Job Description

Who are we?Sanlam Fintech is a newly established digital first business within the Sanlam Group on a mission to democratise financial advice and solutions for everyone across the African continent. We exist to pioneer inclusive financial confidence helping people build strong foundations to bridge the gap in generational wealth. Our culture is that of agility and constant deployment, we believe in learning fast, learning cheap and learning forward. Our aim is to provide a work environment where knowledge workers can accelerate the development of their ideas and bring innovation to market, at the same time provide compelling career and development proposition that will enable them to realise their dreams.Position overviewWe are seeking a visionary and data-driven leader to serve as our Head of Data Analyst (Customer & Loyalty) for our exciting Coalition Rewards program within Sanlam Rewards & Loyalty. You will be responsible for leveraging data to drive member acquisition, engagement, and program profitability. This role demands a deep understanding of customer loyalty, coalition programs, and financial services/retail landscapes, coupled with the ability to translate data insights into actionable strategies and build a high-performing data team. The Head of Data Analyst (Customer & Loyalty) will play a pivotal role in leveraging the power of data to shape the future of our Coalition Rewards program and drive its long-term success.What will you do?

• Develop and implement a comprehensive data strategy: Align data strategy with overall business objectives, focusing on member acquisition, engagement, and program profitability. Define key data sources, governance policies, and data quality standards.

• Lead the development and implementation of advanced analytics solutions: Leverage advanced analytics (machine learning, AI) to personalise member experiences, optimise marketing campaigns, identify fraud, and predict member behaviour.

• Build and manage a high-performing data team: Recruit, motivate, and develop a team of data scientists, analysts, and engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.

• Integrate data from various sources: Develop and implement data pipelines to integrate data from multiple internal and external sources (financial transactions, partner data, member interactions) to create a holistic view of customer behaviour.

• Collaborate with key stakeholders: Partner with marketing, sales, program management, and other departments to translate data insights into actionable strategies and optimise program offerings.

• Ensure data security and privacy compliance: Implement robust data security and privacy measures to protect sensitive member information and comply with all relevant regulations.

• Communicate data insights effectively: Translate complex data insights into clear and concise reports and presentations for a variety of audiences, including technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Stay abreast of industry trends and best practices: Continuously monitor the data and analytics landscape, identifying emerging technologies and trends to ensure the program remains at the forefront of data-driven decision making.

• Measure and track the impact of data-driven initiatives: Develop and implement KPIs to measure the success of data-driven initiatives and demonstrate the value of data to Sanlam Rewards & Loyalty.

• Champion a data-driven culture: Foster a culture where data is valued and utilised across all levels of the organisation to drive strategic decision making and program improvements.

What will make you successful in this role?

• Data Sharing Agreements and Governance:

• Develop Clear Data Sharing Frameworks: Collaborate with partner Heads of Data Analyst to establish clear data sharing agreements that outline permitted data types, data usage limitations, and security protocols. This ensures transparency, trust, and compliance with data privacy regulations.
• Define Data Governance and Standards: Agree on standardised data definitions, formats, and quality checks to ensure consistent data exchange and analysis across partner platforms. This facilitates seamless integration and eliminates data discrepancies.

• Joint Analytics and Insights Generation:

• Conduct Collaborative Data Analysis: Partner on joint data analysis projects to identify cross-program member behaviour, predict churn, and develop targeted marketing campaigns that benefit both programs. This leverages collective data wisdom for mutual benefit.
• Share Best Practices and Innovation: Facilitate regular knowledge sharing sessions where Heads of Data Analyst can exchange best practices in data analytics, model development, and data visualisation, fostering continuous learning and innovation across the coalition.

• Joint Member Profiling and Segmentation:

• Develop Combined Member Segments: Collaborate on creating combined member segments based on aggregated data from all partners, identifying high-value customers and tailoring offerings to their specific needs and preferences. This enhances personalisation and increases program value for all members.
• Optimise Partner Targeting: Share insights into member segments relevant to specific partners, enabling them to refine their marketing efforts and reach targeted audiences within the broader coalition program. This improves campaign effectiveness and ROI for individual partners.

• Risk Management and Fraud Detection:

• Share Real-Time Fraud Alerts: Establish real-time data sharing protocols for suspicious activity or potential fraud attempts, allowing partners to proactively identify and mitigate risks across the entire coalition network. This enhances overall program security and protects member data.
• Jointly Develop Fraud Detection Models: Collaborate on developing advanced fraud detection models that leverage combined data from all partners, improving the accuracy and effectiveness of identifying fraudulent transactions across the program.

• Collaborative Technology and Infrastructure:

• Explore Joint Data Platforms: Investigate opportunities to develop or share common data platforms that facilitate easier data exchange, integration, and analysis across partner platforms. This reduces infrastructure costs and promotes efficiency.
• Standardise Data Integration Tools: Agree on standardised data integration tools and protocols to ensure smooth data transfer and minimise technical challenges in collaborating on joint initiatives. This promotes seamless collaboration and data interoperability.

Qualification & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in a quantitative subject (computer science, mathematics, engineering, statistics or science)
• Exposure to one or more data analysis packages or databases, e.g., SAS, R, SPSS, Python, VBA, SQL, Tableau
• 7 plus years related experience

Knowledge and Skills

• Proven track record of success in leading data-driven initiatives within a loyalty program or similar environment.
• Deep understanding of data analytics methodologies and advanced modelling techniques.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to build and motivate a high-performing data team.
• Experience in collaborating with various stakeholders across different departments and functions.
• Strong understanding of data security and privacy regulations.
• Knowledge of the Financial Services and Retail industries would be a plus.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for diverse audiences.

How you will think

• You are high agency: Looking for ways to do, instead of reasons not to.
• Where some see impossible, you see a way: Turning obstacles into opportunity, chance into change.
• You love creating more with less: Knowing that the biggest impact is born of the smallest acts.
• You seek out and value different perspectives: Believing that when we change how we look at things, how things look for us also changes. Making tomorrow not just different, but better.

What you will enjoy

• Being in a high ownership, high ambiguity, high autonomy environment where the impact of your work matters. The ideal environment for your capability growth.
• Learn from the best. Get guidance from some of the most seasoned professionals around. Our mentorship vibe is all about growing together, both professionally and personally.
• Diving into projects that touch the lives of millions. Making a real difference in how people manage their money and plan their lives.

Personal AttributesBalances stakeholders - Contributing strategicallyBusiness insight - Contributing strategicallyFinancial acumen - Contributing strategicallyManages complexity - Contributing strategicallyBuild a successful career with usWe're all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future - your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters - Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office - the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.Core CompetenciesBeing resilient - Contributing strategicallyCollaborates - Contributing strategicallyCultivates innovation - Contributing strategicallyCustomer focus - Contributing strategicallyDrives results - Contributing strategicallyTurnaround timeThe shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers.Our commitment to transformationThe Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace as we believe that these are key components to ensuring a thriving and sustainable business in South Africa. The Group's Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the selection process.

Sanlam