Manager: SAP Application - Durban at Transnet

Position Purpose:

• Leading a team of resources that provide and support IT Applications/Solutions to TPT. The IT solutions include SAP and non-SAP solutions, and are provided to all business functions such as Operations, Finance, Procurement, Plant Maintenance etc. The resources managed include (but not limited to) Line Managers, Business Analysts, Technical Leads, Software Developers, Database Engineers/Administrators, and System Testers.
• Developing, implementing Applications strategies pertaining to the business areas mentioned above.
• Provide software services to a client by delivering system developments, changes, and enhancements.
• Responsible for software systems within the ERP Solutions within Transnet Port Terminals
• Managing the requirements from stakeholder groups.
• Identifying, assessing, planning, and implementing applications that are needed to improve business operations.

Position outputs:
Strategy, Vision and Goals

• Collaborate with Executive and Senior Management in developing the IT Applications strategy and vision in line with corporate and technological drivers
• Set team goals in line with the Organisation and IT strategies
• Collaborate with Line Managers, Architects, Technical Leads, Analysts and Developers in sharing of the organisations mission, strategy, goals, and vision ensuring clarity around priorities and goals for the team
• Work with direct reporting Line Managers at goal creation for the team to ensure the goals cascade to all staff.
• Collaborate with Executive and Senior Management in prioritizing of solutions
• Develop and maintain product roadmaps

Technology and Architecture

• Review and approve architectural plans
• Nurture, enforce and monitor product technical excellence
• Manage research, evaluation and recommendation of new technologies and solutions
• Ensure ongoing and continual improvement in all aspects of Information Technology
• Monitor and keep abreast of industry trends, technologies, and standards
• Facilitate bringing the right people together to develop technical solutions and resolve technical issues
• Ensuring the organisation plans adequately for changes in technology

Budgets

• Provide financial and budgetary information and forecasts for the team, including estimation of development resource requirements
• Ensure proper management of allocated budget, and resources, and ensure that all expenses and outlays are affected within budget
• Approving requests for expenditure within level of authority and seeking approval on extraordinary expenditure within proper mandates
• Oversee Applications Systems budget ensuring that there are no unnecessary expenditures and wastage of resources
• Execute procurement within procurement policies and procedures as required by the Organisation
• Managing all finance and invoices pertaining to the cost centre allocated to this department.

Policies and Governance

• Regularly review policies and their alignment to overall Transnet strategy
• Manage, maintain, and ensure compliance of IT policies within the team
• Communicates and enforces policies and standards
• Collaborates on the development, planning and implementation of policies that ensure proper Business Continuity (Disaster Recovery)
• Ensure that the daily, monthly, quarterly and annual compliance checks are completed timeously and submitted to the ISGRC, Group and Audit teams.
• Ensures that all Audit findings and requests are addressed and managed timeously.
• Systems Provisioning and Support
• Superior customer service is a key aspect of this role
• Act as a highest point of escalation for systems support queries and requests
• Respond to failure notices and escalation requests
• Ensure minimal system downtime by putting in place proper monitoring and maintenance of systems
• Propose new developments and enhancements to systems
• Apply regulatory principles in the best interest of TPT
• Conduct regular quality assurance and compliance checks
• Ensure quality and quantity of service delivery in support of systems·
• Test and ensure that application conversions, migrations, installations, and commissioning perform to the level of expectation and resilience required by business
• Manage development of software and system changes through software development lifecycle
• Provide for multisite software, office automation, telephony and desktop design, development, and maintenance

Business and Systems Analysis

• Lead Business Analysis exercises to design, implement and improve our Information Systems
• Performs role of highest-level Product Manager
• Mentoring, Coaching, Training and Leadership
• Provides guidance to direct reports
• Leads, DevOps Engineers, Software Developers, Database Engineers, Data Engineers and System Testers
• Directs, monitors, and develops staff performance

Builds staff morale

• Generates a sense of common purpose
• Ensures a good working relationship with all members of staff thereby motivating staff to work to the maximum of their capabilities
• Is responsible for the day-to-day leadership, management and support of the team including monitoring quality standards, personal development, disciplinary proceedings, and staff appraisals
• Communicates goal results and key performance indicators to direct reports
• Is a role model, coach, and mentor
• Sets an example of quality and good work ethic, and raises the level of quality of the team
• Has an attitude of sharing knowledge
• Is responsible for identifying and avoiding centralization of knowledge, and unnecessary dependencies on individuals
• Demonstrates a culture of leadership and development with the teams
• Demonstrates a culture of individual leadership and development
• Exhibits progressive attitude to technology and career
• Demonstrates an attitude of non-bias to favouritism
• Gain and maintain team’s respect with quality of work and leadership
• Is courageous, firm, fair and approachable
• Ensure cross functional communication between development activities

Talent Acquisition

• Review CV’s of potential new recruits
• Interview, assessment, and selection of new recruits

Projects and Plans

• Expert level Project Management
• Contribute to the investigation and feasibility studies of new projects
• Is responsible for planning, assigning, and directing work
• Project manages IT Applications related projects, ensuring effective change management, communication, and implementation
• Creates and communicates development plans
• Ensures execution of development plans
• Manages the development backlog
• Manages service levels of IT related functions by assigning tasks to team members across functional units
• Is responsible for release planning
• Manages reviews including requirements and analysis reviews, estimation sessions, design discussions and reviews, backlog grooming and review activities
• Actively look for ways to increase the team’s productivity by eliminating waste
• Provides regular feedback and reports to Executives and Senior Management on development issues and possible solutions, as well as development status reports
• Oversees multiple Projects

Business and Stakeholder Engagement

• Member of the ICT Management Committee (MANCO)
• Leads and participates in management committees on special projects
• Liaises with the various Executives and Senior Managers to ensure that IT meets their needs and to ensure that policies and procedures are in place, well communicated and adhered to by all the staff
• Works with other Departments to use new technologies
• Working across functions with peers in other groups to ensure collaboration for shared goals
• Provides a high level of customer service and support
• Ensures effective and transparent communication

Qualifications & Experience:

• A relevant degree/ National Diploma in Information Technology/Computer Science /Information Systems / Business Application
• 5 years’ experience in ICT Application Support
• 2 years’ experience in a SAP environment
• 1-2 years’ experience in Business Requirements gathering
• 2 years’ experience at managerial, Supervisory or specialist Level
• SAP certification is an added advantage.

Competencies:

• Anchoring the Transnet Way
• Leading the Transnet Way
• Managing the Transnet Way
• Sustaining the Transnet Way