedding ‘change champions’ across departments.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to lead cross-cutting projects, ensuring integration and alignment with organizational priorities.
Ensure robust staff engagement and communication mechanisms throughout all IT and process improvement initiatives.

Technology Strategy & Infrastructure

Assess the internal and external technology landscape to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
Evaluate and optimize existing systems architecture, recommending and implementing scalable IT solutions that meet organizational needs.
Ensure IT infrastructure readiness to support ongoing and upcoming projects, coordinating with local and international IT teams.
Monitor emerging technologies and assess their potential business impact, advising senior leadership accordingly.

Information Security

Provide strategic leadership in developing and enforcing robust information security policies and controls to protect patient data, IT infrastructure, and organizational assets in compliance with healthcare regulations and industry standards.
Lead organization-wide cybersecurity awareness initiatives and collaborate with stakeholders to mitigate risks, manage incidents, and maintain a strong security posture aligned with business objectives.

Budgeting and Planning

Develop and manage the annual IT budget, including forecasting, cost analysis, and resource allocation, to ensure alignment with organizational goals and optimize technology investments.
Collaborate with finance and other departments to monitor budget performance regularly, implement cost control measures, and provide financial guidance to support cost savings and risk mitigation in IT projects.

Business Continuity & Risk Management

Develop and maintain comprehensive business continuity, disaster recovery, and crisis management plans related to IT and process improvement.
Ensure IT systems and processes comply with data confidentiality, security, and ethical standards.

Digital Health Initiatives

Lead and shape the organization’s digital health strategy and implementation, ensuring alignment with overarching objectives, and manage the execution of digital health programs and initiatives.

Quality & Compliance

Lead the implementation and integration of ISO, NABH, and JCI accreditation standards across all departments, embedding compliance into daily operations.
Support the organization’s participation in the NHI program by providing expert IT guidance as required.

Team Management & Development

Manage, mentor, and motivate a high-performing IT team, including permanent staff and short-term consultants.
Oversee performance management, professional development, and succession planning in line with organizational talent management strategies.
Promote a collaborative and inclusive work environment that values diversity, equity, and respect.

Project & Vendor Management

Oversee IT project lifecycles, including planning, resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder communication.
Manage relationships with technology vendors and service providers to ensure timely delivery and adherence to project scope and budget.
Provide regular project status updates and proactively address challenges related to risks, timelines, and resources.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

Master’s degree or equivalent in Information Technology, Healthcare Informatics, Business Administration, or a related field.
Professional certifications in IT management, project management (e.g., PMP), or healthcare quality standards are highly desirable.
Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in IT within healthcare or a related sector.
Proven track record of successfully implementing ERP, complex IT projects, monitoring & evaluation systems and process improvement initiatives.
Experience of working with multi-stakeholder environments, including government, healthcare providers, and vendors.
Strong leadership and strategic thinking capabilities with proven experience managing multidisciplinary teams.
In-depth knowledge of healthcare IT systems, primary and secondary care processes, and international quality standards (ISO, NABH, JCI).
Excellent project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Superior interpersonal, and communication (verbal and written) with fluency in English and Urdu.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and relevant IT management tools.
Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality, ethical practice, and cultural sensitivity with a strong commitment to organizational values.
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects efficiently under tight deadlines.
Dynamic and resilient leader with a collaborative mindset and professional integrity.
Proactive, creative, detail-oriented, and capable of independent decision-making with a positive attitude.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview.

AKHS is committed to reducing our impact on climate and the environment and have set ourselves the goal of striving for net-zero carbon operations by 2030. All staff are expected to take part in making this a reality. The Head of IT accompanied with his/her Line Manager(s) is expected to identify and understand which aspects of his/her work have most impact on the environment, and define tasks, work, and personal goals within his/her work plan to reduce these impacts and bring AKHS closer to net zero.