IT Manager

Are you a strategic IT professional ready to lead the digital transformation for our South African affiliate? We are seeking an experienced IT Manager to serve as a critical business partner, aligning our applications, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data analytics with both global standards and local commercial objectives.

This is a leadership role, responsible for driving operational excellence, implementing cutting-edge technologies (including AI and automation), and ensuring robust compliance with data governance regulations (POPI Act).

This is a leadership role, responsible for driving operational excellence, implementing cutting-edge technologies (including AI and automation), and ensuring robust compliance with data governance regulations (POPI Act).

Key Responsibilities:

• Infrastructure & Business Continuity: Establish the local IT infrastructure strategy (cloud/hybrid), manage the annual IT budget (OPEX/CAPEX), and maintain rigorous Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery plans to ensure maximum system availability.

• Cyber-Governance & Data Privacy: Lead the implementation of cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST/ISO 27001), oversee Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), manage Identity & Access Controls (IAM), and ensure full technical compliance with the POPI Act.

• Strategic Business Partnering: Act as the primary liaison between IT and business functions (Sales, Marketing, Finance), driving the local Data & AI Strategy, leading the Project Portfolio Management (PPM) lifecycle, and ensuring high user adoption of new systems through effective Change Management.

• Team Leadership & Service Delivery: Coach and develop two direct IT reports toward a "DevSecOps" mindset, manage the Service Desk framework, and ensure high-quality, proactive IT support for all internal business units.

Job requirements:

• BSC degree in Information Technology (NQF 7)

• Diploma in Project Management (NQF 6 or higher)

• Certification with a major Cloud Platform (AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner or similar) 

• AI Literacy Certification 

• A minimum of ten years of requisite professional experience is mandatory for this position.

What You Will Deliver:

Skills:

Group IT Environment Mastery: Comprehensive understanding of the group's IT strategy and business-specific core operating models.

AI Literacy and Workflow Automation: Expertise in identifying, integrating, and deploying AI-driven workflows and Generative AI (GenAI) solutions.

Cloud-First and Hybrid Infrastructure Management: Proficient management of Azure/AWS cloud environments and seamless integration of Software as a Service (SaaS) applications.

Cyber-Resilience and Zero Trust Implementation: Application of modern security frameworks, advanced identity and access management, and robust rapid recovery protocols.

Digital Business Partnering: Strategic alignment of technology roadmaps with commercial growth objectives and demonstrated return on investment (ROI).

Data Analytics and Business Intelligence Optimization: Advanced optimization of PowerBI and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to generate predictive business insights.

Project Portfolio Management Governance: Demonstrated mastery of both Agile and Waterfall methodologies to ensure transparent and on-time project delivery.

Technical Data Governance Compliance: Implementation of technical controls to ensure adherence to the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act) and broader data sovereignty requirements.

Vendor and Ecosystem Strategic Management: Oversight and strategic management of Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and global technology vendors.

Analytical and Systems Thinking: The capability to deconstruct complex digital scenarios and accurately forecast systemic impact.

Adaptive and Principled Decision Making: Demonstrating decisiveness and sound judgment during periods of rapid technological transition or critical infrastructure events.

Strategic Innovation Cultivation: Promoting and enabling team-based experimentation with emerging technologies to achieve measurable, practical business outcomes.

Operational Excellence and Execution Orchestration: The ability to effectively balance daily operational support with the execution of high-impact strategic projects.

Technical Mentorship and Player-Coach Leadership: A commitment to the continuous upskilling and professional development of team members and fostering cross-functional expertise.

Stakeholder Influence and Executive Communication: Proficiency in translating complex technical risks and opportunities into comprehensible terms for non-technical senior leadership.

Global-Local Collaboration and Alignment: Ensuring local affiliate technological needs are effectively aligned with and compliant with Global Headquarters standards.