Head:Business Operations & Products at Sanlam Group

What will you do?

• The Head:IT Business Operations and Products is accountable for leading the platforms, systems, and operations that power Sanlam Corporate’s product and service delivery.
• This role ensures operational excellence through the seamless integration of platform management, intelligent automation, workflow optimisation, and process engineering.
• The role is central to driving platform evolution, including cloud adoption and modernisation of legacy environments.
• It also requires strong expertise in process optimisation, enabling scalable, simplified, and data-driven operations that improve efficiency, client experience, and business performance. This role can be based in CPT or JHB.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Platform and Workflow Management

• Oversee the operations of core administration platforms (e.g., MIP, Fundamental), workflow engines) and supporting technologies
• Ensure system stability, performance, and availability, with robust production support and incident management
• Standardise and centralise workflows, ensuring effective configuration and governance across platforms

Cloud Readiness and Platform Modernisation

• Lead platform transformation and cloud readiness across operational systems, aligning to Sanlam’s enterprise cloud strategy
• Drive migration of workloads to scalable cloud-based environments, ensuring performance, resilience, and cost-effectiveness
• Modernise legacy infrastructure and ensure operational processes are optimised for cloud-native delivery

Process Optimisation and Automation

• Lead end-to-end process improvement initiatives across operational areas, embedding continuous improvement practices (e.g., Lean, Kaizen)
• Identify and implement automation and intelligent workflow opportunities using tools like UIPath and Automation Anywhere
• Simplify and streamline operational processes to reduce errors, improve turnaround times, and eliminate non-value-adding activities

Strategic Execution and Transformation

• Execute the multi-year roadmap for business operations and product platforms, including platform consolidation, automation scaling, and operational innovation
• Align with Sanlam Corporate’s strategic objectives around digital transformation, client-centricity, and scalable growth.
• Embed agile delivery models and DevOps practices to improve execution speed and reliability

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Implement and maintain IT and operational governance frameworks (e.g., ITIL, COBIT, SAFe)
• Oversee incident management, risk mitigation, and compliance across operations, ensuring regulatory alignment and audit readiness
• Maintain continuity and disaster recovery capabilities across platforms

Leadership and People Development

• Build and lead a high-performing multidisciplinary team, including platform owners, engineers, business analysts, and automation specialists
• Promote a strong culture of collaboration, accountability, psychological safety, and personal growth
• Drive capability development and succession planning, focusing on T-shaped skills and strategic acumen

Stakeholder and Vendor Management

• Partner with business leaders to ensure operational platforms and processes support product and client needs
• Manage vendor relationships and service-level performance to deliver consistent value, innovation, and alignment to cloud and automation strategies
• Facilitate integrated planning across BAU, projects, and platform enhancements
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing strategic guidance and insights based on data analysis

Technology Evaluation and Innovation

• Stay up-to-date with emerging trends, technologies, and methodologies
• Evaluate and recommend new tools, platforms, and solutions to enhance performance, availability and drive innovation
• Drive the adoption of advanced analytics techniques, such as machine learning and predictive modeling, to gain a competitive advantage
• Identify and implement technology improvements and automation opportunities
• Collaborate with business units to support digital transformation initiatives

Financial & Vendor Management

• Develop and manage the IT operations budget
• Negotiate and manage vendor contracts and relationships
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and drive operational efficiency

Qualifications and Experience

• Matric
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline
• Postgraduate qualification in IT management, digital transformation, or MBA (advantageous)
• ITIL 4 Foundation – IT service management
• COBIT 2019 Foundation – IT governance
• Azure or AWS Solutions Architect – Cloud expertise
• SAFe Agilist or SAFe DevOps Practitioner for Agile and DevOps delivery
• Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt – For process improvement and optimisation
• UiPath / Automation Anywhere Developer – advantageous
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or PMI-ACP – for agile project execution
• TOGAF Certified – for platform and architecture modernisation
• Strong technical background is a must, with the ability to engage deeply in architectural, operational, and delivery discussions
• 10+ years in IT operations or platform ownership, with deep expertise in managing and optimising core administration systems and workflow applications across complex operational environments
• 10+ years in analytics and business intelligence, with a track record of delivering data-driven outcomes that support business goals
• 5+ years in senior leadership, with proven ability to lead high-performing, cross-functional teams and drive a performance culture
• 3–5 years hands-on experience in cloud environments (Azure, AWS, or hybrid), including workload migration and optimisation
• 3–5 years working within Agile, SAFe, and Scrum methodologies, promoting iterative, collaborative delivery
• Strong experience in process optimisation, operational transformation, and automation at scale (e.g., UiPath, Automation Anywhere)
• Solid understanding of IT and platform architecture, including integration, scalability, and legacy modernisation

Knowledge and Skills

• Deep understanding of business operations within financial services or insurance
• Large group facilitation and coordinating the bigger picture
• Effective written and verbal communication skills are needed, as well as experience in communicating, persuading, and influencing partners
• Change leadership, continuous improvement and process management
• Exceptional analytical, conceptual, problem-solving and process engineering skills
• Technical background and willingness to work agnostically
• Excellent stakeholder management skills
• Strong decision-making capability
• Ability to align with Company/Business strategy
• Strategic planning and systems thinking
• Core system operations and platform stability (e.g., MIP, Fundamental)
• Workflow design and management (e.g. BPM tools)
• Automation tools and frameworks (UIPath, Automation Anywhere, Druid AI)
• DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing frameworks
• Cloud platforms (Azure/AWS), infrastructure services, and migration strategies
• Data operations and integration awareness (ETL, Datalake/DWH frameworks)
• Incident and change management (ITIL, COBIT)
• Agile methodologies (Scrum, SAFe)

Behavioural Competencies

• Collaborative and open-minded
• Ability to work independently and manage time and tasks according to priority provided
• Have integrity and delivery on committed tasks and initiatives
• Good communicator, listener, and presenter of ideas verbally and visually
• Willing to cross-skill across roles to prioritise business delivery
• Inquisitive of IT trends and self-motivated to continuous learning and personal development
• Flexible and adaptable - rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations
• Courage - stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said
• Manages complexity - demonstrated ability and proven record to make complex decisions
• Ensures accountability - holding self and others accountable to meet commitments
• Plans and aligns - planning and prioritising work to meet commitments aligned to organisational goals

Core Competencies

• Cultivates Innovation by creating new and better ways for the organisation to be successful
• Client Focus - Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions
• Drives Results - Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances
• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Resilience - Rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations