AI Solutions and Automation Specialist (JB6328)

Kontak; Brakpan; On-site; ZAR 837,000 - 1,004,000; Full time

Job summary

This permanent, on-site role requires 3+ years in automation/AI, strong Python and data skills, and experience with Pastel Partner. A path to lead and scale an AI function is provided.

Qualifications

• 3+ years hands-on automation, data analysis, AI solution development or related technical role.
• Proven experience building solutions using LLMs and APIs (Claude, OpenAI or similar).
• Python or scripting ability with strong Excel/data analysis skills.
• Experience extracting/transferring data from accounting/ERP systems (Pastel or similar).
• Solid understanding of data security, access control and POPIA compliance.
• Strong communication to train non-technical staff and manage change.
• Tertiary qualification in IT/data/engineering or equivalent proven experience.
• Own transport and willingness to work on site full-time.
• Experience with Sage Pastel Partner advantageous.
• Background in sales/financial analysis advantageous.
• Prior AI-in-business-from-ground-up experience advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, test and deploy AI-driven solutions starting with sales analysis and expanding to other departments.
• Automate reporting, data prep and repetitive management tasks for senior leadership.
• Connect solutions to Pastel Partner data and Excel via exports/ODBC or similar.
• Write clear technical specs and test for accuracy and security before go-live.
• Run reasonability checks on AI outputs to validate results.
• Monitor, support and continuously improve solutions post-deployment.
• Assess staff readiness for AI adoption and lead onboarding/training.
• Create user guides and documentation for tools deployed.
• Draft and maintain AI/data-use policy covering data security/POPIA.
• Report to MD on time saved, errors reduced and adoption progress.
• Stay current with new AI tools and best practices; recommend implementations.
• Collaborate with external IT provider for hardware/infrastructure.

Skills

Automation experience

LLM integration

Python scripting

Data analysis

Pastel data extraction

POPIA compliance

Communication skills

Change management

Education

IT/data/engineering degree

Equivalent proven experience

Tools

Claude API

ChatGPT licenses

Pastel Partner

Excel

Job description

AI Solutions and Automation Specialist (JB6328)

• Brakpan, Gauteng
• Information Technology

AI Solutions and Automation Specialist (JB6328)

Location: Brakpan, East Rand, Johannesburg

Salary: R75 – 90000 per month, CTC

Employment Type: Permanent

A distribution business on the East Rand is building something most companies are still only talking about, a dedicated AI and automation function, created from scratch, with a direct line to the Managing Director and a clear mandate to change how the business operates.

This is not a support role buried in IT. It is a builder's role. The successful candidate will design and deploy custom AI‑driven solutions that strip out repetitive manual work and give senior management their time back. Sales analysis is the starting point, with a structured rollout across the rest of the business to follow.

What's in it for you

• A rare opportunity to own an entire AI function from day one with no legacy systems or bureaucracy to navigate.
• Direct access to and reporting line with the Managing Director, meaning decisions get made fast.
• A defined roadmap with clear milestones, so the impact of the work is measurable and visible.
• The tools are already in place, including Claude and ChatGPT licences, with room to recommend what else is worth adopting.
• A permanent, full‑time position in a business with real operational scale across distribution.

Minimum Requirements

• 3 or more years of hands‑on experience in automation, data analysis, AI solution development or a closely related technical role.
• Proven experience building solutions using LLMs and APIs such as Claude, OpenAI or similar. This is the most critical requirement and must be demonstrable.
• Python or equivalent scripting ability, combined with strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Experience extracting and transforming data from accounting or ERP systems such as Pastel or similar platforms.
• Solid understanding of data security, access control and POPIA compliance.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to train non-technical staff and manage change effectively.
• A tertiary qualification in IT, data, engineering or a related field, or equivalent proven experience.
• Own transport and willingness to work full‑time on site.
• Experience with Sage Pastel Partner is advantageous.
• A background in sales or financial analysis is advantageous.
• Previous experience introducing AI into a business from the ground up is advantageous.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, test and deploy custom AI‑driven solutions beginning with sales analysis, then rolling out across additional departments in a structured sequence.
• Automate reporting, data preparation and other repetitive management tasks that currently consume senior leadership time.
• Connect solutions to Pastel Partner data and Excel using available methods including exports, ODBC or other suitable approaches.
• Write a clear technical specification for each solution and test thoroughly for accuracy and security before going live.
• Run reasonability checks on AI outputs to ensure results are validated before being relied upon.
• Monitor, support and continuously improve solutions once deployed.
• Assess staff readiness for AI adoption, manage resistance and lead onboarding and training across the business.
• Create practical user guides and documentation for all tools deployed.
• Draft and maintain an AI and data‑use policy for Managing Director approval, covering data security and POPIA requirements.
• Report regularly to the Managing Director on time saved, errors reduced and adoption progress.
• Stay current with emerging AI tools and best practice and make recommendations on what is worth implementing.
• Collaborate with the external IT provider where hardware or infrastructure is involved.

Keywords

AI automation specialist, LLM integration, Python automation, sales analysis automation, Pastel Partner, ChatGPT, Claude API, ERP data extraction, change management, AI adoption, POPIA compliance, East Rand, Brakpan, data analysis, AI solutions developer

Please do not apply using scanned CVs; no supporting documentation is required at this point. This will be requested later.