Head Of Data: CIB - Sandton at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• This role provides an opportunity to work with key business stakeholders and revolutionise the way in which data is produced and consumed in CIB. A successful applicant will have the skills to articulate and unify the technology, infrastructure and business teams to make data a strategic enabler across the CIB franchise as well as work with these teams to ensure the optimal operating model is in place with optimal skills, capacity and structure to deliver. They will then in addition be in charge of the overall governance of the Data Transformation programme
• The role will require collaboration with executive leadership and cross functional teams across the Organisation, including Product Teams, Design Teams, Technology (Group and CIB) and Operational Teams to co- create solutions.
• This role is perfect for a person with a structured mind-set, who thrives in a fast paced environment, who feels energised by data empowered decision making, visualization and execution.

Job Description

Accountability: Strategy and Planning

• Formulate strategy on Data Management and Enablement in partnership with producer, consumer, product and technology and operations teams.
• Be pivotal in understanding emerging technology trends/breakthroughs (For example : Block chain, AI, Smart contracts), keep abreast of influencing factors in relevant security risks/new development
• Evaluate solutions that enable a client and colleague eco-system, provides differentiation, and reduction of cost in relation to Corporate Banking.
• Create platforms to engage with strategic clients and partners in co-creating solutions.
• Using deep insight into the needs of our clients and a deep understanding of our own operational / business processes and how these can be optimised.
• Business case: Prepare and present POC’s / experiments / Initiatives which support key strategic objectives
• Drive the financial metrics in partnership with client and product.

Accountability: Programme Governance

• Establish and execute on the Governance of the Data Programme.  This will include but not be limited to the following:
• Formal meeting structures which will manage the execution alignment of the
• Programme taking into account and/or ensuring that it has been set up as a series of self   empowered teams.
• Establishing and monitoring the success measurement of the programme (delivery outcomes, economic outcomes, investment outcomes, strategic progress)
• Addressing the resource requirements of the programme and assessment of the demand required (both scaling up and down)
• Managing the investment required.
• Aligning stakeholders on the methods of work and the outcomes driven approach.
• Compiling and coordinating the reporting on the programme ensuring that the reporting requirements of the various CIB and Group governance structures are met. .
• Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and managing program risks and issues (at a portfolio level), and develop contingency plans, escalation and mitigation strategies to ensure program success while adhering to regulatory requirements and risk management policies.
• Giving visibility to and addressing the risks through the structures of the programme (Platforms, Value Streams, Sales, Service and Operations)
• Understanding dependencies across different delivery teams and facilitating prioritization and trade-off decisions where they’re needed.
• Setting thematic priorities given the specific priorities will be managed within the Platform and Value Stream teams

Accountability: Stakeholder Alignment and Communications

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration, alignment, and support for the Digital programme.
• Be the primary interface for organizing and managing stakeholder alignment and communications.
• Communications must be managed at senior levels within the organization including (but not limited to) Business Excos, Country Management Committees (CMC), Risk Committees and Change Councils. 
• Alignment of Value Streams, Platform Teams, Service, Sales and Operations Teams will also be included.
• Alignment of content and key messages to assist the forward momentum of the programme.
• Creation of a narrative that ties together multiple streams of work (all acting reasonably independently) to keep senior stakeholders aligned with the strategic message and intent.
• Developing a framework and rhythm for setting and managing expectations amongst all stakeholders .

Accountability: Reporting and Analytics:

• Prepare and present regular progress reports (single source of data) to executive leadership and stakeholders, providing program status updates, performance metrics, and recommendations for improvement, including impact measurement and reporting.
• Oversee the establishment and sustainability of a data resource to give high levels of visibility of the digital programme.

 Accountability: People and Culture

• Work closely and provide clear strategic direction to the internal team to identify opportunities for partnership, co-creation, and collective impact whilst ensuring Absa guiding principles are communicated and upheld.
• Provide strong leadership and direction to cross-functional program teams, ensuring that roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and team members are motivated, engaged, and empowered to achieve program objectives.
• Create sense of urgency around the vision and values and ensure individuals actions, processes and practices are aligned. This includes leading change management efforts associated with the digital programme, including communication, identifying internal staff training needs to ensure smooth adoption of digital.
• Inspire teams to work closely together to achieve the strategic vision by establishing, leading, managing and motivating high performing global teams (including virtual teams) to high standards and excellence.
• Developing teams by assisting them to achieve stretch targets and developing their professional careers through effective career development techniques such as coaching, training, and supporting colleagues on their journeys.
• Ensure the group standards for formal  performance development are implemented in a practical and effective manner.
• Ensure the development and regular updates on the succession plans for key and high risk roles in the overall digital estate of delivery
• Ensure that the function’s transformation objectives are aligned, incorporated and support the DPS and broader group transformation objectives
• Annually oversee the overall business enablement’s talent management process

Accountability: Innovation and Business Impact:

• Drive innovation initiatives to continuously improve the Data programme, such as piloting new approaches, testing new technologies, and leveraging data analytics to inform decision-making and drive self empowered teams

Accountability: CIB Data operating model

• Partner with all areas across CIB (Business, finance, operations, risk) to ensure adequate understanding of roles and responsibilities required in their areas
• Ensure a good understanding of the required skills and capacity for each area and then partner for a delivery plan to put the team in place
• Partner with approraite team to train and support Data Consumers, Providers, Data Stewards and Data Owners
• Produce and disseminate regular communication that excites and galvanises the organization to aspire to data excellence

Accountability: Solution Realization

• Execution model: Plan and drive execution of activities aligned with the Corporate Digital Platform execution model Kanban/Agile with FLOW metrics
• Continually seek to improve the rate of turn/return through one full-cycle of the Build-Measure-Learn feedback loop

Accountability: Benefits Optimization

• Analytics: Utilise existing solution usage analysis to better understand the clients’ value chain/business processes i.e. develop deep client insight. Use these insights to identify/innovate opportunities to provide solutions that will create client value

Education and Experience Desired

• Minimum B-degree. A post graduate degree will be an advantage
• 10  years’ senior leadership  experience. financial industry and specifically Knowledge in Corporate Banking would be an advantage
• Minimum 5 years experience in an Agile environment
• Financial and Regulatory reporting knowledge and experience
• Product Owner Certification ( Kanban; Agile, Six Sigma)

Experience that will be an Advantage

• Continuous Improvement
• Ability to Influence without Authority
• Exposure to emerging technology – i.e. Data technologies, Salesforce, AWS, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Smart contracts, Cloud, API’s
• Ability to co-ordinate to solve problems across multi-functional and diverse teams.
• Strong orientation to driving strategy execution

Knowledge & Skills:

• Proven track record of successfully delivering complex programs, inclusive of agile methods of work, preferably in a senior leadership role with  Comprehensive understanding of digital businesses and digital transformation journeys. 
• Excellent strategic planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills with proven xperience with change management Strong leadership, team management, and people development abilities.
• Experience with stakeholder engagement on a senior and executive management level
• Experience on executive communication and managing strategic narratives
• Experience of working in a multinational, multi-segment environment with matrix reporting. Awareness of cultural differences and varying legal/regulatory environments.
• A strong analytical and data-driven mindset, as well as the ability to use data to inform decision-making, are required.
• Strong Relationship Building Skills
• Analysing and researching

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences (Required)