Automation Specialist

Postbank (SOC) Ltd; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Postbank SOC Limited is seeking an Automation Specialist to lead the design, development and implementation of approved automation and ETL processes in line with company standards.

You will collaborate with the Analytics team and business units to identify automation needs, manage full project lifecycles and ensure delivery within budget and timelines.

The role also focuses on data governance, compliance with POPIA and FSCA, and ongoing improvement of data engineering, BI and analytics capability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Telecommunications, Computer Science or relevant field (NQF Level 7).
• 5+ years relevant automation experience at a specialist level.
• 3+ years managerial / team-leading experience.
• Banking industry experience is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide input into data-automation and analytics strategies, policies and procedures, in line with company and departmental goals.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, in collaboration with the Analytics team.
• Provide input into automation-related resource and budgetary requirements to support annual planning and project forecasting.
• Collaborate with business units and Analytics team members to identify automation requirements and translate them into project objectives and deliverables.
• Manage the full life cycle and solution implementation of approved automation projects.
• Manage resources, delegate responsibilities and provide guidance and support to direct reports to ensure achievement of project goals within the allocated budget and timelines.
• Manage seamless integration of automation frameworks and automated feedback loops between analytical models, reporting systems and operational business units.
• Track and report on project progress and adherence to budget and timelines.
• Identify and propose solutions to address any concerns or issues to mitigate any potential risks or delays.
• Monitor performance of automation solutions after implementation and identify solutions to address issues or concerns, ensuring operational success and stability.

Skills

Automation experience

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Telecommunications, Computer Science or relevant field (NQF Level 7)

Job description

The Automation Specialist is responsible for leading the design, development and implementation of approved automation solutions and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes, in line with company standards and guidelines

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide input into data-automation and analytics strategies, policies and procedures, in line with company and departmental goals
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, in collaboration with the Analytics team
• Provide input into automation-related resource and budgetary requirements to support annual planning and project forecasting

Strategic Input and Resource Planning

• Provide input into data-automation and analytics strategies, policies and procedures, in line with company and departmental goals
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, in collaboration with the Analytics team
• Provide input into automation-related resource and budgetary requirements to support annual planning and project forecasting

Solution Development and Delivery

• Collaborate with business units, Analytics team members to identify automation requirements and translate them into project objectives and deliverables
• Manage the full life cycle and solution implementation of approved automation projects
• Manage resources, delegate responsibilities and provide guidance and support to direct reports to ensure achievement of project goals within the allocated budget and timelines
• Manage seamless integration of automation frameworks and automated feedback loops between analytical models, reporting systems and operational business units
• Track and report on project progress and adherence to budget and timelines
• Identify and propose solutions to address any concerns or issues to mitigate any potential risks or delays
• Monitor performance of automation solutions after implementation and identify solutions to address issues or concerns, ensuring operational success and stability.

Data Governance, Compliance and Quality Assurance

• Contribute to the development and manage adherence to data management and governance practices to ensure data quality, integrity and accessibility across analytics systems
• Monitor compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) requirements, and Postbank’s internal data governance policies
• Contribute to the development and safeguarding of data dictionaries, and oversee secure storage of datasets, code and analytical outputs in designated repositories, ensuring data hygiene, knowledge retention and reproducibility
• Collaborate with Analytics team members to align automation practices with enterprise data-governance standards and metadata requirements

People Management

• Clarify role expectations, priorities and standards for direct reports through regular review of job profiles
• Lead the performance cycle for direct reports: set goals, conduct regular performance appraisals / reviews and provide timely feedback
• Coach and mentor direct reports to build capability and encourage professional growth by recognising achievements, supporting individual development plans, identifying skills gaps and coordinating opportunities for training / learning and development
• Allocate and balance work, set delivery timeframes, and maintain team capacity through leave management
• Partner with HR on workforce planning; participate in recruitment, selection, onboarding and probation management
• Promote a positive, inclusive, respectful team climate that supports wellbeing, safety and constructive collaboration and engagement
• Oversee adherence to HR policies and South African Labour Legislation in people practices
• Address performance, conduct and attendance issues promptly; manage grievances and, when necessary, initiate disciplinary steps in line with procedure
• Encourage continuous improvement and adopt enabling tools and technology that enhance team effectiveness

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Telecommunications, Computer Science or relevant field (NQF Level 7)
• 5+ Years Relevant Automation-related experience at a specialist level
• 3+ Years Managerial / Team Leading experience
• Candidates with relevant experience in the Banking Industry (Advantageous)

Data Analytics Capability Roadmap:

A phased skills pathway for strengthening data engineering, business intelligence, predictive AI, automation, optimisation and strategic analytics capability.

Phase 1: Core Data & BI Engineering

• Data Pipeline Modernization: Database optimization, automated ETL pipelines and stored procedures.
• Advanced Business Intelligence: Advanced data modeling, context filtering, row-level security and cloud deployment.
• Enterprise Analytics Legacy Integration: Statistical profiling, macro migration and legacy predictive validation.

Phase 2: Predictive AI & Automation

• Behavioral Modeling & Marketing AI: Binary classification and feature engineering for upsell/cross-sell propensity modeling.
• Lead Automation & Income Estimation: Regression trees, ensemble learning and automated lead generation scoring engines.
• Customer Service & Retention AI: Survival analysis, lifetime value estimation and NLP for service ticket intent.

Phase 3: Advanced Optimization & Geo

• Spatial Network Optimization: Location allocation algorithms, spatial clustering and spatial regression.
• Marketing & Media Mix Optimization: Constrained optimization, attribution modeling and marketing mix modeling.
• Strategic Leadership & Architecture: Bridging deep technical capability with executive business decision-making and architecture patterns.

Skills & Attributes:

• Uncompromising integrity, honesty, and professional ethics.
• Respectful and professional conduct at all times.
• Strong personal accountability and ownership.
• A commitment to excellence in every deliverable.
• High levels of resilience and perseverance when facing obstacles.
• Self-motivation and the ability to operate independently.
• Continuous learning and intellectual curiosity.
• Loyalty to team objectives and organisational success.

Disclaimers:

The South African Postbank SOC Limited is committed to the achievement and maintenance of diversity and equity in employment, especially with regard to race, gender and disability. In compliance with the bank’s employment equity plans, we encourage and welcome applications from diverse groups from the South African Employee active population. Correspondence will be limited to short-listed candidates only.

If you do not hear from the South African Postbank SOC Limited or its Agent within 3 months of this advertisement, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful. The South African Postbank SOC Limited reserves the right not to fill the positions or to re-advertise the positions at any time.

POPIA provides that everyone has the right to privacy and it includes a right to protection against the unlawful collection, retention, dissemination and use of personal information. By applying for employment you consent to the processing of your personal information with Postbank. Your personal information and any attached text or documentation are retained by Postbank for a period in accordance with relevant data legislation.