Head : Change Management & Agile Transformation

Santam Insurance; Gauteng; Hybrid; ZAR 85 000 - 110 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance provider is seeking a Head of Change Management & Agile Transformation based in Gauteng or Western Cape. This senior leadership role involves developing enterprise-wide change strategies, implementing Agile practices across teams, and fostering a culture of adaptability. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience in change management and Agile transformation, ideally within the financial services sector. Strong stakeholder management and leadership skills are essential for driving successful transformation initiatives.

Benefits

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Commitment to employee development

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in change management or Agile transformation, preferably in the insurance or financial services.
• Proven experience leading large-scale change initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of Agile methodologies (Scrum, SAFe, Kanban, Lean).

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement enterprise-wide change management strategies.
• Partner with leadership to assess change impacts and develop engagement plans.
• Drive adoption of Agile methodologies across teams.

Skills

Change management

Agile methodologies

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, technology, organizational psychology, or related field

Job description

Role Overview

Head of Change Management & Agile Transformation (Senior Leadership Position). This role may be based in Gauteng or Western Cape.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement enterprise‑wide change management strategies to support business transformation initiatives.
• Partner with senior leadership to assess change impacts, develop stakeholder engagement plans, and drive adoption.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and change resilience across the organization.
• Establish change management frameworks, methodologies, and best practices tailored to the insurance sector.
• Measure and report on change adoption, effectiveness, and business outcomes.
• Lead the design, implementation, and scaling of Agile methodologies across business and technology teams.
• Build Agile capabilities through coaching, training, and hands‑on support for teams transitioning to Agile ways of working.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation in Agile practices, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Oversee the Agile Center of Excellence, establishing best practices, governance, and performance metrics.
• Act as a thought leader and advocate for Agile principles, fostering a culture of collaboration and adaptability.
• Influence and collaborate with executive leadership, ensuring alignment on transformation priorities.
• Manage a team of change and Agile professionals, providing leadership, coaching, and professional development.
• Engage with business units, IT, and external partners to drive strategic initiatives.
• Ensure strong communication and alignment across teams to enhance cross‑functional collaboration.
• Define and track KPIs to measure the success of change initiatives and Agile adoption.
• Identify and address challenges or resistance to change, developing strategies to mitigate risks.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory requirements that impact transformation efforts.
• Lead the change team in planning and developing scope, deliverables, required resources, work plan, budget, and timing for new initiatives.
• Ensure all change initiatives adhere to the Santam and Sanlam Group Risk and Financial Policies.
• Ensure all business change projects adhere to the company's methodology.
• Work with executive stakeholders and programme managers to ensure the change work is adequately resourced, budgeted, and scheduled.
• Present regular updates to the Santam Group EXCO and the associated Business Unit Excos.
• Effective management of Business Change budget and charges to clients.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, technology, organizational psychology, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in change management, Agile transformation, or business transformation, preferably in the insurance or financial services industry.
• Strong knowledge of Agile methodologies (Scrum, SAFe, Kanban, Lean) and change management frameworks (Prosci, ADKAR, Kotter's Change Model).
• Proven experience leading large‑scale change initiatives and Agile transformations.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Experience in developing and implementing change and Agile governance frameworks.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and coaching skills.

Knowledge & Experience

• Proven track record for having worked effectively with large‑scale change in organisations – 8 or more years, specifically in large‑scale programmes and projects.
• Sound experience in strategic management of organisational change.
• Extensive demonstrable experience and successful track record of leading continuous improvement and innovation in a large and/or complex organisation.
• Senior level leadership and management experience in an organisation of comparable scope and complexity, with strong contributions to strategic organisational development and change.
• Exceptional commercial acumen and understanding.
• Experience of working in an organisation going through fast‑paced, transformational change.
• Experience in facilitating multi‑disciplinary teams in complex environments.
• Experience in financial services advantageous.
• Business consulting background.
• Cutting‑edge Change Management methodology knowledge.
• Consulting experience preferable in large‑scale organisations.

Core Competencies

• Cultivates innovation - Contributing strategically
• Customer focus - Contributing strategically
• Drives results - Contributing strategically
• Collaborates - Contributing strategically
• Being resilient - Contributing strategically

About The Company

Santam is the market leader in the general insurance industry in Southern Africa. As a large, diversified, and expanding company, we are committed to transformation and growth. While our headquarters are in South Africa, we are rapidly extending our presence into emerging markets across Africa and Asia. With a client base of over 1 million policyholders, Santam serves individuals, commercial enterprises, specialist business owners, and institutions—including 80 of the Top companies listed on the JSE.

Our commitment to insurance, good and proper goes beyond just providing cover—we offer peace of mind, ensuring our clients can focus on living in the moment, not worrying about the unexpected.

People drive our business, and we are committed to attracting the best talent, whether for permanent roles or short‑term opportunities.

Diversity & Inclusion

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.