BUSA Tech Operations Manager at The South African Breweries (SAB)

Key Roles and Responsibilities:


Lead and be accountable for IT operational performance across SABU, while providing governance, execution leadership, and operational oversight across Africa Zone countries.
Drive the execution of technology strategy through stable, resilient, and scalable IT operations that enable business performance and transformation.
Provide executive‑level oversight of core IT services (end‑user, infrastructure, network, and applications), ensuring availability, stability, performance, and continuous improvement.
Act as Africa Zone execution lead for Global and Zone technology initiatives, coordinating country readiness, delivery, and operational stabilisation.
Establish and maintain strong operational governance, including service performance management, risk visibility, and escalation management across SABU and supported countries.
Serve as the primary senior escalation point for major incidents, ensuring effective resolution, root‑cause analysis, and sustainable corrective actions.
Ensure consistent and effective execution of IT service management processes (incident, problem, change) aligned to Global Tech standards.
Partner with SABU and country leadership teams as a trusted technology advisor, aligning operational priorities to business objectives and operational realities.
Collaborate closely with Africa Zone and Global Tech teams to embed standards, best practices, and common operating models across diverse geographies.
Lead and develop IT operations leaders, teams, and strategic partners, building capability, accountability, and succession across the Africa Zone.
Ensure compliance with technology standards, policies, security, and audit requirements, proactively identifying and managing operational risk and technical debt.
Foster a culture of operational excellence, continuous improvement, and disciplined execution across IT operations.


Minimum Requirements:


Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline; postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
8 - 12 years of progressive experience in IT operations and technology management, preferably within a complex, asset‑heavy or FMCG/CPG environment.
Proven experience leading IT operations at country or regional level, with accountability for service stability, delivery outcomes, and operational governance.
Demonstrated ability to execute technology strategy through disciplined IT operations in a multi‑country or matrixed environment
Strong track record of leading and developing IT leaders and teams, including outsourced and strategic service partners
Experience driving large‑scale technology initiatives or transformations, working across business, regional, and global stakeholders
Highly effective communicator, able to engage credibly with senior business leaders, translated technical topics into clear business impact and risk.​​
Strong commercial and vendor‑management capability, including governing supplier performance, cost control, and service quality.
Sound judgement and a risk‑based, pragmatic decision‑making approach, particularly in high‑pressure or ambiguous environments.
Proven ability to operate independently, manage competing priorities, and lead through uncertainty and change.
Solid exposure to enterprise platforms (e.g. SAP, S/4HANA, ECC, Syspro, Gen AI) in a manufacturing or FMCG context, with an appreciation for operational dependencies.
Comfortable operating in resource‑constrained and operationally critical environments, balancing global standards with local realities.
Demonstrated ability to influence outcomes without formal authority, effectively navigating complex, matrixed organisations across geographies.