Executive Specialist : Digital and Innovation

Absa Group Limited; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in Johannesburg is seeking an Executive Specialist in Digital and Innovation to lead the digital channel strategy. The role includes integrating emerging technologies with core banking systems, ensuring compliance, and driving customer-centered innovations. Ideal candidates have over 12 years in digital environments and experience in product management. This role offers significant opportunities for strategic influence and growth within the organization.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Remote work options

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• 12-15 years of experience in a relevant field, including 5 years in a management role.
• Proven record of delivering digital products to market.
• Experience in core banking integration and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead digital channel strategy development aligned with business goals.
• Ensure digital channels integrate seamlessly with core banking infrastructure.
• Monitor fintech trends and evaluate emerging technology.

Skills

Digital banking understanding

Analytical thinking

Communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science

Tools

Core banking systems

Agile methodologies

AI and emerging technologies

Job description

Job title : Executive Specialist : Digital and Innovation

Job Location : Gauteng, Johannesburg Deadline : September 30, 2025 Quick Recommended Links

• Jobs by Location
• Job by industries

StartFragment

Job Summary

To lead and drive the exploration, evaluation, and integration of emerging digital channels and technologies within the bank’s digital ecosystem.

The role ensures alignment with core banking systems while defining and executing a forward-looking strategy for digital channels.

The specialist will uphold the highest quality standards, foster innovation, and enforce robust governance frameworks across all digital touchpoints.

Job Description

KEY FOCUS AREAS

Lead the channel strategy development and technical transformation roadmaps for emerging channels

Explore the practical usage of emerging channels and create the foundational roadmap to operationalize

Represent digital in the future fit technology and core banking transformation

Develop and execute quality and channel governance standards

Measured benefits through innovation

Manage the risk governance and compliance standards of the channel

Industry wide and internal stakeholder management

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategy Formulation and Execution

Lead the formulation and execution of a forward-looking digital channel strategy aligned with business goals.

Assess and recommend emerging channels (e.g., conversational banking, embedded finance, digital wallets, IoT banking interfaces).

Identify opportunities to integrate new channels into the core banking platform..

Translate long-term strategic objectives into aligned business plans, execution roadmaps and key milestone measurements for the business area.

Cascade strategic goals and ensure alignment between business unit vision and functional implementation priorities, setting clear short, medium, and long-term milestones.

Develop effective partnerships to enable business performance and contribute to sector- wide influence aligned with strategic initiatives.

Respond to emerging policy and regulatory trends by adapting operational strategy and ensuring compliance alignment.

Coordinate business enablement efforts for the Retail Bank, ensuring delivery capability across systems, processes, and teams.

Track execution progress against key strategic initiatives and intervene to correct course where needed.

Support transformation initiatives through structured programme delivery and change management practices.

Provide expert advice and support in operating model, strategy and value chain formulation and delivery alignment.

Identify practices and technologies that provide competitive advantage and enable knowledge sharing and integration of practice areas.

Undertake analysis of management and specialist information and guide reporting tool implementation to improve decision-making quality.

Emerging channel innovation and customer

Monitor fintech trends, market developments, and emerging tech (e.g., AI, Web3, AR / VR) relevant to customer interaction channels.

Pilot and test new technologies or platforms in collaboration with internal innovation teams and external vendors.

Evaluate the commercial, technical, and operational viability of emerging channels.

Interpret market and customer insights to inform operational plans and prioritise capability investments.

Utilise customer data to improve processes and propositions, ensuring measurable customer value delivery.

Instil customer-centric decision-making in teams, balancing experience, and efficiency targets.

Implement initiatives that improve customer engagement and retention through operational enhancements.

Coordinate cross-functional initiatives to deliver consistent customer journeys and service quality.

Represent the voice of the customer within leadership forums to influence service delivery priorities.

Plan and deliver services that create a culture which aims to exceed customer expectations in all aspects of the business.

Provide expertise in designing integrated frameworks to embed service excellence.

Core Banking Integration

Ensure digital channels are seamlessly integrated with the core banking infrastructure.

Work closely with IT and architecture teams to ensure scalability, performance, and compliance in integration efforts.

Quality & Standards

Define and enforce digital experience standards across all channels (UX, accessibility, speed, uptime, security).

Ensure rigorous testing, monitoring, and performance management processes are in place.

Governance & Risk

Establish and maintain governance frameworks for digital channels, ensuring alignment with regulatory, cybersecurity, and data privacy standards.

Maintain documentation, KPIs, and audit trails for all digital initiatives.

Sustainable Growth

Develop business area growth plans aligned to segment and enterprise priorities.

Work with business partners to define and execute on growth strategies and operational initiatives.

Mobilise functional teams to deliver growth targets and embed performance accountability.

Monitor growth delivery, resolving barriers and reinforcing strategic objectives at operational levels.

Evaluate financial and customer returns on initiatives to ensure alignment with business viability.

Formulate and develop multi-function operating frameworks that contribute to sustainable growth.

Client-Driven Innovation and Change

Drive enterprise-wide change management to promote digital culture and build digital capability.

Monitor competitive landscape and identify opportunities to improve products, services, or operations.Drive continuous improvement and innovation within the team to enhance customer outcomes.

Shape client experience initiatives through project ownership and delivery responsibility.

Lead operational change, ensuring readiness, engagement, and measured impact across delivery teams.

Influence and communicate across all levels of the business to minimise resistance to change and ensure onboarding of target audiences.

Scan the external environment to investigate alternative delivery models and offer innovative advice for competitive advantage.

Drive change management activities across a single value chain for optimal adoption of change.

Leading Talent

Embed people processes and values into business routines, reinforcing a strong leadership culture.

Develop workforce capabilities to meet business plan execution requirements and future readiness.

Create inclusive team environments that support performance, wellbeing, and growth.

Address escalated people issues and ensure application of performance and development processes.

Develop future leaders through mentorship, stretch assignments, and tailored development experiences.

Provide expertise and advice in the development and implementation of human capability and accountability frameworks across functions.

Direct the development and implementation of human capability strategies to support people management priorities.

Operational Effectiveness

Operationalise strategic goals into functional plans with clear deliverables, timelines, scorecards with team and individual KPIs to enable effective tracking of business and individual performance.

Set appropriate financial and other resourcing plans to enable business performance, tracking against budgets and investments for both current and long-term strategic goals.

Ensure integration across business units by resolving operational friction and dependencies.

Represent the business area in operational forums and with delivery partners.

Leverage data insights to improve operational effectiveness and customer outcomes.

Continuously improve processes for agility, quality, and alignment with customer needs and digital tools.

Identify problems and formulate alternate solutions to resolve value chain conflicts.

Provide expert advice on operating model, strategy, value chain formulation, and business controls / governance frameworks.

Stakeholder Management

Manage relationships with key stakeholders at industry and internally to support aligned delivery and issue resolution.

Ensure stakeholder expectations are managed, and engagement is consistent with transformation priorities.

Key Competencies & Skills :

Strong understanding of digital banking ecosystems, emerging technologies, and customer experience trends.

Proven experience in core banking integration and omnichannel platforms.

Familiarity with digital product lifecycle, agile delivery, and innovation frameworks.

Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities.

Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Experience in regulatory compliance, cybersecurity, and data governance.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education / Qualification :

Technical qualification certified coder, full stack or other digital discipline.

A tertiary NQF8 Technical, Computer Science or Engineering would be an advantage but not essential

Work Experience :

12-15 years’ experience in a specific capability of importance to the bank, including a track record of 5 years in a people management position in a large enterprise.

Proven record of taking a digital product to market

Proven innovation track record. Must be able to demonstrate

Strong digital technical excellence in any of the Digital disciplines, Material design, technical development (coding) or product management

Experience must include developing integrated customer-centric product or service solutions or corporate practice development while working with and managing stakeholders across business and / or functional areas and budget management.

Exposure to emerging digital channels, AI robotics, mobile first, Web3 etc

Demonstrated success in design thinking, digital transformation, and innovation.

COMPETENCIES

Leadership Competencies :

Strategic technical thinking

Technical acumen learning constant changing technical landscape

Communication

Influence

Leadership

Creativity and Innovation

Delivering Results

Adaptability

Collaboration

Knowledge and Skills :

Digital strategy and innovation management

User Experience (UX) design and omnichannel thinking

Emerging technology trends (AI, APIs, automation, mobile platforms)

Commerce platform architecture and integration

Agile and product development methodologies

Change leadership and cultural transformation

Data and analytics for digital performance

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas : Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences (Required)

End Date : July 30, 2025

EndFragment

Banking jobs