Master Data Business Analyst at Salt South Africa

Overview

• Our client is embarking on a large-scale enterprise master data transformation programme aimed at centralising and standardising data management across a complex retail environment consisting of independent stores, distribution centres, and multiple business units.
• We are looking for a senior Master Data Business Analyst to play a key role in driving this transformation. The successful candidate will work across business and technology teams to define, document, and embed new master data standards, governance processes, and operating models across the organisation.
• This is a highly stakeholder-focused role requiring strong business engagement skills, retail process understanding, and the ability to influence data owners and operational teams in environments with varying levels of data maturity.
• The role is system-agnostic and will operate across both SAP and non-SAP platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Engage with business stakeholders, master data owners, and operational teams across retail stores, head office, supply chain, merchandising, HR, and finance functions
• Facilitate workshops to gather requirements, define business rules, and align stakeholders to the new centralised master data strategy
• Analyse current-state data management processes and define future-state operating models
• Drive the standardisation of master data structures, definitions, and governance practices across the organisation
• Support the implementation and adoption of enterprise-wide master data standards and processes
• Document business processes, workflows, data definitions, governance frameworks, and functional requirements
• Assist in defining data ownership, stewardship, and accountability models
• Work closely with technical teams, project managers, and solution architects to ensure business requirements are translated effectively into delivery outcomes
• Identify process gaps, data quality issues, and operational risks related to master data management
• Support change management and business readiness activities to ensure adoption across independent stores and business units
• Provide senior-level guidance and input into project direction, governance, and decision-making
• Collaborate across both SAP and non-SAP environments to ensure alignment of master data processes and standards
• Use Jira and Confluence for project tracking, documentation, and collaboration
• Master Data Domains

The role will work across multiple master data domains, including:

• Product / Item Master
• Vendor & Supplier Master
• Merchant Data
• Customer Master
• Employee / HR / Payroll Data
• Supply Chain & Replenishment Data

Required Experience

• Proven experience as a Senior Business Analyst or Master Data Business Analyst within large-scale transformation programmes
• Strong understanding of Master Data Management (MDM), data governance, and enterprise data standardisation
• Previous experience within retail, FMCG, wholesale, or supply chain-driven environments
• Experience working in complex multi-business or franchise/independent store environments is highly advantageous
• Strong understanding of retail operational processes including merchandising, procurement, replenishment, supply chain, inventory, and store operations
• Experience driving stakeholder alignment and business buy-in across multiple business units
• Ability to work with both business and technical teams in a system-agnostic environment
• Experience working across SAP and non-SAP ecosystems
• Strong process mapping, workshop facilitation, and documentation skills
• Experience using Jira and Confluence
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management capabilities
• Ability to operate independently and provide senior-level direction within a transformation programme

Preferred Qualifications

• Relevant degree or diploma in Business, Information Systems, Supply Chain, or related field
• Business Analysis certification (CBAP, FTI, or equivalent) advantageous
• Experience with enterprise data governance or MDM initiatives highly beneficial
• Exposure to retail ERP and supply chain platforms advantageous

Key Attributes

• Strong communicator with executive-level stakeholder engagement capability
• Confident facilitator able to drive alignment across diverse teams
• Commercially minded with strong operational understanding
• Strategic thinker with hands-on delivery capability
• Comfortable operating in evolving and lower-maturity environments
• Collaborative, pragmatic, and solutions-oriented