IT Director (Russian speaker)

About the Company

The company is an ambitious fast-growing organization in the Agricultural Production and FMCG landscape, dedicated to sustainable farming practices and high-quality crop production. Backed by a leading international investment fund, the company combines innovation, operational excellence, and responsible environmental practices to drive long-term growth. With an expanding presence across East Africa, the organization is developing a diversified agricultural platform and aims to become one of the region's foremost integrated agribusiness enterprises.

Role Overview

As the business scales, we are looking for an exceptional IT Director to design and lead the development of the organization’s digital ecosystem from the ground up.

This is not a traditional IT management role. We are seeking a strategic technology leader who can create and execute a long-term vision for how technology, data, infrastructure, production, and analytics should operate together across the organization.

The IT Director will be responsible for defining and implementing the technology strategy for the entire organization.

The successful candidate will design the future-state architecture of the organization, establish technology standards, develop data governance frameworks, integrate business systems, and drive digital transformation initiatives across both corporate and operational environments.

This role requires a combination of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, with responsibility for building a scalable digital platform capable of supporting multiple agricultural businesses operating in remote and challenging environments.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Develop and implement the company’s IT architecture strategy.

Drive ERP development and integrate multiple systems into a unified digital ecosystem.

Design and manage enterprise data storage, governance, and utilization frameworks.

Build and maintain IT and communications infrastructure across remote production sites.

Implement GPS tracking solutions for machinery and transportation fleets.

Integrate weather stations, sensors, and IoT devices into operational systems.

Deploy access control and facial recognition systems.

Implement systems for fuel, materials, inventory, warehouse, and equipment management.

Develop real-time production monitoring and analytics capabilities.

Integrate operational and performance metrics across business units.

Lead the digitalization of production processes and quality control systems.

Establish a unified management reporting and business intelligence platform for executive leadership.

Leadership & Organizational Development

Build and lead the IT function as the organization grows.

Manage internal teams, external vendors, consultants, and technology partners.

Establish IT governance, operational procedures, and service standards.

Act as a strategic advisor to senior management on technology and digital transformation initiatives.

Product Traceability

A critical component of this role is the design and implementation of a comprehensive product traceability system (farm-to-shelf traceability). The system should enable end consumers to access product origin information via QR codes or product labeling, including farm location, cultivation methods, technologies used, fertilizers applied, and labor standards followed. The solution must ensure transparency, compliance with international standards, support ESG and ethical requirements, and provide the business with advanced tools for quality analysis and operational performance management.

Candidate Profile

We are not seeking a traditional IT Administrator or solely an ERP specialist. We are looking for a strategic technology leader with systems-thinking capabilities who can connect infrastructure, data, production operations, analytics, and business objectives into a scalable enterprise platform.

Requirements

Essential Qualifications & Experience

Proven experience in a senior technology leadership role such as IT Director, Head of IT, CIO, Digital Transformation Director, or Enterprise Architecture Lead.

Strong experience developing and executing enterprise technology strategies.

Demonstrated success delivering large-scale ERP and systems integration projects.

Experience designing enterprise architecture and data management frameworks.

Strong understanding of infrastructure, networking, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, and business applications.

Experience leading cross-functional digital transformation initiatives.

Ability to align technology strategy with business growth objectives

Russian language proficiency at native or advanced level

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, or infrastructure-intensive industries.

Proven experience building IT functions and technology environments from the ground up.

Experience managing technology across remote locations with limited connectivity.

Strong understanding of IoT, telemetry, GIS/GPS technologies, and industrial analytics.

Experience integrating ERP systems, BI platforms, mobile applications, and operational equipment.

Knowledge of data governance frameworks and enterprise data warehouse architecture.

Experience implementing traceability and digital product provenance solutions.

Personal Attributes

Strategic and forward-thinking technology leader.

Strong systems thinker with the ability to connect business, operations, data, and technology.

Comfortable operating in entrepreneurial and rapidly evolving environments.

Hands-on problem solver capable of balancing vision with execution.

Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Able to work independently and drive initiatives with a high level of ownership and accountability.