Manager - Group Systems, IT Cybersecurity

Key Responsibilities:

Enterprise Systems and ERPNext

• Own stable day-to-day operation, administration and user support for ERPNext and other assigned enterprise applications.
• Actively identify and shape opportunities for ERPNext to simplify work, remove manual activity, improve control and enable faster, better operational and financial decisions.
• Develop a clear view of ERPNext’s existing capabilities, underused functionality and future potential, and translate this into an ambitious but practical improvement roadmap.
• Challenge legacy processes and assumptions constructively; work with business owners to redesign processes before digitizing or automating them.
• Prototype and pilot improvements rapidly, measure the operational and control benefits, and scale successful solutions consistently across countries and functions.
• Establish clear issue, service-request and change-request processes, including prioritization, ownership, testing, approvals, documentation and release control.
• Partner with key business process owners and the Kenya and Rwanda Finance Directors, who depend on ERPNext for operational and accounting transactions, to translate agreed requirements into practical system improvements.
• Strengthen role-based access, segregation of duties, master-data controls, workflow discipline and audit trails.
• Maintain an ambitious ERPNext improvement roadmap and transparent backlog, balancing value creation, business impact, control, urgency and available capacity.
• Work closely with the Strategic Projects Office to structure and deliver cross-functional ERPNext and systems initiatives, with clear scope, milestones, ownership and business adoption.
• Engage Internal Audit on system controls, access, segregation of duties, audit trails and remediation of identified weaknesses.
• Coordinate integrations with Aqua, Snowflake, Power BI and other platforms with Jacques and the relevant data owners, while preserving clear system ownership.
• Drive measurable reductions in manual workarounds, duplicate entry and spreadsheet dependency where a controlled ERPNext solution is practical and justified.

IT Operations and Infrastructure

• Ensure reliable connectivity, networks, devices, endpoints and Microsoft 365 services across offices and operating sites.
• Define and monitor service levels for incidents and requests; identify recurring issues and eliminate root causes.
• Maintain accurate registers for hardware, software, licenses, warranties, users, privileged accounts and critical technology vendors.
• Standardize device configuration, onboarding, transfers and offboarding, including timely removal of access and recovery of company assets.
• Coordinate IT support across Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania, with regular presence at operational sites including Roo Farm.
• Manage vendors, contracts, renewals and technology spend within approved budgets and procurement controls.

Cybersecurity, Risk and Business Continuity

• Maintain and implement a practical Group cybersecurity roadmap proportionate to the Group’s risks and operating environment.
• Strengthen identity and access management, multi-factor authentication, endpoint protection, patching, secure configuration and privileged-access controls.
• Lead cybersecurity incident response, escalation, containment, evidence preservation, lessons learned and corrective actions.
• Maintain effective backup, recovery and disaster-recovery arrangements and coordinate periodic restoration and continuity tests.
• Run regular access reviews, vulnerability follow-up, phishing awareness and targeted user training.
• Support internal audit, external audit, insurers and the Audit & Risk Committee with clear evidence, risk reporting and remediation tracking.

Leadership, Governance and Business Partnership

• Lead, coach and coordinate Systems and IT team members, clarifying ownership, priorities and expected service standards.
• Create simple policies, operating procedures and documentation that teams can consistently apply.
• Work with Country MDs, Farm Directors, Finance Directors, the Strategic Projects Office, Internal Audit and functional leaders to agree priorities; require the business to own requirements, process decisions, testing and adoption.
• Provide concise monthly reporting on platform health, service performance, security risks, incidents, backlog, budget and major actions.
• Prepare the systems, IT and cybersecurity function for an effective handover into the future Group D&T leadership structure.
• Create momentum for change by communicating the value of improvements, recognizing adoption barriers and driving actions through to sustained business use.

Success Measures:

• ERPNext and core IT services are stable, while the pace and business value of ERPNext improvements increase materially.
• Time and capacity remain visibly weighted toward ERPNext and enterprise-systems improvement, while material cybersecurity risks and controls receive priority within the IT remit.
• New or improved ERPNext capabilities deliver measurable gains in process speed, control, user productivity, data quality or decision-making.
• Successful pilots are converted into standard Group-wide solutions, with clear ownership and sustained adoption by business teams.
• A transparent, business-prioritized ERPNext and systems backlog is governed through documented change control.
• Critical users, devices, licenses, vendors, systems, interfaces and privileged access are fully inventoried and controlled.
• Access management, cybersecurity controls, backup and recovery are demonstrably stronger and tested.
• Recurring IT incidents and unresolved support issues reduce, while ownership and escalation become clearer.
• Country teams operate within common Group standards while retaining accountability for execution and operational results.
• Material system and cybersecurity risks are reported early, with clear owners and tracked remediation.

Qualifications & Requirements

• 7–10 years of relevant experience across enterprise systems, IT operations and cybersecurity, including at least 3 years leading teams or significant multi-site services.
  Strong practical experience with ERP platforms; direct ERPNext experience is highly desirable.
• Solid working knowledge of Microsoft 365, identity and access management, networks, endpoints, backups, cloud services and cybersecurity controls.
• Experience in a multi-country, multi-site or operationally intensive environment such as aquaculture, agriculture, food production, FMCG, manufacturing, logistics or retail.
• Demonstrated ability to improve service reliability, introduce controls and complete practical system improvements—not only design strategies or policies.
• Entrepreneurial track record of identifying technology-enabled business opportunities, building support, piloting solutions and converting them into sustained operational improvements.
• Commercially aware and disciplined in vendor, license, budget and project management.
• Able to communicate clearly with operational users, technical specialists and senior leadership.
• Willing to work regularly from operational sites and travel across the Group’s countries.

Leadership Qualities:

• Hands-on, responsive and calm under pressure.
• Structured and control-minded without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Proactive in identifying root causes and driving issues through to closure.
• Curious and entrepreneurial, with the ambition to challenge current ways of working and turn ideas into scalable improvements.
• Strong service orientation combined with the confidence to enforce standards and prioritization.
• Collaborative across countries and functions, with clear respect for business ownership and role boundaries.
• Comfortable operating in a growing business where capabilities are still being built.