Manager: IT at BMW Group South Africa

STRATEGIC

• Accountable for strategically planning of future projects/ initiatives from an IT and Business process point of view for BMW Financial Services.
• Support BMW Group Standardization by influencing Business processes and IT technologies used.
• Pro-actively advise BMW Financial Services on IT related matters in support of achieving Business Goals and Business Strategy.
• Performs on regional initiatives in the region i.e. Maintain up to date Skills Matrix, adapt department skill set to modernizing, evolving and customer facing technologies.
• Automation of department processes to ensure an increase in the speed to deliver of requests to market.
• Liaise closely with the Project Portfolio Manager with regards to prioritization, timelines, budget and project status

PLANNING

• Accountable to identify requirements and plan resources for the 3 domains i.e. Retail Application Management, Retail Contract Management and Commercial Finance, Insurance Finance and Banking, according to local and International project demands in area of responsibility.
• Performs Planning, Budgeting and Controlling in line with Group IT / Group Financial procedures, tools and rules. Adheres to rules, processes, tools and policies in this regard
• Project budget management.
• Project and Time Management.
• Resource Management on all Projects.
• Long term planning.

Principle Accountabilities

• Accountable that all SF IT Product Feature team’s adheres to BMW SF processes
• Manage all Project requests actively and in a professional manner within the IT environment.
• To engage, understanding and document user and system requirements.
• Deliver quality IT solutions to the business that fulfil their requirements within time and allocated budget.
• Deliver stable systems and ensure the security levels on all applications.
• Actively attend to all Product Feature requests.
• Assess all requests and allocate timelines and possible solutions for all of these requests.
• Application and Program Landscape Planning.
• Project Office and Resource planning.
• IT Resource Management.
• Proactively steer the IT (BA and Projects) Community into an Agile Working Model environment.
• Consultant Management.
• SLA Management.
• IT Project budgeting.
• IT Project reporting.
• IT Project tracking

PERSONNEL

• Allocate and balance resources to support company and customer requirement.
• Forecast personnel resources required to achieve both short & long term objectives.
• Ensure the approval of additional or the availability of existing resources for additional prioritized requirements.
• Conduct associate career planning and development.

CONTROL

• Control all aspects of the teams through managing.
• Control budgets for all relevant projects and departments.
• Maintain discipline in the SF IT team.
• Report on team performance to the relevant forums and steering committees, e.g. IT Service Delivery meeting.
• Ensure the Sales & Marketing IT team’s adherence to IT Standards & Procedures (ITIL, ITPM). Support the definition of local policies as required. Implementing appropriate processes and policies accordingly.
• Adherence to IT Relevant Compliance requirements in the local international legislative framework.
• Ensure adherence to rules, policies, tools and processes.

LEADERSHIP TASKS

• Motivate employees to achieve above average performance.
• Functionally and disciplinarily lead associates in own department in line with agreed goals and targets.
• Act in fair and unbiased manner to obtain loyalty to the company and department based on the 12 principles.
• Take corrective action in line with company policy where necessary including disciplinary action.
• Conduct regular performance appraisals with sub-ordinates.
• Recommend organizational changes, training, and development programs.
• Leading / Convince business departments in business projects
• Negotiate resource exchange with partner departments in order to balance workload fluctuations
• Promote teamwork within the department, as well as internal and external partners

GENERAL DUTIES

• Internal Control systems (ICS) - adherence to controls; focus on regular monitoring of controls and on testing of controls effectiveness (e.g. performing monthly spot-checks and/or reviewing exception reports); conduct annual process & control review (incl. review/update of process maps / flows and relevant regulations / work instructions); active contribution to detect and mitigate process gaps.
• Drive automation / efficiencies / process optimization across all processes.
• Any other task that management may necessitate in reaction to unexpected changes to our environment, greater business needs or to mitigate the vulnerability of the BMW Groups reputation or potential financial loss.
• Continuous improvement of internal IT processes within the Systems Development Lifecycle to ensure IT deliver the prioritised changes
• Adhere to AWM (Agile Working Model) procedures
• Manage conflicting priorities and requirements regarding business needs, available IT resources and systems. Drive decisions and prioritize activities accordingly.
• Prioritize IT Initiatives/ Projects / Product features in partnership with the business decision makers and adhere to Group IT prioritization process.
• Convince business departments on best practice processes, developed solutions and IT Group standards
• Negotiate and influence overall business project plans (IT and Non-IT related plans.)
• B Com degree
• Bcom Hons Strategic Management
• 11 years of experience in an information technology department with specific focus on projects, Agile processes, managing and implementation of Audit findings and security vulnerabilities.
• 10+ years of experience in IT and Systems Development
• 10+ years experience in planning, analysis, design, implementation and support of Information Technology solutions.
• 10+ years experience in the Systems Development Lifecycle.
• Knowledge of Agile / Agile Working Model.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Products and Operating Systems.
• Knowledge of IT quality standards and management.
• Knowledge of IT project management and leadership
• Knowledge of BMW processes regarding the National Sales Company and Financial Services
• Proven ability to be effective in dealing with uncertainty and a volatile environment with often ambiguous and conflicting requirements and priorities. Ability to prioritize effectively in a dynamic manner.
• Above average analytical and conceptualization skills. Above-average ability to structure, illustrate and or communicate complex concepts in an understandable, practicable manner.
• Strong people leadership skills and a proven capability to lead in matrix organizations without formal disciplinary responsibility (this includes the ability to lead peers successfully)
• Good negotiation and presentation skills.
• Good mentoring and coaching skills.