Khawla Ali

Accomplishments:
• Provided dynamic leadership for IT Department operations and development; established IT policies and procedures; defined and executed IT strategy: technical infrastructure services and service provision to support evolving needs of the Organization.
• Played a key role in enhancing organization’s effectiveness and efficiency by defining, delivering, and supporting strategic plans for implementing information technologies. Evaluated and selected a students’ management system for the institute.
• Instrumental in restructuring the IT department and organization infrastructure in terms of hardware, software and networking.

Key Responsibilities:
• Devising, implementing and leading consistent improvement in IT policies, procedures, and day-to-day workflow; identifying value addition opportunities to integrate emerging technologies with existing processes.
• Directing infrastructure projects, delineating project objectives, establishing milestones, monitoring adherence to master plans/schedules, as well as identifying and allocating resources to ensure project completion as per established plans.
• Selecting and implementing ERP system for the finance and HR departments - MS Dynamics GP.
• Following PMI standards to manage projects through the project lifecycles of initiation, planning, execution and closure.
• Managing security and privacy of the Information Systems; maintaining organization-wide adherence to compliance requirements, security policy, IT controls and best industry practices for attentive risk mitigation.
• Supervising a large team of skilled IT developers and personnel; providing performance feedback, delegating assignments and arranging training opportunities to secure staff empowerment and self-sufficiency.

Accomplishments:
• Served as Member of management and technical committees, for the purpose of creating short
and long range plans.
• Proffered strategic and tactical leadership in establishing the organization’s technical vision, aligning IT goals Vs business goals, designed and implemented IT frameworks and led all aspects of the organization’s technological development.

Key Responsibilities:
• Planned, implemented and delivered projects to build organizational capabilities in sync with technology roadmap; liaised with key stakeholders to discuss transition and transformation initiatives.
• Evaluated user requirements and system functionality and ensuring that IT facilities meet these needs.
• Oversaw hardware/software procurement and acquisition activities; conducted feasibility analysis to prioritize optimized budget allocation and cost-effective vendor sourcing/selection.
• Liaised with technology companies for obtaining technological solutions aimed at mitigating costs and augmenting productivity in the organization.
• Successfully negotiated contracts and monitored preparation of management and maintenance contracts for hardware and software.
• Provided regular updates to the senior management on implementation success, potential delays and resource adjustments needed in order to achieve project goals.

Key Projects to Credit:
• Fleet Management System
• Document Management System
• Courier Application
• Intranet and SharePoint Portal

Inducted as Head of Development Unit, charted phenomenal growth curve through exceptional performance to merit promotion as IT Manager.

Designation Chronology:
• April 2003 - August 2007: IT Manager
• April 2001 - March 2003: IT Deputy Manager
• November 1995 - April 2001: Head of Development Unit

Accomplishments:
• Instrumental in leading Information Technology department that provides support to 70+ sites and 800+ users across the country.
• Steered a range of technology projects, devised IT strategies, and instituted IT security policies.
• Facilitated working relationships with many government departments and commercial enterprises to provide shared services in order to enhance the policy of the e-government.
• Member of administrative and functional committees and trusted Advisor between the business groups and technology as well as driving force for enhancements of IT services.
• Served as technical escalation point in support of high risk and complex operational challenges.

Key Responsibilities:
• Evaluated and identified organizational needs, to establish operating procedural standards, recommended IT infrastructure requirements and up gradations, to ensure acceptable levels of security, disaster management and data recovery plans to maintain integrity of the corporate computer network.
• Dexterously met the challenges of handling complex process improvement projects. Managed technology transfer and customization of turnkey IT solutions.
• Established work relationships and agreements with major technology providers in the market, including Microsoft and Oracle Corp.
• Identified the project goals and scope, built a structured approach to successfully complete the projects in the allotted time. Determined annual budgets for the department, commensurate with the objectives of the organization and the needs of other departments.
• Defined job descriptions for the staff of the department, built a productive, world-class, IT team through smart recruitment, mentoring and career development. Monitored the identification and documentation of policies and procedures for each section.
• Spearheaded negotiations for key Service Management agreements, IT SLAs and vendor SLAs pertaining to hardware and software, maintenance, licensing and related services.

Key Projects to Credit:
• Evaluation and selection of an Analysis and Reporting tool
• Oracle Financial Upgrade
• Data Warehousing Project
• Upgrading Windows 2003 and Exchange 2003
• Development of Intranet site using MS SharePoint Portal
• The infrastructure upgrade through the use of ATM Lines
• Application of network security systems through the implementation of IPS and Network Monitoring Systems

Accomplishments:
• Successfully established the Technical Support and Help Desk sections. Ensured consistent delivery of rapid, outstanding service and support, resulting in a high level of user satisfaction.
• Concomitantly handling human resource initiatives along with associated areas of recruitment, personnel engagement & development, manpower planning as well as maintaining a high Emiratization ratio.
• Successfully adopted the Emiratization strategy increased the proportion of locals in the IT department from 25% to 65%.

Key Responsibilities:
• Mapped system functions, built conceptual models, analyzed business processes, functions and procedures to determine most effective business systems software that best satisfy user needs.
• Incorporated enhancements in existing systems by analyzing/identifying areas for modification, investigated new technologies and presented recommendations to the management.
• Facilitated prompt resolution of hardware/support issues; served as an integral desktop support source to personnel, administrative staff and other end users to drive operational excellence.
• Prepared, maintained, and tracked progress against the project plan. Proactively protected the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information, provided reports to superiors regarding the effectiveness of network & data security.
• Ascertained optimal man-power availability in the IT department. Oversaw recruitment, conducted interviews/tests of applicants. Motivated team members to enhance performance, developed result-oriented team.
• Supervised numerous projects, identified project requirements and negotiated with companies and the application of the systems, such as:
- E-Commerce
- Call Centre System
- Time Attendance System
- E-Dirham System
- Document Management System

Accomplishments:
• Spearheaded the Development Section, led a highly qualified team of 6 programmers, 2 Systems Analysts and Data Base Administrator.
• Dexterously planned and supervised Y2K Project- transition of system to the third millennium across the department.

Key Responsibilities:
• Determined technical goals in consultation with top management, made detailed plans to accomplish these goals subsequent to understanding of technology/business practices.
• Owned the scoping, architecture and design and implementation of all the information systems that will support company’s business initiatives.
• Identified the needs of other departments and the programming and development of the appropriate systems.
• Acted as Project Manager to assess and select an Enterprise Resources Planning System - Oracle Financials ERP. And Technical Project Manager for the implementation of Oracle Financial and Payroll Systems.

Previous Professional Experiences:
October 1994 - October 1995: Analyst Programmer, Al Futtaim Co.