Data Lead

Recruiter

Network Recruitment

Job Ref

ITE007862/Sfund

Date posted

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Location

Johannesburg, South Africa

Salary

Monthly

SUMMARY

The Lead of Data is responsible for driving the delivery and continuous evolution of data capabilities within the business, ensuring high-quality, scalable, and reliable data solutions that support strategic and operational objectives. This role focuses on the design, development, optimisation, and governance of data platforms, architectures, pipelines, and models, while collaborating closely with business, product, and technology teams to translate requirements into effective data solutions. The successful candidate will bring strong technical leadership and a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach to ensure data solutions are robust, efficient, and aligned with business needs and priorities.

POSITION INFO

Key Responsibilities Data Delivery & Technical Leadership Lead the design, development, and optimisation of data platforms, pipelines, models, and solutions. Translate business requirements into scalable, efficient, and maintainable data products. Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to data engineers and analysts. Establish and promote best practices in data engineering, modelling, and solution design. Data Architecture & Platform Development Design and implement modern data architectures, including data marts, integration layers, APIs, and data services. Oversee data ingestion, transformation, and integration processes across multiple systems and platforms. Drive platform enhancements to improve performance, scalability, reliability, and operational efficiency. Contribute to the strategic evolution of data infrastructure and capabilities. Data Quality & Operational Excellence Implement and maintain data quality frameworks, validation processes, monitoring, and controls. Ensure the accuracy, consistency, reliability, and availability of critical business data. Identify, investigate, and resolve data-related issues and performance bottlenecks. Continuously improve data processes and operational effectiveness. Data Governance & Compliance Establish and maintain data governance standards and frameworks. Support data classification, retention, archival, and lifecycle management processes. Ensure compliance with relevant data protection regulations and organisational policies. Promote data stewardship and accountability across the organisation. Stakeholder Collaboration Partner with business, product, and technology stakeholders to deliver data solutions that create business value. Translate complex technical concepts into clear business insights and recommendations. Provide subject matter expertise for internal initiatives and customer-facing engagements involving data solutions. Build strong relationships across technical and non-technical teams. Team Leadership & Development Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing data team. Foster a culture of collaboration, ownership, continuous learning, and excellence. Support skills development through coaching, knowledge sharing, and technical guidance. Encourage innovation and continuous improvement across the function. Continuous Improvement & Innovation Stay informed of emerging data technologies, trends, and industry best practices. Drive adoption of innovative data solutions, tools, and methodologies. Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, automation, and data usability. Support the application of advanced analytics and AI-driven capabilities where appropriate. Qualifications & Experience Essential Qualifications Relevant Bachelor's Degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Business Analytics, or a related field. Essential Experience 10-15+ years of experience in data-related roles. 5+ years of leadership experience within data management, data engineering, or data platforms. Proven experience leading data teams and delivering enterprise-scale data initiatives. Experience In Data strategy implementation and operating models. Data engineering, platform development, and architecture. Data governance, quality management, and compliance frameworks. Commercial and data product environments. Cross-functional stakeholder engagement and advisory roles. Driving data-driven decision-making across business functions. Advantageous Experience Experience within automotive, financial services, consumer, mobility, or related data-intensive industries. Exposure to AI/ML concepts and practical applications of advanced analytics. Experience developing commercially valuable data products and services. Technical Skills Strong understanding of modern data architectures and integration patterns. Experience with cloud and on-premise data platforms. Proficiency in SQL and data pipeline development. Experience with ETL/ELT processes, APIs, and automation frameworks. Understanding of data governance principles, data quality management, and regulatory compliance. Knowledge of end-to-end data lifecycle management, including retention, archiving, and deletion strategies. Ability to translate data assets into business value and customer-facing solutions. Understanding of emerging trends in data innovation, AI, and machine learning. Leadership & Behavioural Competencies Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities. Ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences. Collaborative leadership style with a focus on coaching and development. Strong relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders. Effective prioritisation, planning, and multitasking capabilities. High attention to detail and commitment to quality. Customer-centric mindset with strong service orientation. Continuous learner with a passion for innovation and growth. Adaptable and resilient within fast-paced and evolving environments. Strong ownership mentality with a proactive, results-driven approach. Sound judgement and decision-making skills. Ability to navigate complexity while maintaining focus on business outcomes. What We Offer Competitive market-related remuneration. Generous annual leave entitlement. Opportunity to work with experienced data professionals on large-scale data initiatives. Access to unique and valuable data assets. Leadership role within a growing, data-driven organisation. Exposure to innovative technologies and modern data platforms. Supportive leadership culture focused on growth, development, and employee wellbeing. Flexible and hybrid working environment. Apply now! For more IT jobs, please visit I also specialise in recruiting in the following: Software Development Data Engineer Data Analyst Infrastructure Architecture ... and more! If you have not had any response in two weeks, please consider the vacancy application unsuccessful. Your profile will be kept on our database for any other suitable roles / positions. For more information contact: Sfundo Shoba Recruitment Consultant