Head: Group Talent Assessments at Nedbank

Role Purpose

• To design, lead, govern the strategic design, development and implementation of a comprehensive, world-class,  enterprise-wide assessments and measurement ecosystem that positions Nedbank as a talent leader through innovative, insights-driven, objective, valid and reliable assessment practices across all talent segments (e.g. executive, specialist etc.) and ensures integrated, future-fit assessment strategies aligned to enterprise goals, talent risk management, and evolving banking capability needs ahead of demand.

This includes but is not limited to: 

• Strategic Talent Assessment Leadership & Innovation (includes functional, leadership, behavioural, ability)
• Multi-Segment Talent Assessment Portfolio Strategy & Management (Executive, Leadership, Specialist, Graduate etc.)
• Assessment Technology Strategy & Digital Transformation Leadership
• Assessment Capability Building & Stakeholder Enablement at Scale
• Assessment Intelligence & Strategic Analytics
• Strategic Assessment Vendor & Partner Ecosystem Management
• Assessment Innovation Lab & Future-Fit Solution Development
• Enterprise Assessment Standards, Quality Assurance & Risk Management

Accountabilities

• Partner with The Executive Head of Nedbank Group ITM, Executive Head of TDE, GCHRO, Cluster HRO’s, Exco, and business leaders to assess and interpret assessment talent results for all talent segments, divco, executive and board succession pipelines, ensuring readiness and fit-for-future leadership.
• Use assessments to map talent risk, bench strength, and leadership vulnerability.
• Translate Nedbank's vision, Integrated People Strategy, Strategic Workforce Plan and organisational transformation objectives into comprehensive enterprise-wide talent assessment and measurement strategic imperatives
• Lead the development and implementation of a transformational, future-focused, workforce experience-led enterprise assessment strategy that delivers sustainable competitive talent advantage.
• Drive the strategic alignment and integration of assessment practices across all People Value Chain functions (Talent Acquisition, Talent
• Management, Talent Development & Enablement, Organisation Design) to ensure seamless talent ecosystem optimisation.
• Establish and govern enterprise assessment standards, frameworks, methodologies, and quality assurance protocols that ensure consistent, objective, and commercially relevant talent evaluation across all business segments.
• Lead the design and implementation of innovative, market-leading assessment solutions that anticipate and respond to evolving talent requirements across multiple workforce segments and business contexts
• Partner with relevant leadership teams to provide strategic assessment advisory services that inform critical talent decisions, succession planning, and organisational capability development
• Drive the strategic positioning of assessment and measurement as a core organisational capability that enables proactive talent identification, development, and deployment ahead of business demand
• Champion and embed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles throughout all assessment practices, ensuring unbiased, inclusive evaluation methodologies that drive equitable talent outcomes
• Establish strategic partnerships with leading assessment providers, academic institutions, and industry bodies to maintain cutting-edge assessment capabilities and thought leadership positioning
• Own (drive) continuous innovation in assessment methodologies, leveraging emerging technologies including AI, machine learning, automation, gamification, and immersive simulation technologies
• Drive the strategic integration of assessment data with broader talent analytics to generate actionable business intelligence that informs strategic talent decisions
• Lead the strategic development and implementation of cutting-edge assessment technology platforms that enable scalable, efficient, and user-centric assessment experiences
• Partner with Group Technology and other relevant stakeholders to drive the integration of assessment solutions with enterprise technology ecosystems including HRIS, performance management, learning management, and analytics platforms
• Oversee the development of advanced assessment analytics capabilities that translate assessment data into strategic talent insights, predictive analytics, and automated talent development recommendations
• Drive the strategic adoption of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotic process automation to enhance assessment accuracy, efficiency, and candidate experience
• Establish technology governance frameworks that ensure assessment platform security, data privacy, regulatory compliance, and seamless user experience across all stakeholder groups
• Lead the strategic evaluation, procurement, and relationship management of assessment technology vendors and strategic partners
• Drive strategic communication and change management initiatives that promote assessment adoption, understanding, and effective utilisation across the organisation
• Collaborate with Organisation Design, Job Architecture, and Strategic Workforce Planning teams to ensure assessment frameworks align with organisational capability requirements and future talent needs
• Partner with Culture and Leadership Development teams to integrate assessment insights into leadership development, succession planning, and organisational culture transformation initiative

Finance, Risk and Governance

• Lead strategic procurement, vendor management, and partnership development with local and/or global assessment providers and technology partners
• Establish comprehensive vendor performance management frameworks that ensure optimal assessment solution delivery, commercial value, and continuous improvement
• Ensure that enterprise assessment practices maintain full compliance with regulatory requirements, professional standards, and legal obligations including Labour Relations Act, BCEA, HPSCA, and financial services regulations
• Strengthen Nedbank's employer brand positioning by continually championing cutting-edge, professional and ethically grounded assessment approaches
• Partner with Risk, Technology, and Legal teams to ensure assessment practices align with enterprise governance, risk management, and compliance frameworks
• Drive achievement of strategic business case outcomes, commercial objectives, and financial performance targets related to assessment investments and initiatives
• Establish comprehensive risk management protocols that proactively identify, assess, and mitigate         assessment-related risks across the enterprise
• People
• Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction to the psychometric practitioner community both at Group and in Clusters
• Provide targeted coaching, mentoring, and development support to senior assessment professionals and the broader stakeholder community
• Drive talent mobility, career development, and capability transformation initiatives that prepare assessment professionals for evolving business requirements
• Proactively attract, recruit, develop, retain, reward & deploy a diverse resource base aligned to an ever-evolving business / client environment (ahead of demand) 
• Build a high-performance team environment through self-directed teams by driving performance management & measurement that is aligned with agile working practices (including daily, weekly, etc. sprint routines, regular & honest feedback etc.)
• Leverage partnering & coaching expertise in all activity to drive improved service delivery to the enterprise
• Success Indicators and Measures
• Embedded assessment frameworks across all talent lifecycle stages.
• Increased bench strength for executive and critical roles.
• Insight-driven Remco and Board talent reports.
• Enhanced leader development journeys based on assessment insights.
• Risk-aligned succession coverage metrics improved year-on-year.

Competencies

• Leadership (Self and Team) 
• Curiosity & Learning Agility
• Judgment and Decision Making
• Service Excellence & Service Orientation
• Innovation
• Strategy
• Collaboration & Facilitation
• Managing and building trusted partnerships
• EQ & Feedback orientation
• Execution excellence
• Resilience

Experience and Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Masters/MBA/PhD) in Psychology, Business, Organisational Development, or related discipline with registration with HPSCA
• 10+ years’ integrated talent or assessment / measurement experience
• 5 years in a senior leadership role of which 3 years’ must be managing people and a team
• Deep expertise in comprehensive assessment methodology design, implementation, and interpretation across technical, behavioural, cognitive, and leadership dimensions
• Demonstrated success transforming enterprise assessment capabilities including technology implementation, process innovation, and capability development
• Advanced expertise in assessment data analytics, business intelligence, and predictive talent analytics with proven track record leveraging data for strategic decision-making
• Comprehensive understanding of assessment technology ecosystems, AI/ML applications, and digital transformation within talent management
• Proven ability balancing psychometric rigor with commercial requirements in designing contextually relevant, business-aligned assessment solutions
• Demonstrated success building inclusive, diverse talent practices and driving organisational DE&I objectives through assessment innovation
• Strong track record influencing C-suite executives, board members, and senior stakeholder communities
• Demonstrated success implementing game-changing assessment innovations that deliver exceptional talent outcomes and competitive advantage
• Proven expertise in design thinking methodologies, agile delivery practices, and continuous improvement frameworks
• Track record of developing scalable, flexible assessment solutions that adapt to evolving business requirements and workforce dynamics
• Talent management domain knowledge & expertise across the people value chain – with a focus on talent assessment and measurement and its application in integrated talent management. Including but not limited to: 
• Talent Strategy
• Talent Planning
• Talent Identification
• Talent Validation and Assessment
• Talent Assessments and Measurement 
• Talent Data & Analytics 
• Talent Acquisition and associated practices e.g. EVP, Branding etc. 
• Talent Pipelining / Pooling (leveraging assessment)
• Talent Segmentation (leveraging assessment and segment specific assessment design and measurement)
• Talent Review (Development, selection etc. advisory leveraging talent assessments