Chief Technology Officer: Santam Partner Solutions (Home+)Chief Technology Officer: Santam Partner Solutions (Home+)We have an exciting opportunity for a Chief Technology Officer at Santam: Partner Solutions (Home+).Ecosystem Ventures (Home+) is a Santam owned venture aimed at creating platform-enabled ecosystem propositions underpinned by financial services. Our ambition is to build enabling value propositions across multiple key ecosystems starting with Home+, a value proposition aimed at the home ecosystem. Role DescriptionThe role of the CTO in the platform-enabled ecosystem venture is multifaceted and crucial. In a platform-enabled ecosystem venture, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) plays a critical role in leading the technological vision and enabling execution of the organizations mission amidst a rapidly evolving technology landscape driven by the fourth industrial revolution technology landscape (AI, IoT, Web3 etc). This type of venture typically involves leveraging technology and partnerships to enable various stakeholders, such as businesses, consumers, and/or developers, to interact, transact, or co-create value. The ideal candidate will have prior experience in platform-enabled ecosystem business ventures where they would have built and managed a platform technology architecture which enables growth product propositions to be built in digital ecosystems. The CTO must balance technological innovation with operational excellence, ensuring the platform not only meets the current needs of users and ecosystem partners but is also positioned to adapt and evolve to meet future demands. Balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution, the CTO must navigate complex technical, business, and relational challenges to drive the success of the platform and the broader ecosystem.As the Chief Technology Officer of the digital venture, you will be responsible for defining and driving the platform technological vision for the company. You will lead the engineering team in a fast-paced, continuously changing environment and drive operational excellence throughout your team. You will also play a key role in shaping the venture’s strategy in close collaboration with the leadership team. As this is a new digital venture, you will play a critical role in mentoring and recruiting a strong engineering team, shaping a team culture which promotes and celebrates experimentation, agility and collaboration and setting a sustainable pace for your team’s work. You will be responsible for helping your team to flourish through thought-leadership, team mentoring, knowledge sharing, giving frequent feedback and creating opportunities for team members to learn and grow. You will also personally develop and grow by being exposed to new and complex challenges daily.Job DescriptionDevelop and implement a technical vision and long-term strategy, ensuring alignment with the company’s overall business objectives.Lead, motivate, and manage the technology team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.Engage with board members, investors, and other stakeholders to communicate the technology strategy and address concerns.Oversee the design and development of the technology platform, ensuring scalability, reliability, and user-friendly experiences.Technically enable the product development lifecycle from concept to delivery and continuous improvement. Identify and integrate new technologies and innovations to enhance the platform’s capabilities and user experience.The CTO needs to build an in-depth knowledge of the market trends, customer behaviors, and competitive landscape to drive technology enablement that meets market demands.Develop an understanding of customer needs and pain points (supply and demand side) to drive user-centered design and product development.The CTO must understand the business model to align technology development with revenue streams, value propositions, and customer segments.Develop a strong understanding of the business case and commercialisation plans to support enabling the strategy from a technology perspectiveBy integrating an understanding of the business case into each aspect of their role, the CTO ensures that technology serves as a true enabler of business success, driving innovation, efficiency, and value creation in a platform-enabled ecosystem venture. The symbiosis between technological acumen and business insight is critical in navigating the multifaceted landscape of platform ecosystems effectively.Develop and maintain an optimal IT architecture to support the platform's scalability and functionality needsEnsure the successful implementation of technology solutions, managing risks, and addressing technical debt.Oversee the ongoing maintenance, support, and enhancement of the platform to ensure operational excellence.Develop strategies to grow and nurture the ecosystem, including partner engagement, API development, and developer relations.Build out a world class API market place to enable partnerships (Channels, SaaS, PaaS)Ensure smooth integration with third-party services, vendors, and other ecosystem partners.Engage with the developer community and other ecosystem participants to foster collaboration and co-creation.Ensure that data is core and centre to the platform strategy and architecture. The CTO's role in data is vast and multifaceted, bridging technical, strategic, and ethical dimensions. As data becomes increasingly central to business operations and strategy, the CTO's role in managing and leveraging this asset is criticalSaleability: Ensure that data infrastructure can accommodate growth in data volume and velocity.Integration: Supervise the integration of different data sources, ensuring a cohesive data environmentData Protection: Implement robust data protection measures to safeguard sensitive information against breaches.Key ResponsibilitiesAnalytical Tools: Introduce and manage tools and platforms that aid in data analysis, such as business intelligence tools.Data-Driven Culture: Support promoting a culture where decisions are made based on data-derived insightsOperational Efficiency: Support optimising data-related operations for speed, cost, and effectiveness Implement rigorous security protocols to protect the platform and user data from cyber threats.Ensure compliance with applicable group policies, laws, regulations, and industry best practices related to technology and data.Identify and mitigate technology-related risks, including those related to data privacy and intellectual property.Stay abreast of the latest industry trends, technologies, and market demands to inform strategic decision-making.Allocate resources to research and development initiatives to drive technological advancements and competitive advantage.Develop knowledge management processes to facilitate learning and information sharing within the organization.Develop and manage the technology budget, ensuring optimal allocation of resources to meet business objectives.Negotiate and manage contracts with vendors and service providers to ensure value for money and quality service.Optimize the allocation of human, technological, and financial resources to achieve organizational goals.Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of technology operations and initiatives.Drive continuous improvement initiatives based on performance data and user feedback.Foster a learning environment and support the professional development of the technology team.Attract, retain, and develop top-tier technology talent to support the organization’s goals.Engage with customers to understand their needs and gather feedback on the platform's performance and features.Build and maintain strong relationships with ecosystem partners, vendors, and other stakeholders to facilitate collaboration and co-creation.Effectively convey technological concepts, strategies, and challenges to non-technical stakeholders, ensuring understanding and alignment.Actively seek and integrate feedback from business stakeholders to refine technology strategy and product development.Qualifications & ExperienceUniversity Degree and/or qualification in an IT related discipline such as mathematical-scientific field or information technology or other relevant professional experience.Platform-enabled ecosystem businessesDeep experience in platform and software architecture and building digital products from early-stage through scaling and maturitySolid background in engineering leadership positions, leading larger engineering teams >20, shown ability to develop & scale teams Good understanding of the SDLC of Apps/Mobile (B2C)Being comfortable with and passionate about open-source componentsExperience working with third-party integrationsGood understanding of product management and ability to work closely with leadership teamAbility to manage internal and external stakeholders through clear and concise written and verbal communication SkillsAbility to ‘think-out-of-the-box’ / lateral thinking with a balance short and long-term thinkingHigh drive/self-starter/proactive and anticipate requirementsAbility to inspire and motivate a teamStrong co-ordination, prioritisation, organisational and planning skillsExcellent interpersonal, communication and networking skills across all levelsProfessionalism, excellent judgement, use of discretion and problem-solving abilities Drives results Flexibility and adaptability About the companySantam, the market leader in the general insurance industry in Southern Africa, is growing an exciting new digital venture which makes running, maintaining and repairing your household more convenient and cost-effective. The digital venture is in the early stages of development, and new team members will have the opportunity to shape the company, its people and its culture from the ground-up. In addition, Santam’s backing provides the venture with a significant launch pad into the market, operations support, and access to investments and knowledge; making this venture a rare opportunity to start greenfield with strong corporate support.At Home+, our mission is to empower South Africans to take control of their homes and their lives. We understand the challenges that come with running a household, from finding reliable tradespeople to staying on top of chores and utilities. In addition, we aim to also empower tradespeople, all while building stronger communities. We believe that skilled tradespeople are essential to the health and growth of our economy, and we are committed to providing them with the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed.  Our recruitment process Step 8You made it. Here we ensure we receive all your documents to get you onto our payroll system. Our recruitment process Step 1Our vacancies are advertised between 3-5 days depending on the market availability of the skills required. Our recruitment process Could take a couple of days depending on the volume and the screening process, which various according to the complexity of the role. Our recruitment process Step 3Long listed candidates are sent to the hiring manager to review and consider for the next stage of the selection process. Our recruitment process Telephonic screeningStep 4Candidates may be contacted for a short screening interview to get to know them better and to ask any clarity seeking questions. Our recruitment process Your interviewStep 5We use a competency interview model. Interview dates will be confirmed via e-mail. During the interview you will be introduced to the panel and the process will be explained. Remain calm and sell yourself. This is our opportunity to match your skills to the job. You only get one shot! Our recruitment process AssessmentStep 6Should we like what you bring to the table, depending on the job you are being considered for, you may be invited to complete a psychometric assessment. Further employment checks are conducted the ensure the validity of your credentials. Our recruitment process Step 7Prior to an offer being made, there may be a second interview to meet with the Head of Department.Should there be a need for any further interviews, be sure to bring the same charm that got you through your first interview. Our recruitment process OnboardingStep 8You made it. Here we ensure we receive all your documents to get you onto our payroll system. Our recruitment process AdvertiseStep 1Our vacancies are advertised between 3-5 days depending on the market availability of the skills required. Our recruitment process Step 2Could take a couple of days depending on the volume and the screening process, which various according to the complexity of the role. Our recruitment process Step 3Long listed candidates are sent to the hiring manager to review and consider for the next stage of the selection process. Our recruitment process Telephonic screeningStep 4Candidates may be contacted for a short screening interview to get to know them better and to ask any clarity seeking questions. Our recruitment process Your interviewStep 5We use a competency interview model. Interview dates will be confirmed via e-mail. During the interview you will be introduced to the panel and the process will be explained. Remain calm and sell yourself. This is our opportunity to match your skills to the job. You only get one shot! Our recruitment process AssessmentStep 6Should we like what you bring to the table, depending on the job you are being considered for, you may be invited to complete a psychometric assessment. Further employment checks are conducted the ensure the validity of your credentials. Our recruitment process Step 7Prior to an offer being made, there may be a second interview to meet with the Head of Department.Should there be a need for any further interviews, be sure to bring the same charm that got you through your first interview. Our recruitment process OnboardingStep 8You made it. Here we ensure we receive all your documents to get you onto our payroll system.TIPS & TRICKSGetting ready for your interviewThere is not just one way to be successful at Santam, nor is there one way to interview with us. Interviewing is a two-way process - it helps us learn about you, and it helps you learn about us, our people, and what you could do here.Santam has been officially recognised by the Top Employers Institute as a Top Employer 2023 for excellence in people practices. This is the seventh consecutive year that we have achieved this accolade.#J-18808-Ljbffr