Head Data Governance Platforms

Who are we?

Sanlam Group Technology is responsible for the provision of a digitally enabled technology service as a group COE, drive business and transformation and provide group-wide digital and data architecture. We operate the various technology platforms and shared services, ensure Cyber and Information Security resilience, and act as technology governance and risk orchestrator for technology across Sanlam.

What will you do?

As a member of the Sanlam management team you will participate in business-wide decision-making, strategy formulation and delivery leadership while serving as an important interface between various technical, data and business stakeholder groups.

 

As the Head of Data Governance Platforms, in collaboration with the business, enterprise architecture and the broader organization-wide leadership and architecture community, you will be responsible for the design and delivery of the Data Management technology foundations in support of the Sanlam Group Data Strategy.  You will contribute to enterprise-wide information management strategy and will be responsible for building out the Sanlam information management capabilities, which will enable robust information management processes and systems that support the business, its users, and its development communities, across the organisation in the context of the business strategy.

Most important will be your ability to articulate the strategies, benefits and processes required, to promote effective information management and to help foster a culture of data stewardship within the organisation.

 

As a recognized authority in information management and data stewardship thought leadership and leading-edge technology trends, you will strategically advise and shape information management frameworks, processes and architectures and guide your team to create data quality, reference data, metadata, and lineage solutions, overseeing the realization of the design into the final solution implementation, in support of the business’ requirements. 

 

You will stay abreast of industry and technology best practices and will nurture the information management competency in the Sanlam Group, across multiple teams and Sanlam businesses.  

 

You will need to establish and maintain effective relationships with a variety of business, technical and governance stakeholders while leading the team to effectively deliver the services you are responsible for.

What will make you successful in this role?

Solution Development

• Lead architecture and solution design & development of innovative solutions for data quality, reference data, metadata, and lineage management.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define solution architecture and ensure alignment with business goals.
• Identify and evaluate new technologies and trends that can enhance solution offerings. 

 

Client Engagement

• Engage with clients to understand their business challenges and objectives.
• Present and demonstrate solutions to clients, addressing their needs and concerns.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor.

 

Team leadership, mentoring and coaching

• Lead and mentor a team of solution architects, developers, and analysts.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative team environment that encourages continuous learning and growth.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide coaching and development opportunities.
• Managing issues, escalating to the right authorities and facilitation of the resolution of delivery blockers.
• Team performance management, delivery leadership and continuous improvement.

 

Supplier Management

• Manage the delivery of external service providers as per agreed Statements of Work.
• Liaise with external technology providers to influence product enhancements and pricing structures.

 

 

What will make you successful in this role? Cont

Strategic Information Management Leadership

• Develop and maintain an understanding of the Group-wide business strategy and evolving business priorities. 
• In collaboration with the business, enterprise architecture and the broader organization-wide architecture community, contribute to Group-wide information management and data strategy.
• Lead a structured approach and methodology for capturing the key strategic information management requirements of the Group’s businesses.
• Lead the development of the next-generation information management process framework developed on a set of chosen technologies. 
• Lead the definition and continuous improvement of the information management process framework and associated solution patterns and standards.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Sanlam information management architecture. 
• Align to the enterprise architecture in support of the Group-wide business and regulatory information governance needs such as information security, enterprise information management, POPIA, etc. 
• Communicate standards, guidelines, formats, meta-models, policies, best practices, and management practices for information management architectures and designs. 
• Ensure that the information management approach integrates into the methodologies and processes of the Group’s businesses. 
• Stay abreast of best practices and / or new developments in information management and related disciplines and drive adoption as deemed appropriate.  
• Provide expert information management guidance, ensure solution designs are in line with the published standards and conduct architecture and design reviews: 
  • Provide technical guidance and leadership in proposals, RFIs, RFPs, and project teams. 
  • Mentor other information management specialists and lead data stewards. 
  • Lead the definition of the overall information management landscape in partnership with enterprise architects, solution architects, other domain architects and delivery teams.
  • Review proposed solution designs ensuring alignment with information management principles, the architecture framework, reference architectures, set technology standards and identify critical gaps, and recommend improvements. 
  • Give guidance and advice to peers with respect to data quality, reference data, metadata and lineage management solution designs ensuring the designs conform to best practices and standards.

Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in computer science, data science, information systems, business administration, engineering or another quantitative field
• Management development and/or appropriate management qualifications

 

Experience and Knowledge

• Functional experience in at least two of the following roles: Agile project and portfolio management management, data strategy and governance, data management, business intelligence, information technology (IT) or management consulting
• Successfully managing and delivering complex solutions – data quality, reference data, business metadata and lineage management solutions.
• 10 years + related experience
• Designing and implementation of data stewardship processes and practices, supported by appropriate technology
• Designing information management capabilities – data quality, reference data, metadata, and lineage management solutions.
• Exposure to the following: 
  • modern data platform technologies that support cloud, big data, real-time data provisioning, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence implementations, including event streaming based data pipelines 
  • data visualization and reporting tools (e.g. Power BI).
  • Hadoop components including HDFS, Hive, and Impala
• Understanding of:
  • Identity and access management technologies (LDAP / Kerberos / SAML products)
  • Information governance, information management and information architecture domains (e.g. DAMA / DMBOK
• Negotiation and prioritisation experience
• Ability to:
  • guide others and provide business and technical direction
  • communicate to both technical and non-technical audiences, clearly identifying and articulating the benefits to the business of recommended solutions and approaches.
• Project architectural oversight 
• Risk management 
• Data security 
• Leading and managing teams, with the ability to inspire and motivate team members.

 

Skills

• Financial ability
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and concisely.
• Problem-Solving Skills.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills
• Leadership Skills.
• Vendor engagement and management experience including contracting and negotiation skills

Knowledge and Skills

IT Data Analysis and ArchitectureReporting and AdministrationQuality, Compliance and AccreditationTechnologiesData Security

Personal Attributes

Tech savvy - Contributing strategicallyManages complexity - Contributing strategicallyAction orientated - Contributing strategicallyPlans and aligns - Contributing strategicallyOptimises work processes - Contributing strategically

Build a successful career with us

We’re all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping  our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters – Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.

Core Competencies

Cultivates innovation - Contributing strategicallyDrives results - Contributing strategicallyCollaborates - Contributing strategically

Turnaround time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers. 

Our commitment to transformation

The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity.  This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace as we believe that these are key components to ensuring a thriving and sustainable business in South Africa.  The Group's Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the selection process.