Manager, Digital Planning & Performance Excellence

JOB PURPOSE:

Lead the digital planning and performance excellence function for the Group Company and manage the organization’s digital transformation journey. Provide strategic oversight to the Group Company, while leading demand management, project excellence, vendor coordination, and operational efficiency, aligned with organizational objectives. Continuously evaluate existing digital landscape and collaborate with users and process owners to identify improvement opportunities.

This role is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive digital strategy and ensuring that the Digital and Cybersecurity operations are primed to further the strategic business objectives.

Please note: Please refer to the functional statement for Group Digital & Cybersecurity for a comprehensive understanding of the mandate, objectives, responsibilities, and strategic initiatives that govern our organization’s digital & cybersecurity endeavors.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Digital strategy development and alignment

• Spearhead the strategic planning and annual technology planning process, fostering effective communication and the dissemination of strategic objectives throughout the organization.

• Lead the implementation of the digital strategy roadmap, ensuring that project rollout adheres to established timelines and budgets.
• Formulate and regularly update progress against the business plans to the leadership to guarantee that digital projects remain closely aligned with corporate business drivers and objectives.
• Where Enterprise Architecture is within the remit of Digital Planning and Performance, define the roadmap for infrastructure systems, with consideration for emerging Digital trends and standards to ensure the organization’s technology landscape remains agile and future-proof.

Adherence to HQ directives and company group policies:

• Ensure the timely implementation and delivery of HQ directives and company Group policies within the digital planning and performance excellence function of the Group Company, including compliance with data privacy, security, and ethical standards.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with any jurisdictional regulations and compliances specific to the operational locality of the Group Company, in partnership with the business teams.
• Continuously monitor HQ directives and relevant company Group policies and procedures to ensure ongoing compliance and update the digital landscape as necessary to align with these directives and policies.
• Promptly report any non-conformities or deviations from the above to the VP Digital and collaborate on developing an appropriate and timely resolution plan.

Budget planning and financial management

• Lead budget and operational planning (CAPEX & OPEX), allocation, and management for digital initiatives, digital contracts and procurements, ensuring resources are optimally distributed to achieve strategic objectives.

• Create business cases and data-driven recommendations for senior management to adopt emerging technologies, outlining the expected benefits, return on investment (ROI), and alignment with strategic goals.

• Conduct financial forecasting to anticipate future expenses and resource requirements for digital projects.
• Identify opportunities for cost-optimization within digital projects and implement measures to enhance cost-efficiency without compromising quality or performance.

Demand management

• Act as a bridge between Digital & Cybersecurity and the business to facilitate effective digital demand management, ensuring that technology initiatives align closely with business needs and priorities.
• Establish and maintain tracking mechanisms to rigorously validate capacity across various aspects, including projects, agile delivery processes, and change requests.

Project management, performance monitoring, and demand governance

• Manage PMO to track projects (including reporting) and correct projects at risk.
• Manage KPI tracking, aligning with the business plan and strategy roadmap; Address relevant gaps for continuous improvement.
• Collaborate in the Group Company’s KPI development process, cascade performance objectives, and establish monitoring mechanisms to ensure goal achievement and nurture a performance-driven culture.
• Establish project and agile delivery standards, ensuring teams receive appropriate upskilling for efficiency.

Strategic digital partnerships

• Lead the proposal management process for RFPs and RFQs relevant to Digital & Cybersecurity. Monitor contractual operations to secure cost-effective, quality services on related contracts for the Group Company.
• Manage the central monitoring processes on Digital-related contracts, invoices, inventory.

Operational efficiency

• Develop and manage the implementation of approved long- and short-term plans to achieve division objectives and established service levels.
• Develop and manage the annual budget in line with the business objectives and operational plans and monitor expenditure against the approved budget regularly, investigate and reconcile significant variances to maintain effective performance and cost control.
• Lead the implementation of approved department policies, processes, SOPs and internal controls to support execution of the department work programs in line with organization objectives and defined standards for excellence.
• Manage the governance of key suppliers/vendors.

Business continuity planning:

• Where Business Continuity planning is within the remit of Digital Planning and Performance, create business continuity plans that outline procedures, responsibilities, and resources required for each critical function, ensuring clarity and accessibility during emergencies.
• Develop scenarios and response strategies for various types of disruptions, considering potential impacts on digital operations.
• Conduct regular business impact analysis to identify critical functions, dependencies, and acceptable downtime thresholds.

Innovation leadership:

• Integrate innovation into strategic planning by identifying opportunities for disruptive technologies and business models. This includes leveraging external partnerships to drive innovation.
• Develop a structured change management approach to implement innovative solutions effectively.

Strategic communication and relationship management:

• Develop a comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategy for key internal and external stakeholders. Establish tailored communication and relationship management plans to ensure alignment with strategic goals.
• Implement a customer-centric approach to stakeholder engagement, utilizing feedback mechanisms to gather insights and improve services. Ensure that stakeholder needs are continuously monitored and addressed.
• Manage Digital relationships and governance of Business functions.

Audit support and audit findings resolution ownership

• Support and shape the planning, execution, and reporting of audits, ensuring compliance with relevant standards, regulations, and company policies.
• Assess and prioritize areas for audit focus, considering business risks and objectives.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop action plans, implement corrective measures, and track progress towards resolution.
• Conduct root cause analyses to identify underlying issues contributing to audit findings, enabling proactive problem-solving.
• Guide and train team members and relevant stakeholders on audit best practices, compliance requirements, and effective resolution techniques.
• Communicate audit results and progress to senior management and audit committees, ensuring transparency and accountability.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT engineering or equivalent.

• 12 years of experience in the field of digital operations, information systems, Digital Applications, ERP with proven experience and understanding of the complete digital asset lifecycle
• 5+ years of experience in a managerial position or equivalent leadership role