Manager - Enterprise, Applications, Data & Integration

About the Role

We are seeking a visionary and results-driven Manager of Enterprise Applications and Integration to lead the strategic and operational excellence of KAUST’s core institutional platforms. This pivotal role is responsible for shaping the future of the university’s digital ecosystem by overseeing critical systems such as SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), the Student Information System (SIS), Learning Management System (LMS), and Customer Relationship Management (CRM), as well as software development and integration initiatives. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with senior business leaders to ensure these applications are secure, modern, and fully aligned with KAUST’s mission of advancing research excellence, student success, faculty teaching, and administrative efficiency. This position combines strategic leadership with hands-on technical accountability, requiring a deep understanding of enterprise architecture, Agile/DevOps methodologies, and continuous improvement to drive transformative change.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Roadmap Development: Partner with business owners to define and execute a forward-looking enterprise application roadmap that transitions legacy, on-premise systems to modern, agile SaaS platforms, ensuring alignment with institutional strategy and objectives.
• Vendor and Partnership Management: Lead complex vendor relationships, including negotiations, service level agreements (SLAs), and oversight of system integrators for major institutional platforms such as Ellucian, SAP, Microsoft, and Blackboard.
• Data Democratization and Integration: Champion the elimination of data silos by ensuring seamless integration across academic, financial, and student affairs departments, fostering a unified and data-driven institutional environment.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to key business leaders, including the Registrar, Chief Financial Officer, Chief People Officer, Vice-Presidents, and their Directors, translating their business strategies into actionable enterprise application initiatives.
• Delivery Framework Modernization: Drive the evolution of delivery frameworks by transitioning teams from traditional waterfall methodologies to product-led, Agile, and DevOps approaches tailored for complex enterprise applications.
• Application Lifecycle Management: Implement robust lifecycle management practices, including automated testing, rigorous release management, and scheduled maintenance aligned with the academic calendar to ensure operational stability and minimal disruption.
• Security and Compliance: Collaborate with the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Enterprise Architecture teams to safeguard highly sensitive institutional data, ensuring strict adherence to regulations such as PDPL, NCA directives, and institutional governance policies.
• Team Leadership and Development: Lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse team of application specialists, analysts, developers, and database administrators, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and high performance.
• Skills Upskilling and Transformation: Orchestrate targeted upskilling initiatives to pivot team competencies from legacy systems toward modern cloud-based administration, SAP integrations, and Microsoft cloud architectures, ensuring the team remains at the forefront of technological advancements.
• Operational Excellence: Establish clear work allocation frameworks, team goals, and transparent accountability structures to cultivate a high-velocity, service-oriented mindset within the team.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with other IT teams to dismantle technical sub-silos, promote psychological safety, and foster a collaborative culture characterized by transparency, growth mindset, and high performance.

Qualifications and Skills

To excel in this role, candidates must possess a blend of technical expertise, strategic acumen, and leadership capabilities. The ideal candidate will hold a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, software engineering, data/technology management, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. Professional certifications or equivalent experience in enterprise architecture, cloud platforms, Agile/DevOps, IT service management, SAP, or integration technologies are highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to build, scale, and manage high-performing technical application teams, particularly during periods of technological migration or structural change.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience managing significant budgets and high-value contracts.
• Deep technical credibility in enterprise applications, integration architectures, and modern cloud platforms.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable business strategies.
• Experience leading Agile/DevOps transformations and implementing modern delivery frameworks in enterprise environments.
• Commitment to fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within a diverse team.