Head: Data Value Realisation

Who are we?

Sanlam Developing Markets [SDM] (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sanlam Life Limited) is one of the top financial services providers in the South African entry-level and emerging middle market. It aims to understand the unique requirements of clients and offers a wide range of simple and affordable financial solutions that cover needs such as funeral insurance, savings for education, life cover and personal accident plans. In terms of the Sanlam Group Governance Policy, SDM is managed by the SA Retail Mass cluster, which is part of the Sanlam Life and Savings cluster within the Sanlam Group. The cluster focusses on retail products, as well as group schemes.

What will you do?

The Head: Data Value Realisation is accountable to define, deliver and drive the extraction of business value from data across Retail Mass. The role turns data and analytics capability into tangible business outcomes – growth, improved client experience, operational efficiency and better decision-making.

This is a dual role: strategic in framing where and how data creates value, and intensely delivery-focused in managing complex, multi-stakeholder programmes through to implementation and measurable benefit. The incumbent bridges the business and IT – owning the business value agenda while partnering closely with the IT Data Platform Owner who provides the underlying platform and engineering capability. The successful incumbent will report to the CIO on an interim basis to ensure alignment with the underlying data platform, engineering capability, standards and roadmap. The role will then transition to report to the Head of Strategy/IMO, who is accountable for the business value, analytics and insights agenda, including the execution thereof.

• Key Responsibilities Strategy and value definition Define and own the data value agenda for Retail Mass, translating business strategy into a prioritised roadmap of data and analytics initiatives.
• Identify, size and business-case opportunities where data can drive growth, efficiency, risk reduction and improved client outcomes.
• Establish value-tracking methodology and governance to ensure benefits are quantified, committed and realised.
• Maintain a strong understanding of current and emerging business strategy and market dynamics that data capability needs to enable.

Delivery and programme management

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of complex, cross-functional data and analytics programmes from concept through to implementation and adoption.
• Develop master plans with clear milestones, deliverables and delivery cadence; drive delivery discipline, dependency management and issue resolution
• Manage multiple concurrent workstreams, vendors and internal teams to agreed scope, cost, quality and timelines.
• Prepare and lead steering committee and executive engagements, providing clear status, risks and decisions required

Analytics, Insight and Business Value

• Direct the development of analytics products, insights and models that answer real business questions and drive action
• Ensure insights are translated into practical, adopted business decisions and process changes that deliver value.
• Champion a data-informed culture, building business fluency in the use of data and analytics.Stakeholder and platform partnership
• Build and maintain strong relationships with business, executive, IT and external stakeholders.
• Partner with the IT Data Platform Owner (dotted-line relationship) to ensure the data platform, engineering and standards enable the value agenda.
• Define and adhere to data governance, quality and standards in collaboration with IT and risk functions.
• Provide subject-matter leadership and share knowledge to support business and IT change.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Commerce, Information Systems, Data Science, Engineering or a related field; a postgraduate/master’s qualification is an advantage.
• At least 12 years’ experience spanning business, data/analytics and delivery, with a minimum of 5 years in senior leadership or programme manager/ director roles.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale, complex delivery programmes through to implementation and measurable benefit.
• Demonstrated experience translating data and analytics into commercial business value.
• Financial services experience is a strong advantage.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong business acumen – deep understanding of how the business makes money and where data creates value.
• Programme and delivery management – expertise as a programme manager / programme director able to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously.
• Data and analytics – solid working knowledge of data, analytics and insight generation, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable business outcomes.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to see the bigger picture and align initiatives to business strategy.
• Stakeholder management, influencing and executive communication skills.
• Strong decision-making, prioritisation and value-tracking capability.
• Working knowledge of data governance, quality and platform concepts (to partner effectively with IT).

Personal Attributes

Organisational savvy - Contributing strategically

Balances stakeholders - Contributing strategically

Plans and aligns - Contributing strategically

Optimises 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 strategically

Customer focus - Contributing strategically

Drives results - Contributing strategically

Collaborates - Contributing strategically

Being resilient - 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.