Data Ecosystems Squad Lead International

Data Ecosystems Squad Lead International

Role Purpose

The purpose of the Squad Lead Data Ecosystems role is to lead the development and execution of Shoprite’s data ecosystem strategy to unlock the commercial value of data assets, grow new revenue streams, and deepen customer insights. The role establishes strategic data partnerships, drives the creation of innovative data products, and leads cross-functional teams to deliver monetisable, insight-driven solutions that enhance customer understanding and business value.

Role Description

Data Ecosystem Strategy Development and Execution

• Develop and implement the data ecosystem strategy and delivery plans across multiple business areas that aligns with and delivers on ShopriteX’s strategy. This includes defining data-driven strategies for revenue generation and enabling delivery within the business.
• Provide thought leadership for harmonising data across multiple business units and platforms and serve as technical leader and expert in data ecosystem mapping.
• Conduct data ecosystem needs assessments to influence design and development of products.
• Leverage AI and robust science-based techniques to manage data, predict scenarios, prescribe actions, and deliver deep insights.
• Develop strategic partnerships with external affiliates and vendors (1st party data owners, analytics specialists) to better understand customer profiles and develop meaningful customer attributes.
• Work with internal business stakeholders and external affiliates to identify new types of market fit data products, potential markets and revenue streams that can be unlocked.
• Work with external affiliates and agree on viable data exchanges and identify, test and onboard potential datasets, ensuring legal agreements on privacy laws are preserved at all times.
• Work with legal and compliance teams to lay the legal and governance foundation for external partnerships.
• Drive operational efficiency by maintaining data ecosystems, sourcing analytics expertise, and providing service offerings to external affiliates for continuous insights and improvements.

Squad Leadership and Execution

• Lead the data ecosystems squad, overseeing build and operating activities of all related strategies and monitoring and reporting performance.
• Work alongside the Product Manager to build the overall product roadmap for data ecosystems and apply the roadmap to inform the creation and prioritisation of the backlog.
• Orchestrate all activities related to the roadmap, connecting the dots between related programs of work to ensure continuity of the bigger picture while guiding teams to focus on solving the right problems and developing the right solutions following agile methodology.
• Effectively manage and maximise the squad’s ability to deliver sprint goals and team KPI’s and coach squad members in lean-agile practices and mindsets.
• Maximise business results and customer value resulting from the development and deployment of digital products by making trade-off decisions as needed.
• Prepare for and participate in squad ceremonies including daily stand-up’s, sprint planning, sprint demos and sprint reviews.
• Track and report on squad progress against sprint goals to Tribe Leadership.
• Work collaboratively with other Squad Leads and Managers across Digital to refine the backlog and identify cross journey dependencies.
• Engage with Chapter Leads regarding resources and functional expertise required in the agile team.
• Ensure the agile team can execute on the product roadmap and identifying, removing, and escalating blockers and impediments to maintain pace and flow of value.

Qualifications and experience

• Degree or Diploma in Commerce, Sciences, Information Technology, or a related field – (essential).
• +6 years’ progressive and diverse experience in digital product development with a deep understanding of data ecosystems, data flows, varying types of data (first- and second-party data) and customer profiling – (essential).
• Solid experience designing, developing, and deploying scalable and commercially viable enterprise data products and solutions across the AI spectrum – (essential).
• Understanding of legal compliance as it relates to personal data and privacy laws – (essential).
• Demonstrable experience in an agile environment, particularly delivering strategic roadmaps and owning specific agile events such as backlog refinement and sprint reviews – (essential).
• Experience applying agile analysis techniques for creating user stories and acceptance criteria – (essential).
• Experience leading and coaching a multi-disciplinary team – (essential).
• Experience in a retail environment and/or working with retailer specific data – (desired).

Key competencies and work ethic

• Strategic and conceptual thinker - Combines advanced analytics with strategy and technology to enable long-term decisions and roadmaps. Exercises mature judgment while dealing comfortably with unstructured data. Thinks creatively around a brief.
• Analytical, data-driven, and highly numerate – Strong ability to collect, organise and assimilate disparate and multiple pieces of data to guide decision-making and develop optimal solutions.
• Deep knowledge, sense of wonder and passion for data and its range of possibilities, applications and value for the business. Able come up to speed quickly on our applications, technologies, and processes.
• Commercial and financial acumen – Understands commercial and financial principles and its application within business. Knows how business operates, what the key processes, issues and risks are that drives success; and how they impact on commercial viability and profitability.
• Leadership skills – Serves the team by driving a positive morale. Adopts a range of styles to deal with challenges. Enables the team to deliver on priorities while contributing to their development.
• Collaborative partner – Builds relationships both internally and externally. Open, honest and direct, comfortable giving and receiving feedback. Thinks and act independently as well as collaboratively.
• Change agent - Energized by working both independently and interdependently within the digital network and across functions; is open to change and motivated to work agile.
• Project management skills - Ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects at various complexities to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment with overlapping, conflicting priorities.
• Operational efficiency – Manages multiple demands by working smartly, efficiently and effectively. Stays on top of the detail while effectively prioritising and delivering on urgent and important tasks.
• Innovative and solution-orientated – Thinks outside the box to come up with creative solutions while applying sound judgment to generate short- and long-term value. Use technical expertise to question, understand and challenge solutions and software implementation decisions / priorities.
• Communication skills – Communicates effectively while being able to convert complex concepts and analytical findings into well-articulated verbal, written and visual messages to non-technical and business audiences. Ability to engage executives to explain strategy and influence on new and innovative solutions.

Our Group and all its operating companies is committed to creating, embracing, and preserving a diverse workplace that values the unique talents, perspectives, backgrounds, and abilities that enrich our organisation. A place where everyone matters and feels included.

We are committed to Employment Equity when recruiting internally and externally.

Please take note that by responding to this application and providing your personal information, you confirm your express and informed consent for Shoprite Checkers (Pty) Ltd and all its subsidiaries and affiliates companies to process your personal information for the Company to consider your application for this position. All Personal Information which you provide to the Company will be used and/or retained only for the purposes for which it is collected, whereafter it will be permanently destroyed. Your information is only retained if it is required by law or where you have given consent to us to retain such information for an extended period.

If you don’t hear from us within 14 days, please consider your application unsuccessful. Any personal information collected as part of your application will be destroyed, securely, in accordance with South African legislation.