Innovation & Digital transformation Manager

Cape Town, South Africa Posted on 14/05/2026

Department: Information Technology

We are looking to appoint a hands-on, dynamic, passionate, confident, proactive and meticulous Innovation & Digital Transformation Manager to join a high-performing and goal-oriented team. The successful candidate will lead the organisation's digital innovation strategy, drive AI-enabled transformation initiatives and oversee enterprise data and digital capabilities to unlock business value and operational excellence.

• Lead, manage and develop the data and innovation team including Data Scientists, Analysts and Digital Project resources
• Set clear performance objectives and provide ongoing coaching, mentoring and feedback
• Build team capability in emerging technologies with emphasis on AI literacy and practical application
• Foster a culture of experimentation, innovation and continuous learning
• Manage team capacity, succession planning and resource allocation
• Define and execute the organisation's innovation and AI roadmap aligned to business and IT strategy
• Identify, evaluate and pilot emerging technologies including Generative AI, predictive analytics and automation solutions
• Translate AI capabilities into practical, scalable business solutions
• Lead proof-of-concept and proof-of-value engagements with technology partners
• Develop business cases and present strategic technology investment recommendations to executive leadership
• Drive continuous improvement through innovative digital initiatives
• Lead and coordinate digital transformation initiatives across business units
• Identify and prioritise opportunities for digitisation, automation and process optimisation
• Manage multiple innovation and transformation projects within agreed timelines and budgets
• Establish governance frameworks for innovation project delivery and prioritisation
• Track, measure and report on transformation outcomes, business value and lessons learned
• Oversee organisational data projects, systems, governance and data quality initiatives
• Participate hands-on in strategic data and analytics initiatives
• Ensure enterprise data assets are managed as a strategic business resource
• Drive adoption of self-service analytics and data-driven decision-making practices
• Ensure compliance with POPIA, data privacy regulations and information security standards
• Collaborate with broader IT teams on cloud platforms, enterprise data architecture and infrastructure

• Leadership, coaching and talent development
• Performance management and team enablement
• Change management in technology-driven environments
• Applied AI/ML including Generative AI, LLMs and intelligent agents
• Innovation methodologies including Design Thinking, Agile and Lean Startup
• Strategic planning and business case development
• Programme and project management methodologies (Agile, PRINCE2 or equivalent)
• Enterprise data platforms including Microsoft Fabric, Azure and Power BI
• Data visualisation, dashboarding and storytelling
• Enterprise cloud and data architecture principles
• POPIA and data privacy compliance
• Vendor and stakeholder management

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Business or related field
• Minimum 5+ years' experience in digital transformation, technology management or innovation-focused roles
• Proven track record of leading data teams and delivering AI or advanced analytics projects

• Certification in AI, Cloud Architecture or Digital Strategy (e.g. Azure AI, AWS, Google Cloud)
• Experience within pharmaceutical, life sciences or FMCG environments

• Demonstrated ability to apply AI solutions in live operational environments
• Experience managing and developing data, analytics or digital transformation teams
• Strong understanding of AI/ML, Large Language Models (LLMs), automation and practical business applications
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Azure, Power Platform, Microsoft Fabric or equivalent enterprise data platforms
• Proven programme and project management capability
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills at senior and executive leadership level
• Experience translating innovation concepts into scalable, production-ready solutions
• Experience driving organisation-wide digital transformation initiatives
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking and problem-solving skills

• Knowledge of GxP, GMP or pharmaceutical regulatory compliance requirements
• Experience with AI vendor management, proof-of-concept pilots and innovation labs
• Understanding of POPIA compliance and information security within regulated industries