Chief Technology Officer

Sanlam Limited; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic technology firm is seeking a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead their engineering and infrastructure teams in Cape Town. This pivotal role involves defining the technology vision, fostering innovation, and ensuring the delivery of secure, scalable solutions. The ideal candidate will hold a degree in Computer Science or Engineering and possess extensive experience in tech leadership, particularly in agile environments. It is an exciting opportunity for a motivated leader passionate about shaping the future of technology within the company.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in a senior technology leadership role.
• Strong understanding of system design and cloud computing.
• Ability to build and mentor high-performing engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the company's long-term technology strategy.
• Oversee planning and delivery of technology projects.
• Work closely with executives to align technology with business priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Thinking

Technical Expertise

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Tools

Cloud Services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)

CI/CD Pipelines

Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)

Job description

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Santam is the market leader in the general insurance industry in Southern Africa. We are a large, diversified, expanding and transforming company and whilst based in South Africa, we are rapidly moving into a number of emerging markets, both in Africa and Asia. Our success is rooted in our passion for our clients and everything we do is centred on our delivery of Insurance Good and Proper.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Chief Technology Officer based in Cape Town with our Kandua business, a division of Santam Partnership Solutions.

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) will be responsible for defining and driving the overall technology vision and execution for our Home Services Marketplace. This role will lead the engineering, infrastructure, and technical strategy of the organization to deliver secure, scalable, and high-performing solutions. The CTO will play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s digital roadmap and ensuring that technology is a key enabler of innovation, operational excellence, and growth.
The CTO will work closely with the CEO and executive leadership to align technology initiatives with business priorities and foster a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities
Technology Leadership:
● Define and lead the company’s long-term technology strategy in alignment with business objectives.
● Ensure the design and delivery of scalable, secure, and user-friendly
● platforms and systems.
● Drive the adoption of best practices in architecture, development,
● infrastructure, and DevOps.
Engineering Team Leadership:
● Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing, cross-functional engineering team.
● Foster a culture of innovation, ownership, and accountability.
● Support professional growth and career development through coaching and performance feedback.
Execution & Delivery Oversight:
● Oversee the planning and delivery of technology projects, ensuring timely and high-quality outcomes.
● Implement agile practices and ensure iterative development, testing, and
● deployment cycles.
● Manage technical debt and ensure sustainability of platforms through clean and maintainable code.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
● Work closely with Product, Data, Operations, Design, and Commercial teams to co-create solutions.
● Translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable plans for non
● technical stakeholders.
● Represent technology in executive and board-level conversations.

Security, Compliance, and Infrastructure:
● Ensure the security, resilience, and compliance of all systems and
● infrastructure.
● Oversee the implementation of cybersecurity protocols and risk management frameworks.
● Guide infrastructure decisions across cloud, hosting, and internal systems.
Innovation & Emerging Technology:
● Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends.
● Champion innovation initiatives and encourage experimentation within the team.
● Evaluate and implement tools and technologies that enhance business
● performance and efficiency.

What will make you successful in this role?

Qualifications & Experience

● Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
● At least 5 years experience in a senior technology leadership role (e.g., CTO, VP
● Engineering) in a fast-scaling environment.
● Strong technical foundation in system design, architecture, cloud computing, and software development.
● Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and scale high-performing engineering teams.
● Experience working in agile and fast-paced environments.
● Excellent communication, leadership, and strategic thinking skills.

Desired Skills
● Expertise in cloud services (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
● Familiarity with microservices architecture, containerization (e.g., Docker,
● Kubernetes), and DevOps tools.
● Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks.
● Experience with front-end and back-end technologies (e.g., React, Node.js, Python, Java).
● Understanding of data strategy, analytics, and privacy regulations.
● Strong understanding of software quality assurance and security best
● practices.
● Strong and proven leadership/management skills and competencies in working in a distributed and diverse organization in a challenging and changing environment.
● Delivery orientated and target focused with an ability to operate at both strategic and operational level
● Excellent top communicator, leader, and motivator of people with strong interpersonal skills.
● Ability to ‘think-out-of-the-box’ / lateral thinking with a balance short and long-term thinking
● High drive/self-starter/proactive and anticipate requirements
● Strong negotiation skills

Santam is committed to diversity, inclusion, and belonging. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including persons with disabilities. We are dedicated to neuro-inclusivity and fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive

The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace as we believe that these are key components to ensuring a thriving and sustainable business in South Africa. The Group's Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the selection process.