What Jobs are available for IT Governance in Bahrain?

Company Description Job Description

VAM Systems is currently looking for IT Governance & Architecture Lead for our Bahrain operations with the following skillsets & terms and conditions:

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field (Master's degree preferred).
• Professional certifications such as TOGAF, COBIT, ITIL, CISA, CISSP, or PMP highly desirable.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in IT governance, enterprise architecture, or related roles.
• Proven experience working within a banking environment is a prerequisite.
• Strong knowledge of IT risk management, compliance, and audit processes.
• Demonstrated track record of defining and implementing enterprise architecture strategies and governance frameworks.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities for executive-level reporting.
• Analytical mindset with problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to balance governance rigor with business agility and innovation.
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity principles, security architecture, and InfoSec standards (e.g., ISO 27001, NIST).
• Understanding of emerging technologies, cloud adoption, and digital transformation trends.

Key Interfaces

• Internal: Head of IT, IT Security, InfoSec, EPMO, Business Units, Risk & Compliance, Internal Audit.
• External: Regulators, External Auditors, Vendors/Consultants.

Key Responsibilities

IT Governance

• Develop, implement, and maintain the IT governance framework, policies, and procedures aligned with COBIT, ITIL, and internal compliance requirements.
• Define and monitor IT performance metrics, SLAs, and KPIs to ensure accountability and transparency.
• Lead IT risk management practices including risk identification, assessment, and mitigation planning.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, security standards, and audit findings.
• Support IT committees, steering groups, and senior management with governance reporting and recommendations.

Enterprise Architecture

• Establish and maintain enterprise architecture standards and frameworks (applications, data, technology, and security).
• Assess current state architecture and develop target state aligned with business strategy and transformation initiatives.
• Provide architectural oversight for new projects, ensuring alignment with IT strategy, security, and integration requirements.
• Review and approve solution designs, ensuring consistency, scalability, and cost efficiency.
• Maintain technology roadmaps, ensuring planned evolution of systems and infrastructure.

Collaboration & Advisory

• Act as a trusted advisor to IT leadership, providing insights on governance, compliance, and architecture matters.
• Collaborate with business, IT, and InfoSec stakeholders to ensure solutions are aligned with enterprise standards and security requirements.
• Provide guidance on vendor evaluations and technology acquisitions to ensure architectural alignment and cost-effectiveness.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and best practices across IT teams.

Terms and conditions

Joining time frame: days)

Additional Information

Terms and conditions:

Joining time frame: maximum 4 weeks

Company Description
Job Description

VAM Systems
is currently looking for
IT Governance & Architecture Lead
for our
Bahrain
operations with the following skillsets & terms and conditions:

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field (Master's degree preferred).
• Professional certifications such as TOGAF, COBIT, ITIL, CISA, CISSP, or PMP highly desirable.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in IT governance, enterprise architecture, or related roles.
• Proven experience working within a banking environment is a prerequisite.
• Strong knowledge of IT risk management, compliance, and audit processes.
• Demonstrated track record of defining and implementing enterprise architecture strategies and governance frameworks.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities for executive-level reporting.
• Analytical mindset with problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to balance governance rigor with business agility and innovation.
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity principles, security architecture, and InfoSec standards (e.g., ISO 27001, NIST).
• Understanding of emerging technologies, cloud adoption, and digital transformation trends.

Key Interfaces

• Internal: Head of IT, IT Security, InfoSec, EPMO, Business Units, Risk & Compliance, Internal Audit.
• External: Regulators, External Auditors, Vendors/Consultants.

Key Responsibilities
IT Governance

• Develop, implement, and maintain the IT governance framework, policies, and procedures aligned with COBIT, ITIL, and internal compliance requirements.
• Define and monitor IT performance metrics, SLAs, and KPIs to ensure accountability and transparency.
• Lead IT risk management practices including risk identification, assessment, and mitigation planning.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, security standards, and audit findings.
• Support IT committees, steering groups, and senior management with governance reporting and recommendations.

Enterprise Architecture

• Establish and maintain enterprise architecture standards and frameworks (applications, data, technology, and security).
• Assess current state architecture and develop target state aligned with business strategy and transformation initiatives.
• Provide architectural oversight for new projects, ensuring alignment with IT strategy, security, and integration requirements.
• Review and approve solution designs, ensuring consistency, scalability, and cost efficiency.
• Maintain technology roadmaps, ensuring planned evolution of systems and infrastructure.

Collaboration & Advisory

• Act as a trusted advisor to IT leadership, providing insights on governance, compliance, and architecture matters.
• Collaborate with business, IT, and InfoSec stakeholders to ensure solutions are aligned with enterprise standards and security requirements.
• Provide guidance on vendor evaluations and technology acquisitions to ensure architectural alignment and cost-effectiveness.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and best practices across IT teams.

Terms and conditions
Joining time frame: days)
Additional Information

Terms and conditions:
Joining time frame:
maximum 4 weeks

Job Objective:

To drive the development, communication, and implementation of corporate governance, ethics and compliance, as well as contribute and enhance the control process and STC's reputation as a strong corporation by following a systematic approach to ensure the optimization of the organization's performance.

Key Job Responsibilities

Strategic Contribution

• Lead the development of the Corporate Governance and Compliance department's strategy by ensuring that stc's relevant long and short-term plans are effectively converted into the appropriate functional objectives
• Control expenditure against approved divisional budget on a regular basis and investigate and reconcile any significant variances to ensure effective cost control

Governance

• Develop and communicate the proper company-wide governance mechanisms to optimize all relevant policies, procedures, systems, and processes in order to ensure standardization, efficiency, and alignment to the company's needs and applicable regulations
• Develop appropriate performance metrics and scorecards to effectively review corporate governance and compliance performance and identify potential alarming areas
• Remain abreast of Governance best practices in the telecommunications industry and lead relevant reviews and/or updates to existing processes, recommend and implement changes where needed, ensuring proper documentation of new processes and procedures to support compliance
• Manage the stc Bahrain Authority Matrix/Decision Rights framework, ensure cascading of stc Group DRF to stc Bahrain
• Develop and update as required stc Bahrain Board of Directors and sub-committee charters
• Lead the development and cascading of stc Bahrain Code of Ethics across the organization

External Compliance

• Develop stc Bahrain corporate governance report and ensure compliance with all MoIC requirements
• Conduct periodical reviews of governmental/external rules, regulations and laws to ensure stc's adherence to all relevant laws and regulations
• Analyze new rules and regulations issued by government authorities and evaluate their relevance and impact on stc's operations, in order to take the necessary action based on results of impact assessment
• Develop a detailed compliance management program, compliance universe, compliance tracking guidelines and methods, and ensure their proper implementation
• Lead the continuous tracking and reporting of external compliance to ensure highest level of compliance and risk mitigation if necessary

Compliance with Internal Policies

• Conduct periodical reviews of the existing policy landscape to ensure highest level of compliance
• Introduce potential improvements and/or new internal policies to ensure optimization of stc Bahrain's operations and alignment with the applicable laws and regulations
• Develop a detailed compliance plan and ensure its successful implementation across the organization
• Lead tracking and reporting of internal compliance to ensure accuracy of data collected and subsequent reporting

Qualification & Experience:

Minimum requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Law, Business Administration, or relevant field

Preferred

• Master's degree in Law, Governance Management or relevant field
• GRC Certification

Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in Governance Management, or Compliance Management. The incumbent should have at least 6 years of experience at a relevant supervisory level, managing cross functional teams, ideally in the Telecommunication sector

Role Impact:

• The Manager Corporate Governance & Compliance plays a critical role in ensuring that the organization adheres to legal standards and internal policies, thereby safeguarding its reputation and operational integrity
• This position drives the development, implementation, and monitoring of corporate governance frameworks and compliance programs that align with regulatory requirements and industry best practices
• By fostering a culture of accountability and ethical business conduct, the manager directly impacts risk mitigation, stakeholder confidence, and sustainable business growth

Key Job Competencies:

• Regulatory Knowledge
  : Expertise in relevant laws, regulations, and corporate governance codes applicable to the industry
• Risk Management
  : Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate compliance risks across business functions
• Leadership
  : Strong leadership skills to guide teams and influence organizational culture towards compliance excellence
• Analytical Thinking
  : Proficiency in analyzing complex compliance issues and devising effective solutions
• Communication
  : Excellent verbal and written communication skills for reporting, training, and stakeholder engagement
• Project Management
  : Capability to lead governance initiatives, audits, and compliance training program
• Ethical Judgment
  : Commitment to uphold high ethical standards and promote transparency within the organization

Business Unit

stc

Sector

STRATEGY & GOVERNANCE

Location

Bahrain - Manama

Contract Type

Full Time

Closing Date

21-Oct-2025

Job Objective

To drive the development, communication, and implementation of corporate governance, ethics and compliance, as well as contribute and enhance the control process and STC's reputation as a strong corporation by following a systematic approach to ensure the optimization of the organization's performance.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Contribution

• Lead the development of the Corporate Governance and Compliance department's strategy by ensuring that stc's relevant long and short-term plans are effectively converted into the appropriate functional objectives.
• Control expenditure against approved divisional budget on a regular basis and investigate and reconcile any significant variances to ensure effective cost control.

Governance

• Develop and communicate the proper company-wide governance mechanisms to optimize all relevant policies, procedures, systems, and processes in order to ensure standardization, efficiency, and alignment to the company's needs and applicable regulations.
• Develop appropriate performance metrics and scorecards to effectively review corporate governance and compliance performance and identify potential alarming areas.
• Remain abreast of Governance best practices in the telecommunications industry and lead relevant reviews and/or updates to existing processes, recommend and implement changes where needed, ensuring proper documentation of new processes and procedures to support compliance.
• Manage the stc Bahrain Authority Matrix/Decision Rights framework, ensure cascading of stc Group DRF to stc Bahrain
• Develop and update as required stc Bahrain Board of Directors and sub-committee charters
• Lead the development and cascading of stc Bahrain Code of Ethics across the organization

External Compliance

• Develop stc Bahrain corporate governance report and ensure compliance with all MoIC requirements
• Conduct periodical reviews of governmental/external rules, regulations and laws to ensure stc's adherence to all relevant laws and regulations.
• Analyze new rules and regulations issued by government authorities and evaluate their relevance and impact on stc's operations, in order to take the necessary action based on results of impact assessment.
• Develop a detailed compliance management program, compliance universe, compliance tracking guidelines and methods, and ensure their proper implementation.
• Lead the continuous tracking and reporting of external compliance to ensure highest level of compliance and risk mitigation if necessary.

Compliance with Internal Policies

• Conduct periodical reviews of the existing policy landscape to ensure highest level of compliance.
• Introduce potential improvements and/or new internal policies to ensure optimization of stc Bahrain's operations and alignment with the applicable laws and regulations.
• Develop a detailed compliance plan and ensure its successful implementation across the organization.
• Lead tracking and reporting of internal compliance to ensure accuracy of data collected and subsequent reporting.

Qualification & Experience

Minimum requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Law, Business Administration, or relevant field

Preferred:

• Master's degree in Law, Governance Management or relevant field
• GRC Certification

Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in Governance Management, or Compliance Management. The incumbent should have at least 6 years of experience at a relevant supervisory level, managing cross functional teams, ideally in the Telecommunication sector.

Role Impact

• The Manager Corporate Governance & Compliance plays a critical role in ensuring that the organization adheres to legal standards and internal policies, thereby safeguarding its reputation and operational integrity.
• This position drives the development, implementation, and monitoring of corporate governance frameworks and compliance programs that align with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• By fostering a culture of accountability and ethical business conduct, the manager directly impacts risk mitigation, stakeholder confidence, and sustainable business growth.

Key Job Competencies

• Regulatory Knowledge: Expertise in relevant laws, regulations, and corporate governance codes applicable to the industry.
• Risk Management: Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate compliance risks across business functions.
• Leadership: Strong leadership skills to guide teams and influence organizational culture towards compliance excellence.
• Analytical Thinking: Proficiency in analyzing complex compliance issues and devising effective solutions.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for reporting, training, and stakeholder engagement.
• Project Management: Capability to lead governance initiatives, audits, and compliance training programs.
• Ethical Judgment: Commitment to uphold high ethical standards and promote transparency within the organization.

About Application Process

If you meet the criteria and you are enthusiastic about the role, we would welcome your application.

Who are we?
KPMG in Bahrain employs over 350 professionals and partners. We provide our clients with a suite of locally supported Audit, Tax, and Advisory services. We recruit the best and brightest from around the world and currently have a workforce that represents over 20 countries working across our teams. We also pride ourselves in our capabilities to attract, nurture, and empower talent from our local communities locally.

We do what matters
About Risk Advisory
KPMG's Advisory practice is one of the largest Advisory businesses worldwide and the major growth area for our organization. Our services are focused on the finance function and we work with clients in identifying and tackling their challenges in growth, governance, and performance. Our Advisory teams support businesses as they restructure and expand, whether organically or by acquisition. We help them to become more efficient and provide support as they adapt to the challenges posed by a rapidly changing business environment.

This Is The Job For You, If You Have

• A recognized degree in Legal/ Accounting/ Finance/ Business or related disciplines plus
• A professional qualification, e.g., ICAEW, ACCA, CPA, and/or Master's
• CAMS, CIA, and/or CISA qualifications are an advantage
• 5-6 years of work experience gained in legal, compliance, governance, and AML world
• Immediately available

• Develop and implement AI ethics principles, policies, and best practices across the organization.
• Conduct risk assessments and impact analyses for new AI initiatives.
• Ensure AI systems comply with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• Collaborate with AI researchers, engineers, legal counsel, and business units to integrate ethical considerations into the AI lifecycle.
• Design and deliver training programs on AI ethics and responsible AI practices.
• Monitor AI deployments for adherence to ethical guidelines and identify potential issues.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends, research, and regulatory developments in AI ethics and governance.
• Facilitate discussions and workshops on AI ethics topics.
• Contribute to the development of AI governance frameworks and decision-making processes.
• Advise on the ethical implications of data usage and algorithm design.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Law, Philosophy, Public Policy, or a related field. A Master's or Ph.D. is a plus.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in AI ethics, governance, compliance, or a related field.
• Solid understanding of AI/ML technologies and their societal impact.
• Knowledge of relevant ethical frameworks, privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR), and AI-specific legislation.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex ethical concepts clearly.
• Experience in developing policies and governance structures.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid environment, balancing remote and on-site responsibilities.
• Familiarity with risk management principles.
• Passion for responsible innovation and technology.

• Develop and refine AI ethics guidelines, policies, and best practices in alignment with emerging global standards and regulations.
• Conduct ethical impact assessments for new AI projects and products.
• Advise on fairness, accountability, transparency, and safety in AI systems.
• Monitor and evaluate the ethical implications of AI algorithms and data usage.
• Collaborate with technical teams to integrate ethical considerations into the AI development lifecycle.
• Engage with stakeholders across the organization to promote understanding and adoption of AI ethics principles.
• Stay abreast of the latest research, trends, and legal developments in AI ethics and governance.
• Develop training materials and conduct workshops on AI ethics for employees.
• Contribute to external communications and thought leadership on responsible AI.

• Master's or Ph.D. in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Philosophy, Law, Ethics, Social Sciences, or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in AI ethics, responsible AI, technology policy, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML concepts and their societal implications.
• Familiarity with ethical frameworks, AI governance models, and relevant regulations (e.g., GDPR, AI Act).
• Excellent analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
• Superb communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Experience in policy development and implementation is a plus.
• Ability to translate complex technical and ethical concepts into actionable guidance.

• Develop and implement AI ethics frameworks, policies, and governance structures.
• Conduct ethical impact assessments for new and existing AI systems.
• Identify and mitigate potential biases, fairness issues, and risks in AI models and data.
• Advise on best practices for AI transparency, explainability, and accountability.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards related to AI and data privacy.
• Collaborate with AI research and engineering teams to integrate ethical considerations into the development lifecycle.
• Develop training materials and conduct workshops on AI ethics and responsible AI principles.
• Engage with external stakeholders, regulators, and industry bodies on AI ethics topics.
• Monitor emerging trends and developments in AI ethics and governance.
• Provide guidance on data usage, privacy, and security in AI applications.
• Contribute to building a culture of responsible innovation within the organization.
• Effectively communicate complex ethical and technical issues to diverse audiences.

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in Ethics, Philosophy, Law, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field with a focus on AI ethics.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in AI ethics, technology policy, risk management, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of machine learning concepts, AI technologies, and their societal implications.
• Knowledge of ethical frameworks, regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, AI Act), and governance principles.
• Excellent analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts clearly.
• Experience working with technical teams and translating ethical principles into practical guidance.
• Strong stakeholder management and collaboration skills.
• Familiarity with data privacy principles and practices.
• Passion for ensuring the responsible and beneficial use of artificial intelligence.