Senior Manager: Operational Excellence

Empowering Africa's tomorrow, together…one story at a time.
With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary
Job Description
The Senior Manager: Operational Excellence is a critical value enablement role reporting to the Executive: Operational Delivery Excellence. This role is accountable for the design, coordination, and delivery of operational transformation initiatives that enable performance and value creation. The incumbent applies deep expertise in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies and business insight to shape and implement tactical plans, optimise process efficiency, and ensure alignment with strategic objectives. The role requires strong stakeholder engagement, operational oversight, and the ability to lead teams through change and continuous improvement. Additionally, the role demands driving business ownership of results and embedding a culture of problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation at the organisational level.

As a Senior Manager in the Absa Business Banking Operational Delivery Excellence, you will excel in commercializing and monetizing strategies with a strong financial acumen. Your ability to leverage digital tools and technology to automate processes and generate commercial value will be paramount. With a focus on efficiency driven by automation, digitization, and cost optimization, you will consistently create demonstrated value for our clients.

KEY FOCUS AREAS
We are shaping the future by turning bold strategies into actionable plans that deliver measurable impact.

Our commitment to customer primacy ensures every solution is informed by insight and designed to create exceptional experiences.

We drive sustainable growth through disciplined performance and smart investment decisions that unlock long-term value.

Innovation is at the heart of what we do—leading change, embracing new technologies, and fostering continuous improvement.

We believe in the power of people, building inclusive, high-performing teams and developing leaders for tomorrow.

Operational excellence is our standard, optimizing processes and ensuring seamless delivery that exceeds expectations.

Digital transformation fuels our progress, embedding automation and innovation to redefine how we work and serve.

Integrity guides us as we uphold governance, manage risk, and ensure compliance with unwavering diligence.

Data is our advantage, transforming insights into smarter decisions and creating value at every opportunity.

Through strong stakeholder partnerships, we align priorities, communicate transparently, and deliver outcomes that matter.

Accountabilities
Strategy Formulation and Execution

• Drives growth through goal-oriented collaboration, strong relationships, and innovative approaches.
• Demonstrates ownership of decisions, actions, and outcomes, consistently upholding high standards.
• Translate strategic objectives into operational plans with clear deliverables, timelines, and performance measures.
• Align team or practice area priorities with business goals, ensuring tactical execution supports broader strategic outcomes.
• Monitor progress, identify risks, and implement corrective actions to ensure delivery.

Customer Primacy

• Use customer insights to inform service design and delivery improvements.
• Champion initiatives that enhance customer experience, satisfaction, and loyalty.
• Collaborate across teams to ensure consistent and differentiated customer journeys.

Sustainable Growth

• Advances efficiency through automation, digitisation, and digitalisation to optimize costs.
• Contribute to the development and execution of growth plans aligned with business unit priorities.
• Drive performance accountability within the team or practice area.
• Support investment decisions through analysis of operational impact and value creation.

Client-Driven Innovation and Change

• Identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement.
• Lead change initiatives, ensuring readiness, engagement, and adoption.
• Support the implementation of new technologies, processes, and practices.

Leading Talent

• Champions talent development, inclusion, and fosters a culture of continuous learning.
• Develop team or practice capabilities to meet current and future business needs.
• Foster a culture of performance, inclusion, and continuous learning.
• Manage performance, development, and succession planning.

Operational Effectiveness

• Implement Lean operations management systems to monitor performance, identify bottlenecks, and drive ongoing improvements.
• Embed Lean principles into daily management routines and decision-making processes.
• Lead initiatives to shift mindsets towards proactive identification and resolution of operational challenges.
• Lead or support Six Sigma projects to address complex problems, reduce process variation, and improve quality.
• Build Six Sigma capability within the team through coaching, mentoring, and formal training.
• Lead the identification, design, and implementation of business process changes to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness, and customer outcomes.
• Apply Lean, Kaizen, and Six Sigma methodologies to streamline processes, eliminate waste, and reduce variation.
• Oversee process mapping, documentation, and governance to ensure consistency and compliance with organizational standards.
• Prepare teams for operational changes by communicating the vision, objectives, and expected outcomes.
• Set clear, measurable goals and performance indicators aligned with business priorities.
• Champion the adoption of Lean thinking across the business unit, promoting a focus on value creation, waste elimination, and continuous improvement.
• Drive cultural transformation by fostering an environment that embraces change, problem-solving, and teamwork.
• Recognize and reward behaviors that support Lean and continuous improvement values.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and continuous improvement workshops to engage employees in identifying and implementing solutions.
• Establish mechanisms for capturing, evaluating, and scaling successful improvement ideas.
• Drive cultural transformation by fostering an environment that embraces change, problem-solving, and teamwork.
• Lead or support Six Sigma projects to address complex problems, reduce process variation, and improve quality.
• Build Six Sigma capability within the team through coaching, mentoring, and formal training.
• Translate business priorities into operational plans with defined KPIs and scorecards.
• Optimise processes for efficiency, quality, and alignment with customer needs.
• Resolve operational issues and ensure continuity of delivery.

Digital Adoption

• Promote the use of digital tools and platforms to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.
• Identify opportunities for automation and digitisation.
• Support digital transformation initiatives and ensure effective adoption.

Good Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Implement governance, risk, and compliance frameworks within operational routines.
• Promote risk-aware decision-making and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Monitor and manage operational risks, ensuring timely resolution and reporting.

Data Monetisation

• Use data and analytics to inform decisions, improve performance, and identify opportunities.
• Ensure data quality and relevance for reporting, insights, and operational planning.
• Apply performance insights to drive continuous improvement and value creation.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Align delivery with stakeholder expectations and business priorities.
• Communicate progress, risks, and outcomes effectively.

Qualifications And Experience
Education/Qualification:
Bachelor's Degree, Advanced Diplomas, Post Graduate Certificate, or B Tech [NQF7].

Degree in Industrial Engineering / Six Sigma Training / Lean Methodologies

Field of Study:
Business, Commerce and Management Studies

Work Experience:

• 5 - 12 years experience in a specific capability of importance to the bank, including a track record of 3 years in a people management position.
• Exposure to process design, optimisation, quality management, customer centricity, technology and data-driven decision-making is preferred.

COMPETENCIES
Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking
• Business Acumen
• Communication
• Influence
• Leadership
• Delivering Results
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Decision-Making

Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong commercialisation and monetisation skills with an affinity for finance
• Digital affinity and dexterity that leverages technology to automate and create commercial value
• Mindset of efficiency driven by automation, digitization, and cost optimisation to create client value
• Operational planning and execution
• Process optimisation and service design
• Customer experience management
• Performance measurement and reporting
• Governance and compliance
• Digital tools and platforms
• Data analysis and insight generation
• Team leadership and development

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