Job Description

Be the Visionary Behind Our Data Transformation!

Role: Executive Head of Data - Merchant Division

Are you ready to

lead the future of data, analytics, and AI

? This is your opportunity to

shape strategy, build innovation, and unlock new revenue streams

for one of the most dynamic divisions in the Lesaka Group.

#

Why This Role Matters

The Executive Head of Data is the

architect of intelligence

for the Merchant Division. You'll design and execute a

data strategy that powers growth

, establish a

Data Center of Excellence

, and embed

AI-driven insights

into every corner of the business. Your mission?

Turn data into value, efficiency, and competitive advantage.

What You'll Do

?

Data Strategy Leadership

Craft a

fit-for-purpose roadmap

aligned to Merchant and Group priorities. Define

modern architectures, governance frameworks, and compliance standards

(POPIA, PCI-DSS).

?

Build a Centralized Data CoE

Unite

Data Engineering, Analytics, AI/ML, Governance, and MLOps

under one roof. Deliver a

single source of truth

for operational, customer, and transactional data.

?

Support All Merchant Division Functional Areas

Provide analytics, insights, and data products to improve performance across:

Sales & Relationship Management Operations & Service Delivery Finance & Risk Product & Innovation Customer Experience Compliance & Audit Revenue Assurance Marketing & Growth

Deliver value through:

Predictive insights Segmentation models Demand forecasting Merchant performance dashboards Operational intelligence Automated insights and alerts

?

Collaborate with the Group Data Office

Align Merchant Division initiatives to the

Lesaka Group Data Strategy, standards, and governance frameworks

. Participate in

Group Data Office forums, councils, and architecture sessions

. Ensure shared

definitions, metadata, lineage, governance processes, and architecture patterns

. Support

enterprise-wide data initiatives

and integrate merchant data into group platforms.

?

Enable Analytics-as-a-Service

Create

predictive models, dashboards, and insights layers

for internal teams and external partners. Drive

continuous intelligence delivery

and merchant reporting excellence.

?

Monetize Data

Develop

commercial data products

: benchmarking, market intelligence, fraud scoring, and more. Partner with Product & Commercial teams to

launch scalable, secure offerings

.

?

Lead AI & Machine Learning Innovation

Deploy models for

forecasting, churn prediction, fraud detection, and recommendation engines

. Build full

MLOps lifecycle capability

and stay ahead with

generative AI readiness

.

?

CRM Intelligence Integration

Embed

predictive scoring and insights

into Salesforce for smarter merchant management. Drive

sales conversion, retention, and customer experience

through data-driven CRM.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Your success will be measured by:

Data Strategy Execution

: Delivery of roadmap milestones and governance adoption.

CoE Performance

: Single source of truth, reduced inconsistencies, and standardized dashboards.

Functional Impact

: Improved decision-making, stakeholder satisfaction, and adoption of insights.

Group Alignment

: Compliance with enterprise standards and collaboration on group initiatives.

Analytics-as-a-Service

: Deployment and impact of analytics assets and efficiency gains.

Data Monetization

: Revenue from data products and merchant adoption.

AI & ML Capability

: Predictive models deployed and operational impact (fraud/churn reduction).

CRM Intelligence

: Increased sales conversion, reduced churn, and CRM-driven insights adoption.

Required Skills & Competencies

Technical Expertise

Data strategy, architecture & governance Cloud data engineering (Snowflake, AWS, Azure, GCP) BI & analytics, AI/ML, CRM analytics & Salesforce integration Data monetization and regulatory compliance (POPIA, PCI-DSS)

Business & Leadership Skills

Ability to turn data into business value Strategic & commercial acumen Executive-level influence and storytelling Cross-functional leadership and change management

Leadership Behaviours

Visionary and forward-thinking High learning agility Ability to influence without authority Strong team development and coaching Data-driven mindset with disciplined execution

What We're Looking For

Bachelor's

in data science, Engineering, Computer Science, Statistics, or similar (master's preferred).

10+ years

in senior data leadership roles. Expertise in

data strategy, architecture, AI/ML, cloud platforms (Snowflake, AWS, Azure)

. Strong

commercial acumen and executive influence

. A

visionary leader

who turns data into business value. Experience in fintech, banking, payments, or merchant services strongly preferred. Proven ability to build data platforms, CoEs, and advanced analytics programs. Experience with Salesforce and CRM intelligence integration.

Why Lesaka?

We're not just a fintech company -- we're a movement. At Lesaka, you'll be part of a team that values

entrepreneurial spirit, collective wisdom, and a bias to action

. We empower our people to take ownership and make a real difference in the lives of merchants and communities.



Preference will be made to support EE / AA measures