Cape Town, South Africa

Chief Technology Officer

 Job Description:

Position Summary:

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) will play a crucial role in shaping the technological vision and direction of the company. Working closely with the Chief Product Officer (CPO), the CTO will lead the technology team to enhance platform capabilities, drive product innovation, and ensure the successful delivery of technical projects. This role requires a strategic thinker with strong leadership abilities and a passion for technology.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Strategic Technology Leadership:

    • Define and implement the technology vision and strategy to align with business objectives and product roadmap.
    • Collaborate with the CPO to integrate product strategy with technology planning and execution.
  • Product Development Oversight and Growth:

    • Architecture:
      • Design and maintain a robust, scalable, and secure architecture for the SaaS product.
      • Ensure system design aligns with long-term growth and performance objectives.
    • Software Development:
      • Assist the CPO in prioritizing product features and updates based on customer feedback, market trends, and technological innovations.
      • Oversee the entire development lifecycle, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery.
      • Promote the use of modern development practices, tools, and frameworks to optimize efficiency.
    • Quality Assurance:
      • Establish and enforce best practices for testing and quality assurance.
      • Ensure the product meets high standards for reliability, performance, and user experience.
    • Product Hosting:
      • Manage the hosting environment, ensuring maximum uptime, scalability, and security.
      • Optimize infrastructure costs while maintaining performance and redundancy.
    • Compliance and Risk Management:
      • Work with the CIO to ensure compliance with relevant industry standards, including SOC2.
      • Proactively address security vulnerabilities and operational risks.
  • Innovation and R&D:

    • Cultivate a culture of innovation by exploring emerging technologies and methodologies to enhance product offerings.
    • Initiate and lead research and development projects to stay ahead of the competition.
  • Team Leadership and Development:

    • Build and maintain a skilled technology team, offering mentorship and fostering a collaborative environment.
    • Implement performance management processes to optimize team productivity and morale.
  • Collaboration with Stakeholders:

    • Act as the primary technology liaison for internal stakeholders, including the CPO, sales, and marketing teams, ensuring alignment on product capabilities and client needs.
    • Engage with external partners and customers to gather feedback and continuously improve products.
    • Support implementation partners (locally and globally) with technical issues as needed.
  • Compliance and Risk Management:

    • Oversee technology compliance with industry regulations and internal standards to ensure data security and ethical practices.
    • Develop and implement risk management strategies for technology and product development.

Qualifications:

  • Education:

    • Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.
  • Experience:

    • At least 10 years of experience in technology leadership roles, particularly within the software or SaaS industry.
  • Technical Expertise:

    • Proficient in cloud technologies, software architecture principles, and programming languages. Experience with AI/ML is a plus.
    • Familiarity with agile practices and DevOps methodologies.
    • Experience with major global cloud computing platforms such as AWS, Azure, and GCP.
  • Leadership Skills:

    • Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams while fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.
    • Strong project management skills with a hands-on approach to problem-solving.
  • Collaboration and Communication:

    • Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
    • Proven ability to collaborate successfully with product management and cross-functional teams.
  Required Skills:

AWS Oversight Cloud Computing Assurance Scalability Product Management User Experience Accountability DevOps Product Development Performance Management Programming Languages Reliability Software Development Features Team Leadership Architecture Interpersonal Skills Risk Management Quality Assurance Infrastructure Programming Information Technology Strategy Regulations Security Computer Science Education Research Software Testing Planning Project Management Design Engineering Marketing Leadership Business Science Sales Communication Management