IT Business Applications Lead

Montego Pet Nutrition; Graaff-Reinet; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pet food manufacturer in South Africa is looking for a Business Applications Lead to manage enterprise systems and ensure their effectiveness. This position involves leading the Business Applications Team and is critical in driving strategies, overseeing application management, and ensuring alignment with business goals. Ideal candidates will have ERP certification, a degree in IT, and significant experience in IT roles and people management.

Qualifications

• ERP Certification (NQF Level 6) required.
• 3+ years in IT or Business Systems roles.
• 3+ years in people management is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the Business Applications Team.
• Oversee administration, configuration, and maintenance of core systems.
• Develop and maintain the Enterprise Application Architecture Blueprint.

Skills

ERP Certification

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Education

Diploma or Degree in Software Engineering / IT

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics

ERP systems

CRM systems

Job description

Overview

Are you the kind of person who can turn chaos into seamless workflows and spreadsheets into strategy?

We’re looking for a Business Applications Lead to take the reins of our enterprise systems and ensure they don’t just work — they work wonders for the business.

This role is at the intersection of strategy, technology, and leadership. You’ll be responsible for steering the team that manages our business applications, ensuring they’re aligned with organisational goals, impeccably integrated, and continuously evolving to meet the pace of change.

What You’ll Be Doing

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead, mentor, and inspire the Business Applications Team to deliver top-notch support and innovation.
• Craft and execute the Strategic Roadmap for Business Applications and Architecture.
• Establish governance frameworks, standards, and best practices for everything from data integrity to system integrations.
• Drive modern enterprise architecture principles to ensure scalability, agility, and operational excellence.

Application Management

• Oversee the administration, configuration, and maintenance of core systems—ERP, CRM, collaboration tools, analytics platforms, and beyond.
• Keep systems running like clockwork through proactive monitoring, upgrades, and maintenance.
• Partner with vendors and internal teams to ensure applications evolve with the business.
• Maintain clear, comprehensive documentation and process workflows (yes, tidy systems are happy systems).

Enterprise Architecture

• Develop and maintain the Enterprise Application Architecture Blueprint—your digital masterpiece.
• Evaluate and recommend application solutions and architectures to match evolving business needs.
• Optimise data architecture, integrations, and processes across the enterprise.
• Conduct risk assessments and ensure compliance with data, security, and regulatory standards.

Business Analysis & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the bridge between business and IT—turning big ideas into elegant technical solutions.
• Lead assessments, facilitate cross-functional workshops, and champion digital transformation.
• Provide expert guidance on process optimisation and innovation initiatives.

Project Delivery & Change Management

• Plan and deliver application-related projects—on time, on scope, on budget (and ideally, on applause).
• Apply structured change management to ensure smooth transitions and enthusiastic adoption.
• Establish KPIs and success metrics, and report progress to leadership with confidence and clarity.

People Management

• Guide and develop a capable, motivated team of professionals.
• Set clear expectations, provide continuous feedback, and create opportunities for growth.
• Foster a culture of communication, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Why Montego?

Montego Pet Nutrition, a family business established in 2000 in the Karoo, is the leading independent pet food manufacturer in the African Market. As a pioneer in pet care, we have always been passionate about bettering pets, people and the planet. For 25 years, our genuine love of pets has been at the heart of our business and supports our brand promise of “Better Every Day”. Today, pet owners in more than 20 countries across five continents trust us to produce world-class products with the health and wellbeing of pets in mind.

What You’ll Bring to the Table

• ERP Certification (NQF Level 6)
• Diploma or Degree in Software Engineering / Information Technology (NQF Level 7) and Microsoft Dynamics Certification would put you at the top of our list.
• 3+ years’ progressive experience in IT or Business Systems roles
• 3+ years in people management
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems, enterprise architecture, solution design, and project delivery (Agile or Waterfall)
• Proven experience in business analysis, process reengineering, and data-driven decision-making
• Strategic thinker with a business-first mindset
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Detail-oriented, organised, and adaptable
• Inspiring leader who brings out the best in others
• Deep understanding of ERP, CRM, and analytics systems

Solid grounding in systems administration, software development, and enterprise integration