Head: Digital Transformation Programme Management Office

Job Description

The Head: Digital Transformation is responsible for leading the Digital Transformation Office, driving portfolio management, project delivery, change management, and adoption of new ways of work to ensure DBSA’s transformation initiatives are strategically aligned, well-governed, and deliver measurable business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Delivery

• Develop and execute a comprehensive digital transformation strategy aligned to the organisation’s overall business objectives and long-term vision.
• Oversee the portfolio of transformation programmes, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear digitalisation goals, initiatives, milestones, and measurable outcomes.
• Develop both long-term and short-term digitalisation strategies and implementation plans aligned to approved budgets and resource frameworks.
• Drive enterprise-wide adoption of digital solutions through structured communication and stakeholder engagement internally and externally.

2. Digital Transformation

• Provide thought leadership on emerging digital trends and their application to DBSA’s mandate.
• Champion and drive digital transformation initiatives, leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency, improve service delivery, and unlock new value streams within the DBSA.
• Lead the adoption of digital tools and technologies to automate, streamline, and enhance facilities operations, including smart building systems, digital service portals, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and integrated workplace management systems.

3. Portfolio and Programme Management

• Establish and manage a portfolio management framework to prioritise, track, and report on transformation initiatives.
• Deliver transformation projects on time, within scope, and within budget, with measurable business outcomes.
• Drive adoption of programme/project management methodologies (Agile, PRINCE2, PMP) across the transformation office.
• Monitor programme risks, dependencies, and benefits realisation.

4. Innovation and Technology Enablement

• Promote the adoption of digital tools, automation, and analytics to improve operational efficiency.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and process optimisation across the Bank.
• Benchmark DBSA’s transformation practices against global best practices.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance service delivery and client experience.
• Identify, assess, and evaluate emerging technologies for strategic business value, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage.
• Lead pilot initiatives, proofs-of-concept, and experimentation programmes to validate new technologies and solutions before enterprise-wide implementation.
• Drive the identification and implementation of innovative technology solutions to enhance business processes and unlock new growth opportunities.
• Foster a culture of innovation, digital adoption, and structured experimentation across the organisation.
• Monitor industry trends and technological advancements to ensure the organisation remains forward-looking and digitally competitive.

5. Change Management and Adoption

• Develop and execute comprehensive change management strategies and frameworks to enable successful digital adoption across the organisation.
• Champion new ways of work, agile practices, and organisational change management.
• Lead change initiatives to ensure seamless integration of new systems, processes, and digital solutions.
• Build the transformation capability across teams through structured stakeholder engagement and training programmes to build digital capability and awareness.
• Proactively identify and address resistance to change to ensure smooth transition and sustained adoption.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to foster a digital-first mindset and strengthen future-fit skills and capabilities.

6. Stakeholder Management and Reporting

• Build and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including leadership, government, partners, and service providers.
• Develop and implement a structured stakeholder engagement framework for digital and transformation initiatives.
• Influence stakeholder alignment and provide strategic advisory support to enable effective decision-making.
• Establish partnerships with technology vendors, consultants, and academia, and represent the organisation in industry forums.
• Leverage data to inform decisions and drive value creation.
• Deliver clear, timely reporting and high-quality dashboards, presentations, and insights to executives, the Board, and stakeholders.

7. Governance, Risk Management, Compliance & Controls

• Adhere to IT governance frameworks (COBIT, ITIL) and digital transformation governance standards.
• Oversee compliance with relevant legislation, including POPIA, cybersecurity, and data protection laws.
• Develop and maintain transformation risk registers, ensuring mitigation strategies are implemented.
• Provide consolidated risk and compliance reporting to Executive Committees and the Board.
• Drive compliance of digital initiatives with applicable legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.
• Design and implement governance frameworks for data, technology, and digital assets.
• Establish and enforce robust governance frameworks and reporting mechanisms to promote transparency, compliance, and effective decision-making across operations.

8. People Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning to maximise individual and collective potential.
• Lead the data analytics business unit and ensure effective execution of strategy.
• Implement human capital strategies and workforce planning.
• Foster a culture of performance, learning, and collaboration.
• Drive talent development initiatives, including coaching, performance management, and career pathing, to build and retain a skilled and motivated team.
• Contribute to building synergies & cooperation across functions in the DBSA.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Digital Transformation Office to ensure efficiency and service excellence.
• Coordinate performance scorecards (KPIs) aligned to transformation outcomes and IT service delivery.

Key Measurements of Outputs

• % alignment of transformation initiatives to DBSA’s approved digital strategy and Decadal Strategy priorities.
• Timely delivery of programmes and projects against approved timelines, scope, budget and achieving defined business outcomes.
• Adoption rate of new ways of work (Agile practices, collaboration tools, automation) across business units.
• Change management effectiveness through stakeholder engagement, training completion, and adoption indicators.
• Accuracy of portfolio and budget forecasting (CAPEX and OPEX vs actuals) and adherence to cost optimisation targets.
• Quality and timeliness of reporting to executives, Board, and external stakeholders.
• Level of compliance with IT governance frameworks (COBIT, ITIL) and transformation governance standards, including audit outcomes.
• Reduction in transformation risks, timely mitigation of dependencies, and assurance reviews.
• Stakeholder satisfaction with transformation initiatives, measured through surveys, feedback, and engagement outcomes.
• Number of process optimisation initiatives implemented and measurable efficiency gains.
• Percentage of staff trained in digital tools, agile practices, and change management methodologies.

Expertise & Technical Competencies

a) Digital Literacy

• Conduct research and have awareness of the latest trends in the digital space that affect the Organisation and the business unit.
• Seek out new approaches and interventions to improve digital agility.
• To identify technical problems when operating devices and using digital environm