Chief Technology Officer

South African Reserve Bank; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 2,400,000 - 3,600,000; Full time

Job summary

South African Reserve Bank seeks an executive leader to translate IT strategy into disciplined execution across technology operations, engineering, platforms, and security. You will drive governance, risk management and cost optimisation in a large tech environment.

The role requires deep IT management experience, strategic thinking and a track record of delivering complex programs with measurable impact on service quality, resilience and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Honours degree in IT, Information Systems or Engineering, or an equivalent NQF8 qualification.
• Minimum 12 years’ experience in IT systems and/or IT management with at least 5 years’ experience in a general management role.
• A Master’s degree will be an added advantage.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and operational direction for SARB’s technology environment across BSTD.
• Oversee delivery of reliable, secure, scalable technology services and improve operational performance.
• Direct development and execution of IT strategic goals, policies and governance across COBIT and CMMI frameworks.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with stakeholders and vendors to ensure sustainable IT strategy.

Skills

General management

IT governance

Thought leadership in IT

Strategic planning

Information security management

Programme sponsorship

Project management

Enterprise architecture

Platform engineering

Site reliability engineering

DevSecOps

Observability

Release management

Technical debt management

IT service management

Education

Honours degree in IT/Information Systems/Engineering

Master’s degree (advantage)

Job description

The main purpose of this role is to provide executive leadership and operational direction for the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) technology environment in the Business Solutions and Technology Department (BSTD) by translating information technology (IT) strategy into disciplined execution across technology operations, engineering, platforms, applications, infrastructure, cyber-resilient services, delivery performance and vendor management.

Detailed description

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following key performance areas:

• Ensure the delivery of reliable, secure, scalable and cost-effective technology services.
• Build a leading engineering practice that improves delivery quality, operational resilience, automation, reuse, productivity and continuous improvement in support of the SARB’s long-term objectives.
• Manage the day-to-day execution and direction of staff, ensuring operational discipline and aligning technology delivery, service performance and execution priorities.
• Provide strategic direction for the SARB’s IT operations, including infrastructure, application development, integration, security operations, business process re-engineering, networks, outsourcing, and computer and auxiliary operations and support.
• Direct the development and implementation of IT strategic and tactical goals, policies and procedures for existing and new technologies, and develop and execute strategic plans to optimise the use of IT in support of the SARB’s mission and objectives.
• Establish, govern and continuously improve a leading engineering practice across BSTD, including engineering standards, secure-by-design practices, reusable patterns, code quality, automated testing, development, security and operations (DevSecOps), release management, observability, platform engineering and modern software delivery practices.
• Drive delivery excellence and operational performance across IT by improving predictability, throughput, service reliability, automation, risk reduction, technical debt management, life cycle management and technology cost optimisation.
• Build the engineering, operations and delivery capability required for a high-performing technology organisation, including talent pipelines, communities of practice, capability uplift and a culture of accountability, learning and continuous improvement.
• Stay up to date with technology advances to provide thought leadership to the businesses served as well as own teams and the SARB.
• Provide leadership, sponsorship and oversight to programmes, as agreed with the Executive Programme Management Office (EPMO), to transform the existing technology environment.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with major stakeholders within and outside the SARB to ensure that strategies remain relevant and sustainable, changes impacting the external environments are appropriately managed, and partnerships with key vendors are maintained and enhanced.
• Implement and enforce policy to ensure the protection of enterprise IT assets and the integrity, security and privacy of information entrusted to or maintained by the SARB.
• Oversee the development and implementation of IT procedures and processes to ensure that they are aligned with COBIT [Control Objectives for Business and IT – governance model and industry standard], and other agreed governance frameworks adopted by the SARB, and are at the agreed maturity level as measured by the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI).
• Direct the development and maintenance of enterprise-wide technical disaster recovery plans to ensure the timely and effective restoration of IT services in the event of a disaster.
• Ensure a service-oriented, customer-focused department that supports the ongoing operations of the SARB and drives efficiency, quality, customer service and organisational growth.
• Manage compliance and risk as required, and ensure that the operational technology risks are identified, assessed and mitigated.
• Manage talent and succession for critical roles within BSTD and manage the performance and development of direct reports.

Job requirements

To be considered for this position, candidates must be in possession of:

• an Honours degree in IT, Information Systems or Engineering, or an equivalent NQF8 qualification;
• a minimum of 12 years’ experience in IT systems and/or IT management with at least 5 years’ experience in a general management role; and
• a Master’s degree will be an added advantage.

Additional requirements include:

• knowledge and experience in:
• general management;
• thought leadership in IT;
• strategic and business planning tools, methods and processes;
• information security management;
• programme sponsorship and project management;
• IT governance leadership and management;
• enterprise, solution and infrastructure architectures;
• scaled agile and waterfall development methodologies;
• DevSecOps;
• platform engineering, site reliability engineering and engineering productivity practices;
• software quality management, automated testing, release management and observability; and
• technology operating model design, IT service management, technical debt management and life cycle management.

Do not enclose copies of your identity document or qualifications with your application.

Shortlisted applicants will be subjected to a psychometric assessment, an appropriate reference check and a security clearance as part of the selection process.

The closing date for applications is 19 October 2026. Late applications will not be considered.

In line with the SARB’s commitment to diversifying its workforce, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups. People with disabilities are welcome to apply.

The SARB offers remuneration and benefits commensurate with the level of the position and in line with the market. The level at which the successful applicant will be appointed will depend on his/her competence and experience.