IT Director – Technology, Data & Digital Platforms Cape Town, Western Cape – Hybrid

SUMMARY:
IT Director – Technology, Data & Digital Platforms

Location: Cape Town, Western Cape – Hybrid
Office Requirement: Minimum 2 days per week in the Cape Town office
Salary: R1.5 Million+ per annum
Employment Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer

About the Employer
The employer is a global alliance representing more than 800 communications service providers, technology vendors, hyperscalers, consultancies and systems integrators, including some of the world's leading telecommunications and technology organisations.
The organisation's mission is to help the telecommunications industry achieve sustainable growth through AI-enabled agility, innovation and operational efficiency.
Its strategic focus areas include:

• Composable IT & Ecosystems
• Autonomous Networks
• AI & Data

POSITION INFO:
The Opportunity The employer is seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking IT Director - Technology, Data & Digital Platforms to take ownership of the organisation's technology strategy, digital platforms, data capabilities and IT operations. The successful candidate must be Cape Town based and available to work from the Cape Town office at least two days per week . This is a highly visible senior leadership position combining strategic technology leadership with hands-on operational oversight . The successful candidate must be comfortable moving between executive-level strategy, technology investment decisions, team leadership, platform transformation and detailed operational delivery. Importantly, this is not a role that requires experience managing very large corporate IT departments. Candidates from small to medium-sized organisations are encouraged to apply , particularly those who have operated in lean technology environments where they have personally remained close to delivery, decision-making and implementation. The successful candidate will ensure that technology, data and digital platforms enable exceptional member experiences, support organisational growth and provide a secure, scalable foundation for future innovation. Key Responsibilities Technology Strategy & Architecture Develop and execute a unified technology, data and digital platform strategy aligned with organisational objectives. Translate business requirements into practical and commercially viable technology solutions. Lead technology investment decisions to maximise organisational and member value. Balance immediate business requirements with long-term scalability, security and sustainability. Champion architectural excellence while simplifying the existing technology landscape. Ensure technology capabilities support the organisation's strategic growth objectives. Identify opportunities to improve efficiency through technology, automation and modernisation. Digital Platforms & Member Experience Own the roadmap, delivery, performance and continued development of the organisation's digital platforms and web ecosystem. Work closely with Marketing, executive leadership and business stakeholders to deliver high-quality digital experiences. Establish clear platform priorities, delivery objectives, performance measures and KPIs. Ensure digital products and platforms remain secure, reliable, scalable, user-friendly and cost-effective. Provide leadership and oversight on major platform and technology decisions. Drive continuous improvement of the organisation's digital member experience. Technology Operations & Service Delivery Lead engineering, DevOps, infrastructure and IT operations. Ensure the availability, performance, security and resilience of business-critical systems. Drive automation, modern operating practices and continuous improvement. Simplify and rationalise existing systems to create a cohesive and maintainable technology environment. Manage third-party technology partners and vendors. Ensure vendors deliver measurable value and appropriate service levels. Maintain practical oversight of day-to-day technology operations. Data, Analytics & Business Insights Establish trusted, accessible and practical data capabilities across the organisation. Develop appropriate data governance, ownership and quality standards. Enable self-service analytics and reporting for business teams. Improve the accessibility and reliability of organisational data. Drive adoption of data platforms and ensure they deliver measurable business value. Establish a strong data foundation for advanced analytics and AI initiatives. Support executive and operational decision-making through accurate and meaningful data. AI Enablement & Innovation Develop and maintain AI-ready platforms, infrastructure and governance frameworks. Translate AI strategy into practical business capabilities. Identify opportunities where AI can improve productivity, efficiency, decision-making and member value. Support implementation of AI-enabled workflows, intelligent automation and AI agents. Ensure AI solutions are introduced responsibly, securely and at appropriate scale. Evaluate emerging technologies and determine where they can provide genuine organisational value. Governance, Risk & Prioritisation Lead prioritisation across technology, digital and data portfolios. Establish transparent and practical technology governance processes. Manage technology, cybersecurity, operational and delivery risks. Provide executive leadership with clear visibility of technology priorities, dependencies, resources and trade-offs. Ensure compliance with applicable security, data privacy and governance requirements. Balance cost, speed, quality, risk and long-term organisational value when making decisions. Leadership & Team Development Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing technology team. Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation and delivery excellence. Maintain a lean and effective technology operating model . Remain visible and actively involved in delivery rather than operating solely at strategic level. Coach and empower team members while maintaining accountability for results. Manage technology budgets, resources and vendor relationships. Build internal technology capability where appropriate while making effective use of external partners. Candidate Requirements Essential Experience The successful candidate should have: Proven experience in a senior technology leadership role , such as IT Director, Head of Technology, Head of IT, Technology Director, CTO or similar. Strong experience combining technology strategy with hands-on execution and operational delivery . Experience translating business objectives into practical technology solutions. Strong exposure to cloud platforms, SaaS ecosystems, systems integrations, web technologies and digital products . Demonstrated success delivering technology, platform or digital transformation initiatives. Strong understanding of modern engineering, DevOps and technology operating models. Experience developing or implementing data, analytics and AI capabilities . Experience managing technology vendors, partners, budgets and resources. Strong understanding of cybersecurity, technology risk, data privacy and governance. Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills. Ability to influence senior executives and non-technical stakeholders. Strong commercial awareness and the ability to make sound technology investment decisions. Preferred Organisational Background Candidates do not need to come from large multinational or enterprise IT environments. Strong consideration will be given to candidates who have gained senior technology leadership experience within small to medium-sized organisations , particularly where they have: Worked with lean technology teams. Managed multiple technology responsibilities simultaneously. Remained personally involved in implementation and delivery. Managed outsourced technology providers and specialist vendors. Built or modernised technology environments with limited resources. Made practical decisions regarding technology investment and prioritisation. Successfully balanced strategic leadership with day-to-day operational involvement. The emphasis is on capability, delivery and business impact rather than the size of the team previously managed . Leadership Attributes The ideal candidate will be: A strategic thinker with strong execution capability. Technically credible while commercially minded. Pragmatic and solution orientated. Comfortable making difficult prioritisation and investment decisions. Visible, accessible and engaged with both the business and technology teams. Collaborative and low ego in their leadership approach. Results and outcome focused. Resilient and adaptable. Comfortable operating in an evolving environment. Able to work effectively with ambiguity and changing priorities. Passionate about simplification and continuous improvement. Who Will Thrive in This Role? This opportunity would particularly suit a technology leader who: Enjoys building and improving technology capabilities within a small to medium-sized, lean and agile environment . Wants ownership and influence rather than simply managing a large established IT structure. Can move comfortably between boardroom-level strategy and hands-on operational decisions. Remains interested in the technical detail behind major decisions. Has strong business acumen as well as technical expertise. Is enthusiastic about the practical application of AI, data and automation . Measures success through business outcomes and successful delivery rather than team size. Values simplicity, transparency, accountability and continuous improvement. Who May Not Enjoy This Role? This position may be less suitable for candidates who: Prefer highly structured corporate environments with very large IT teams and extensive support functions. Operate primarily at strategic level and prefer not to remain involved in implementation or operational delivery. Require large internal teams to execute technology initiatives. Are uncomfortable working in a lean environment where priorities can change quickly. Prefer to delegate technical and operational decisions entirely to others. Are uncomfortable making commercial trade-offs between cost, speed, risk and quality. Location - Important Candidates must be based in Cape Town or within reasonable commuting distance of the Cape Town office. This is a hybrid position , with the successful candidate required to work from the office a minimum of two days per week . Applicants based outside Cape Town who are not already relocating to the area should not be considered. Remuneration R1.5 Million+ per annum , depending on the successful candidate's experience, technical expertise and overall suitability.