Head of Technology

About the role

The Head of Technology is a strategic leadership role accountable for defining, shaping, and governing the technology demand strategy for OK Franchise. The role acts as the primary business representative for all technology-related priorities, ensuring that current and future technology investments and projects support the strategic objectives, operational requirements, and growth ambitions of the Franchise business across RSA, Namibia and Eswatini. The role translates business strategy into a prioritised technology roadmap and demand pipeline, ensuring that technology resources are focused on the initiatives that create the greatest value for Franchisees, customers, and the broader OK Franchise network. While the National Technology Manager, and Digital Commerce Manager report to the Head of Technology and are responsible for the execution and delivery of operational technology services and initiatives, Shoprite Technology and external technology partners support the delivery of these services through established partnerships and service agreements. The Head of Technology, provides strategic direction, governance, prioritisation, and leadership to ensure long-term alignment between business objectives and technology outcomes.

What you bring

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Commerce, Business Management or related discipline. +10 years' experience leading a technology function including the digital strategy and transformation within a retail or a similar operating context. Exposure to complex stakeholder environments and managing cross-functional teams. Exposure to the integration of digital commerce, data analytics, systems, and enterprise technology ecosystems.

What you'll do

Technology Strategy & Roadmap

Develop and maintain a multi-year Franchise Technology Strategy aligned to the OK Franchise business strategy and synergy with The Shoprite’s Group strategy. Own the Technology Strategy and Roadmap, translating business priorities into a future-focused technology vision that delivers measurable growth, operational efficiency, franchisee profitability, customer experience, and digital commerce ambitions. Identify emerging technologies, industry trends, and innovation opportunities relevant to the franchise and convenience retail environment.

Business Demand Management

Own the enterprise demand management framework, ensuring business needs are prioritised, evaluated, and converted into technology initiatives that deliver measurable business value, strategic advantage, and sustainable growth.

Technology Governance & Prioritisation

Chair appropriate technology governance forums within OK Franchise. Ensure all projects align with agreed strategic objectives and deliver measurable value. Provide oversight insights into technology investment decisions and portfolio performance. Manage technology-related risks and dependencies across the business.

Strategic Partnership with Shoprite Technology

Serve as the primary business interface between OK Franchise and Shoprite Technology. Ensure Franchise priorities are clearly articulated, understood, and appropriately prioritised. Influence technology direction by representing Franchise requirements at Group forums. Foster strong relationships with technology suppliers, strategic partners, and solution providers. Support architecture and solution design discussions from a business perspective.

Digital Commerce Leadership

Provide strategic direction for all digital commerce initiatives. Drive the evolution of Franchise digital capabilities including e-commerce, customer engagement, loyalty, analytics, digital marketing integration, and omnichannel solutions. Identify opportunities to leverage technology to improve customer acquisition, retention, frequency, and basket growth. Steer digital initiatives to support commercial sustainability and long-term profitability.

Data, Insights & Business Intelligence

Strategically champion data-driven decision-making culture across OK Franchise. Ensure technology and data capabilities support operational, commercial, and strategic decision-making. Promote the use of analytics, automation, dashboards, predictive insights, and AI-enabled opportunities where appropriate.

Change Leadership & Adoption

Ensure effective stakeholder engagement, communication, training, and adoption of new systems and processes. Spearhead simplification, standardisation, and process optimisation across the Franchise ecosystem. Build strong Franchisee confidence in technology-enabled business improvements.

People Leadership

Strategically build a high-performing technology team and ensure continuous capability improvement. Provide strategic leadership to technology-related managers and teams. Develop succession plans and capability-building programmes together with the People strategy. Encourage strong partnership between business teams, Shoprite Technology and external partners.

Project Management and Execution

Provide executive oversight of technology projects, ensuring initiatives are delivered on time, within budget, and in line with agreed business outcomes, governance standards, and strategic priorities. Establish and maintain project delivery frameworks, standards, and reporting mechanisms to ensure consistent execution and accountability. Ensure cross-functional collaboration between business stakeholders, technology teams, Shoprite Technology, and external partners to achieve project objectives. Lead decision-making and escalation processes to remove barriers and accelerate project delivery.