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Old Mutual is a firm believer in the African opportunity and our diverse talent reflects this.

Job Description

Role Overview

The Data Technology Owner will be responsible for defining and implementing the data technology strategy for the bank, ensuring alignment with the overall business strategy and objectives. This individual will own the end-to-end data architecture, ensuring it remains current, scalable, and resilient to meet the evolving demands of the bank. The role will include overseeing the delivery and operational excellence of the data platform and associated services, ensuring they adhere to best practices, regulatory requirements, and performance standards.

 

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

Define and maintain the data technology strategy, ensuring alignment with the bank’s business strategy and digital transformation goals.Act as a strategic advisor to senior management on data technology innovations, trends, and opportunities.Drive the adoption of advanced data technologies, including cloud-native platforms, AI/ML, and real-time data processing, to deliver competitive advantages.

Data Architecture Ownership

Own and maintain the overall data architecture, ensuring it supports scalability, high availability, and data integrity.Collaborate with enterprise architects to align the data architecture with the broader enterprise technology strategy.Oversee the implementation of data governance frameworks, ensuring data quality, consistency, and compliance with regulatory standards.

Data Platform Management

Oversee the design, implementation, and management of the bank’s data platform, ensuring it meets the needs of analytics, reporting, and operational systems.Define and manage key SLAs and performance metrics for the data platform to ensure high availability and reliability.Continuously evaluate and improve the platform's performance, security, and cost efficiency.

Data Service Management

Manage the lifecycle of data services, including provisioning, maintenance, and decommissioning.Ensure all incidents and problems related to data services are tracked, managed, and resolved effectively.Develop and maintain detailed runbooks for all critical data services to streamline operational support and incident resolution.

Data Security & Compliance

Ensure all data platforms and services comply with security standards, regulatory requirements, and internal policies.Collaborate with the information security team to mitigate data risks and respond to security incidents.Support compliance audits and implement remediation plans as needed.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

Partner with business and technology leaders to ensure the data platform delivers value across all functional areas.Work closely with data science, analytics, and engineering teams to enable efficient data access and utilization.Foster a culture of data-driven decision-making across the organization.Drive collaboration and innovation within the team to maintain a forward-looking technology function.

Qualifications & Skills:

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.7+ years of experience in data architecture, data platform management, or related roles within banking or financial services.Proven track record of delivering large-scale data technology initiatives in complex, regulated environments.

Technical Expertise

Deep knowledge of data architecture patterns, including data lakes, warehouses, and streaming platforms.Proficiency in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and related data services.Strong understanding of data governance, data privacy, and regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, POPIA).

Leadership & Soft Skills

Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.Strategic thinker with the ability to balance long-term vision with short-term execution.Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities in high-pressure environments.

The appointment will be made from the designated group in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit.

Oversees the execution of IT & Digital strategy that optimises employee capabilities, achieves the organisation's strategic objectives, and delivers competitive advantage.

ResponsibilitiesFunctional Strategy Formation

Lead the development and implementation of strategy for a significant area of responsibility, anticipating complex issues, challenges, and opportunities and ensuring integration with wider corporate strategy.

Enterprise Architecture

Develop a strategic architecture plan, ensuring that data features are prioritized appropriately, estimates are reliable, benefits can be realized, and design activities are proactively monitored and tracked to meet planned time frames and the overall architecture plan.

Enterprise Infrastructure Modernization

Define strategy for an enterprise architecture function that embeds digital assets and capabilities, supporting the design and implementation of digital strategy and organization, process, and policies. Lead analysis, evaluation, and development of enterprise long-term strategic and operating plans to ensure that the enterprise architecture is synchronized with ever-changing business needs and the complexity of digital transformation.

Infrastructure and Network Development and Maintenance

Direct and oversee infrastructure developments and maintenance to ensure business requirements can be met.

Application Software Development

Develop the most-complex existing and new applications by analyzing and identifying areas for modification and improvement. Develop new applications to meet customer requirements.

Data Management

Take responsibility for developing and delivering a key element of the organization's data management system.

Horizon Scanning

Identify new external developments and/or emerging issues within an area of technology or business function and evaluate their potential impact on, or usefulness to, the organization.

Budgeting

Manage budget plans for a department. May involve development or delivery or both.

Leadership and Direction

Identify and communicate the actions needed to implement the function's strategy and business plan within the business area or department; explain the relationship to the broader organization's mission, vision, and values; motivate people to commit to these tenets and do extraordinary things to achieve local business goals.

Organizational Capability Building

Evaluate the capabilities of staff within the department to identify gaps and prioritize development activities. Implement the organization's formal development frameworks within the area of responsibility. Coach and mentor others to support the development of the organization's talent pool.

Performance Management

Manage and report on performance within the department or area of responsibility; set appropriate performance objectives for direct reports and hold individuals accountable for achieving them; take appropriate corrective action where necessary to ensure the achievement of annual business objectives.

External Consultant or Contractor Engagement

Identify the requirement for, and participate in the selection of, external consultants or advisers to deliver key projects and/or ad hoc services; ensure business objectives and requirements are clearly understood and monitor outcomes, taking appropriate remedial action where necessary.

Skills

Action Planning, Adaptive Thinking, Business Requirements Analysis, Cultural Awareness, Database Administration, Data Compilation, Data Controls, Data Management, Evaluating Information, Executing Plans, Expertise Management System, IT Architecture, Policies & Procedures, User Requirements Documentation, Wireless Network Management

Competencies

Business InsightCultivates InnovationDrives ResultsEnsures AccountabilityManages ComplexityNimble LearningOptimizes Work ProcessesStrategic Mindset

Education

Closing Date

19 February 2025 , 23:59

The appointment will be made from the designated group in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit in question.

Old Mutual Limited is pro-vaccination and encourages its workforce to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

All prospective employees are required to disclose their vaccination status as part of the recruitment process.

Please refer to the Old Mutual’s Covid-19 vaccination policy for further detail. Kindly note that Old Mutual reserves the right to reinstate the requirement to vaccinate at any point if it is of the view that it is imperative to do so.

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