Role Purpose

A leading sterile vaccine manufacturing organisation is seeking a dynamic, strategic, and commercially minded Head: Information Technology to lead the enterprise technology function and drive digital transformation initiatives across the business.

The successful incumbent will be responsible for defining and executing the organisation’s technology strategy, ensuring secure, scalable, compliant, and business-aligned IT operations that support pharmaceutical manufacturing, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and long-term business growth.

This role serves as a strategic business partner to Executive Leadership and is accountable for enterprise technology governance, cybersecurity, digital innovation, infrastructure, data integrity, operational resilience, and IT-enabled transformation initiatives.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

Required

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  Degree or Diploma in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field

Preferred

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  CISM Certification
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  PRINCE2 Certification
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  Professional IT or Project Management Certifications
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  Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and relevant practical experience will be considered

Experience Required

Essential

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  Minimum 10 years’ experience within Information Technology environments
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  Minimum 5 years’ experience in a senior management or executive technology leadership role
• 
  Proven experience defining and executing enterprise technology strategy
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  Experience managing technology investment decisions and IT risk frameworks
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  Experience overseeing enterprise cybersecurity, infrastructure, and digital transformation initiatives
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  Demonstrated ability to align technology capability with organisational objectives
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  Strong experience in business continuity, disaster recovery, and operational resilience

Preferred

• 
  Experience within pharmaceutical manufacturing or regulated manufacturing environments
• 
  Knowledge of pharmaceutical manufacturing legislation and cGMP requirements
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  Experience supporting successful local and/or international quality audits
• 
  Commercial business management experience
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  Exposure to manufacturing systems integration and regulated electronic records management

Key Responsibilities

Technology Leadership & Strategy

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  Define and execute the enterprise technology strategy aligned to organisational goals
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  Develop long-term digital transformation and innovation roadmaps
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  Determine technology investment priorities supporting growth, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation
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  Shape the organisation’s operating model through technology enablement
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  Establish enterprise architecture principles for systems, infrastructure, and integration
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  Drive organisation-wide automation and digital capability initiatives

IT Operations Management

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  Oversee the daily operations of the Information Technology department
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  Ensure stable, scalable, and cost-effective IT infrastructure and business systems
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  Lead the implementation and support of enterprise platforms and technology solutions
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  Ensure availability, performance, and reliability of IT services
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  Define insourcing versus outsourcing strategies for technology delivery
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  Manage internal IT teams and external service providers to ensure effective service delivery

Digital Transformation

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  Lead digital transformation strategy development and implementation
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  Drive technology-enabled business process optimisation initiatives
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  Oversee transitional change management associated with digital transformation
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  Identify and execute strategic technology projects across the organisation
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  Improve customer and user experience through innovative technology solutions

Information Security & Cybersecurity

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  Define and maintain the organisation’s cybersecurity operating model
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  Establish enterprise information security policies, standards, and governance frameworks
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  Determine acceptable enterprise cyber risk posture
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  Oversee vulnerability management, penetration testing, and remediation programmes
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  Ensure protection of intellectual property, regulated data, and manufacturing systems
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  Lead cyber incident response and reporting to executive leadership
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  Approve identity and privileged access management standards

Governance, Compliance & Risk Management

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  Ensure IT compliance with regulatory, operational, and quality requirements
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  Ensure all relevant IT systems are validated and qualified in accordance with cGMP requirements
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  Establish data governance and data ownership frameworks
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  Ensure data integrity of regulated manufacturing and business systems
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  Maintain business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities
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  Support audit readiness and successful audit outcomes

Business Partnership & Stakeholder Management

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  Partner with Executive Leadership on technology-enabled business decisions
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  Influence operational and commercial strategy through technology capability
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  Evaluate strategic business opportunities enabled through digital innovation
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  Collaborate across corporate, manufacturing, and support departments to align IT services with business objectives

Financial Management

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  Manage and justify IT operating and capital expenditure
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  Evaluate return on technology investments
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  Balance operational efficiency with security and compliance obligations
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  Optimise technology cost versus organisational capability
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  Evaluate financial risk exposure associated with technology failure or cyber incidents

Core Competencies

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  Strategic Thinking
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  Executive Leadership
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  Digital Transformation
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  Cybersecurity Governance
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  Enterprise Architecture
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  Business Continuity Planning
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  Change Management
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  Stakeholder Engagement
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  Commercial Acumen
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  Regulatory Compliance
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  Vendor & Service Provider Management
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  Decision-Making & Problem Solving
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  Communication & Influencing Skills

Preferred Technical Exposure

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  Enterprise Infrastructure & Networking
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  Cloud & Hybrid Environments
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  IT/OT Integration
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  ERP & Manufacturing Systems
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  Data Governance & Data Integrity
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  Cybersecurity Frameworks & Security Operations
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  Backup & Disaster Recovery Technologies
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  Enterprise Service Management
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  Digital Automation Platforms

Employment Equity

The organisation is committed to Employment Equity and the creation of diverse and inclusive teams. Preference may be given to suitably qualified candidates in line with Employment Equity objectives.