Head of AI and Automation

Division: Enterprise

Location: Cape Town / Hybrid (SA-based)

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Type: Full-time

Role Purpose

The Head of AI and Automation will lead the strategic visioning, development, and implementation of enterprise-grade AI-powered solutions and automation capabilities across the Enterprise Division. This role is key to unlocking efficiency, driving data-informed decision-making, and enhancing both customer and employee experience.

This role will also oversee the Sales Operations, Tech Operations, FinOps, and Customer Operations teams. The Head of AI and Automation will play a key role in shaping and optimizing these teams to better serve both internal and external clients. By embedding intelligent automation and AI-driven insights into operational workflows, this role ensures seamless, data-led execution across the Enterprise Division.

As the leader of a growing AI and Automation team, you will build and scale intelligent systems that redefine how we deliver value to our clients, optimise internal operations, and future-proof our business. You’ll work closely with Engineering, Product, Data, and Business Unit Leaders to embed scalable AI and automation solutions across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

AI and Automation Strategy (70%)

• Define and drive the AI and Automation strategy for the Enterprise Division aligned to business objectives.
• Identify high-impact opportunities for AI/ML, RPA, NLP, and intelligent automation across internal processes and customer-facing platforms.
• Design and oversee the implementation of intelligent systems that improve efficiency, reduce cost, and enhance experience.
• Build frameworks and pipelines to deploy and scale machine learning models into production environments.
• Champion a culture of responsible and ethical AI use, ensuring data governance and compliance are upheld.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to embed AI/automation in product and service design.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies (e.g., LLMs, computer vision, deep learning) and assess applicability to business needs.

Team Leadership and Capability Building (20%)

• Build and manage a multidisciplinary team
• Foster a culture of experimentation, agility, and innovation.
• Coach and mentor team members and identify opportunities for skills development and professional growth.
• Drive delivery excellence by implementing agile ways of working, managing project scope, timelines, and impact.

Stakeholder Engagement & Change Enablement (10%)

• Act as the strategic bridge between technical and non-technical teams, translating complex AI concepts into business value.
• Support change management initiatives by enabling adoption of AI and automation tools across the business.
• Build strong partnerships with external vendors, research institutions, and tech partners to stay ahead of the curve.

Qualifications & Experience

Minimum Requirements:

• 8+ years of experience in AI, Machine Learning, or Automation, with at least 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of delivering enterprise-level AI/automation initiatives that drive measurable business value.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and familiarity with frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or HuggingFace.
• Hands-on experience deploying ML models, NLP solutions, RPA bots, or integrating AI APIs (e.g., OpenAI, Azure AI, AWS ML).
• Solid understanding of data engineering pipelines and MLOps best practices.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to communicate complex ideas to senior stakeholders.

Preferred:

• Experience within financial services, technology, or large-scale enterprise environments.
• Familiarity with tools like Power Automate, UiPath, DataRobot, or Azure AI.
• Understanding of AI ethics, responsible AI practices, and data privacy regulations (e.g., POPIA, GDPR).

Success Metrics

• Number and scale of AI/automation projects implemented
• Business impact (e.g., cost savings, time efficiency, CX uplift)
• AI/automation adoption rates across business units
• Model performance, uptime, and ongoing optimization
• Team satisfaction, growth, and retention

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive market salary and performance-based bonus
• Flexible hybrid working model
• 21 days Annual leave
• Inclusive culture that values curiosity, experimentation, and growth

Why Join Us?

The Enterprise Division is undergoing a bold transformation, and AI is at the heart of our future strategy. This is a rare opportunity to shape and build a next-gen AI and automation capability from the ground up — with a mandate to experiment, disrupt, and lead. If you're ready to leave legacy thinking behind and drive real-world impact through innovation, we want to meet you.