Job Description

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

Lead the translation of CRES workplace strategy into integrated, scalable and high-performing workplace environments across the Absa portfolio.
The role is responsible for workplace design standards, and workplace implementation, ensuring that physical environments enable productivity, collaboration, culture and brand alignment.
The role operates as a centre of excellence for workplace design and planning, integrating architectural design, space optimisation and user experience with the broader real estate lifecycle.
This includes oversight of corporate offices fit out, retail environments and future workplace concepts across Absa’s geographically distributed portfolio.

• Workplace Strategy Execution

• Translate enterprise and CRES workplace strategy into executable design standards, workplace models and implementation frameworks.

• Workplace Design & Standards

• Develop and govern workplace design standards, ensuring consistency, quality and alignment with brand, culture and business needs.

• Workplace Implementation & Change

• Lead workplace design rollout, refurbishment and transformation initiatives.

• User Experience & Environment Quality

• Design workplace environments that enhance employee experience, collaboration and productivity.

• Architectural & Design Governance

• Provide architectural oversight and coordination across internal teams and external design partners.

• Cross-functional Integration

• Collaborate closely with Projects, Facilities Management, Engineering and Strategy functions to ensure end-to-end delivery alignment.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategy Formulation and Execution

• • Act as the centre of excellence for workplace design standards across the CRES portfolio.
• • Translate strategic workplace objectives into design frameworks
• • Develop long-term workplace planning models aligned to portfolio strategy, hybrid work trends and business growth.
• • Establish and maintain design governance frameworks and approval processes
• • Ensure alignment between workplace design, capital investment decisions and portfolio optimisation strategies.

Customer Primacy (Employee Experience)

• • Represent the voice of the employee and user experience within workplace design decisions.
• • Deliver environments that balance experience, efficiency and operational practicality
• • Enable consistent workplace experience across geographies while allowing for local adaptation.

Sustainable Growth & Portfolio Efficiency

• • Contribute to cost optimisation through intelligent space planning and workplace design
• • Support business growth through scalable workplace models aligned to expansion strategies.
• • Integrate sustainability principles into workplace design and planning.

Client-Driven Innovation and Change

• • Monitor global workplace trends and introduce innovative workplace concepts and delivery models
• • Lead workplace transformation programmes, including hybrid work enablement and future workplace design
• • Drive adoption of new workplace solutions through structured change management approaches.
• • Influence business stakeholders to align on new workplace strategies and standards.

Leading Talent

• • Build and lead a high-performing workplace planning and design capability.
• • Develop internal expertise across design, space planning and workplace strategy.
• • Manage external consultants, architects and design partners.
• • Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and design excellence

Operational Effectiveness

• • Ensure workplace design is practical, deliverable and aligned with operational realities
• • Collaborate with Facilities and Engineering teams to ensure designs support efficient operations and maintenance
• • Work closely with the Projects function to ensure design intent is delivered during execution
• • Establish clear design-to-delivery handover processes across the value chain.

Digital Adoption

• • Support integration of workplace data into broader CRES reporting and intelligence platforms.
• • Drive adoption of digital workplace tools and smart environment solutions

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• • Ensure all workplace designs comply with regulatory, safety and accessibility requirements
• • Support governance processes related to design approvals and capital investment decisions.
• • Maintain clear documentation, standards and audit trails for workplace design decisions.

Stakeholder Management

• • Engage with senior business stakeholders to understand workplace requirements and priorities.
• • Act as a trusted advisor on workplace strategy, design and planning.
• • Collaborate across CRES functions to ensure integrated delivery.
• • Manage relationships with external architects, designers and workplace consultants.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

• • Degree (NQF 7/8) in Architecture, Interior Design (Mandatory)
• • Registered with SACAP (Mandatory)
• • Postgraduate qualification in Architecture and Interior Design advantageous

Experience:

• • 10–15 years’ experience in workplace design, architecture, or corporate real estate
• • Proven experience in large-scale workplace transformation planning
• • Experience working across corporate and/or retail environments
• • Strong exposure to occupancy analytics, workplace strategy and design governance
• • Experience managing external design consultants and delivery partners
• • Experience operating within large, complex and multi-site portfolios

COMPETENCIES

Leadership Competencies:

• • Strategic Thinking
• • Design Leadership
• • Influence and Stakeholder Engagement
• • Innovation and Creativity
• • Collaboration
• • Delivery Focus
• • Business Acumen

Knowledge and Skills:

• • Workplace strategy and planning
• • Architectural and design principles
• • Space utilisation and occupancy analytics
• • Change management and workplace transformation
• • Portfolio planning integration
• • Digital workplace tools and analytics
• • Cross-functional delivery coordination

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised