Principal Specialist: Technology Governance

SUMMARY:
Our client in the Telecoms sector is seeking a Principal Specialist: Technology Governance on a contract duration of 12 months.

Role Purpose:
The Principal Specialist: Technology Governance play a crucial role in ensuring that technology operations, processes, and controls are reliable, compliant, and aligned with the organisation’s strategic objectives. This role acts as a bridge between technology, audit, risk, and compliance teams driving framework adoption, providing independent assurance that technology services are well-governed, risks are managed proactively, and value is delivered consistently to the business. In addition, the Principal Specialist will play a pivotal role in aligning technology investments, vendor relationships, and portfolio performance with strategic objectives.

POSITION INFO:
Key Responsibilities: Governance & Risk Oversight Lead reviews on critical technology services, programs, and vendors. Track technology related performance and put in place measures to correct problem areas Evaluate adherence to IT governance frameworks (e.g., COBIT, ISO 27001, ITIL). Identify key technology risks, control gaps, and operational vulnerabilities. Partner with Risk and Compliance teams to define mitigation and remediation plans. Work closely with technology leaders, risk owners, and external auditors to align on control effectiveness and audit readiness. Promote awareness of governance, risk, and compliance principles across the organisation. Continuously review governance frameworks and propose improvements for efficiency and transparency. Work closely with the Cyber Security and Legal teams to ensure data protection, contract security, and policy compliance. Lead technology resilience programmes Policy & Control Management Ensure the establishment and maintenance of an effective Technology Controls Environment Support the implementation and continuous improvement of IT policies and control frameworks. Ensure all technology domains (infrastructure, applications, data, cybersecurity, and vendor management) have effective control coverage. Track and report control performance metrics and compliance scores. Governance Reporting & Insights Prepare governance dashboards for executive and board-level review. Translate complex assurance findings into clear, actionable insights for leadership teams. Maintain a transparent pipeline of open audit, risk, and assurance items. Portfolio Governance, Financial and Vendor Management Lead and track the delivery of key governance programmes and iniatives Partner with Finance to maintain a transparent view of OPEX and CAPEX utilisation, ensuring spending aligns with business value and technology strategy. Implement portfolio dashboards for visibility across demand, spend, risk, and performance metrics. Maintain technology vendor dashboard, and ensure service reviews, tracking KPIs and performance, in place for key technology vendors. Identify and mitigate financial and operational risks arising from vendor dependencies or governance gaps. Qualifications and Experience Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems, or related field. 9+ years' experience in technology governance, assurance, delivery, vendor management, or portfolio management, preferably in financial services or telecoms. Proven experience managing large multi-vendor ecosystems and technology transformation portfolios. Deep experience in Technology Governance, either from an assurance perspective or from a delivery perspective Experience in setting up and maintaining an effective Technology Control Environment Deep understanding of OPEX\/CAPEX management, contract governance, and vendor performance frameworks. Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills. Familiarity with ITIL, COBIT, ISO 27001, and financial governance standards.