9 Strategic Initiatives jobs in South Africa

Who are we?

At Miway, our purpose is to enable people to live their way. We understand that life is not just about "things" - but the meaning that those things bring to your life. We believe that technology and innovation have infinite possibilities when it's inspired by humans. by you.

This is why we focus on our clients' needs; finding new ways to simplify their lives and how they do things. We give them products, services and solutions that enable them to live and enjoy life on their own terms – in their own way.

Agile values and principles are strongly embedded in our culture and they are at the core of how we make decisions and how we approach adding value within the company.

Build a successful career with us

We're all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters – Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.

What will you do?

We are seeking a strategic and analytical Product Manager: Strategic Initiatives to lead the development of new products and identify partnership opportunities that drive growth. This role is pivotal in shaping our product roadmap through deep market research, competitive analysis, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

Minimum Requirements:

Qualification:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or commerce
• Analytical proficiency

Experience:

• 5+ years' experience in insurance or financial services industry, with exposure to business development
• 3+ years' experience in new business development
• Experiences in B2B or B2C product environments
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to get important points across – both written and verbal
• Experience in people management and coordination across multidisciplinary teams and departments.
• Strong project management skills and attention to detail

Deliverables include, but will not be limited to:

• Conducting market research to identify customer needs, industry trends and competitive gaps
• Writing research reports and collating statistics on new products launched
• Creating business plans with Finance
• Presenting new product ideas at various forums
• Having a pipeline of new products that can be introduced into the business
• Identifying, evaluating and working with potential partners that align with our product strategy and growth objectives
• Prioritise features and initiatives based on market demand, business impact, and technical feasibility
• Work closely with Development, Legals and Compliance, Marketing and Sales teams to ensure successful product development and launch
• Be involved in the product development process from ideation to launch and post launch optimisation

Competencies Required:

• Comfortable working without routine supervision
• Excellent personal organisation and ability to prioritise and carry out multiple tasks
• Ability to look beyond a problem and not get stuck on the current "process" of how to do things
• Strategic and analytical thinking - ability to summarise complex data into actionable insights.
• Customer-centric mindset – experience conducting user research and usability testing
• Communication and influence – ability to influence stakeholders at all levels and drive alignment across teams
• Execution and ownership – ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment
• Collaboration and leadership – experience working in cross-functional teams and executive leadership

Knowledge and Skills

Conduct client/market research

Specialist product support

Product enhancements

Product performance tracking and measurement

Management of employees

Personal Attributes

Business insight - Contributing through others

Financial acumen - Contributing through others

Organisational savvy - Contributing through others

Decision quality - Contributing through others

Core Competencies

Cultivates innovation - Contributing through others

Customer focus - Contributing through others

Drives results - Contributing through others

Collaborates - Contributing through others

Being resilient - Contributing through others

Turnaround time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers.

Our commitment to transformation

At MiWay we believe in cultivating a positive and dynamic working environment that gives you freedom and opportunity to succeed. MiWay is committed to transformation and embracing diversity. This is what drives us to achieve a multicultural workplace with employment equity as a key goal to create an inclusive workforce, reflective of the demographics of our society.

Strategic Initiatives and Operations Administrator Overview

The Strategic Initiatives and Operations Administrator plays a pivotal role in advancing the mission, strategic goals, and student-centered initiatives of the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs (EMSA). Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor, the role serves as a strategist, advisor, and project lead, coordinating complex, high-impact initiatives aligned with institutional priorities. This position requires cross-functional collaboration, data-informed decision-making, and an ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, service-driven environment. This position is stationed primarily at our Hammond, IN campus; however, travel to and occasional work at our Westville, IN campus may be required.

This position does have the opportunity for a flexible work schedule on occasion, however it requires a strong on-campus presence.

Click here to learn more about the Office of the Vice Chancellor Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. Click here to learn more about joining the Pride of PNW.

• Administer and coordinate the execution of strategic projects and initiatives led by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs (VCEMSA).
• Develop project plans, timelines, and deliverables in collaboration with divisional stakeholders.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks or barriers, and ensure timely execution of key initiatives.
• Communicate project outcomes, updates, and action items to divisional leadership and key stakeholders.
• Provide research assistance on strategic projects, including data collection, report generation, and information analysis.
• Serve as a key member of the leadership team and coordinate activities of the EMSA leadership team.
• Maintain and manage confidential records in EMSA.
• Monitor and maintain the office budget, track expenditures, and process financial transactions.
• Provide counsel to the Vice Chancellor on matters related to strategic initiatives, budget development, and priority projects.
• Prepare, review, and edit correspondence, reports, presentations, memoranda of understanding, and other official university documents.
• Support the development and maintenance of policies, procedures, and initiatives.
• Be an effective liaison and ensure smooth communication between the Office of the Vice Chancellor and other units in EMSA.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Office of the Vice Chancellor, handling inquiries from faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders in a professional and discreet manner.
• Maintain and update the Office of the Vice Chancellor’s website and other digital resources as needed.
• Assist in the planning and execution of meetings and events, including preparing agendas, compiling background materials, taking minutes, and tracking follow-up actions.
• Alert leadership to key deadlines and follow up on outstanding tasks or required materials.

• Full benefits – Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Retirement, Life Insurance and more
• Accrue 15 days’ vacation your first year, then 22 days’ vacation in the second year plus rollover
• University contribution of 10% to retirement (3 year waiting period)
• University contributions to Health Savings Account
• Opportunity to earn more through participating in University Wellness Initiatives
• 10 paid holidays
• Employee Wellness Programs
• Paid Parental Leave after one year of service
• Tuition remission for you, your spouse, and dependent children at any Purdue campus

For more information on our excellent benefit package, please visit:

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a premier metropolitan university dedicated to empowering transformational change in our students and in our community. We offer two campuses serving approximately 8,800 undergraduate and graduate students. At PNW, we value academic excellence, support growth, and celebrate diversity.

PNW sits between Chicago’s skyscrapers and Lake Michigan’s sandy shores. You can have all the perks of a world-class city just a short drive away or enjoy the natural beauty of the Indiana Dunes National Park and Lake Michigan just 15 miles away.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in business administration, higher education, organizational behavior, project management, public policy, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree preferred.

• A minimum of four years of experience in providing high-level administrative or project/program management support in a higher education, executive, or professional setting.
• Experience in handling confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

• Experience with working in a university setting, strategic planning and implementation, and supervising office staff or student workers.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively draft, proofread, and edit documents.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and other office management software.
• Ability to navigate databases and utilize digital tools for scheduling, budgeting, or workflow management.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while exercising good judgment and initiative.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with diverse groups.

• Professional references will be verified prior to any offer of employment. Employment is contingent upon successful background check and, if applicable, motor vehicle records check.
• Purdue University Northwest is an equal opportunity/equal access university.

Exempt

Listing reference: woolw_

Listing status: Under Review

Apply by: 4 July 2025

Industry: FMCG & Supply Management

Job category: Other Accounting, Auditing

Location: Cape Town

Contract: Permanent

Remuneration: Market-related

EE position: No

The Audit Specialist: Strategic Initiatives will play a key role in supporting the Group Internal Audit assurance and advisory over strategic projects, focusing all strategic initiatives (e.g. digital transformation, ESG compliance, supply chain optimisation) and special audits, ensuring effective risk management and governance practices are embedded. This role bridges strategy, governance, and execution—enhancing audit processes, systems, and capabilities to support risk mitigation and value creation.

· Strategic Planning and Execution

• Collaborate with internal audit leadership to design and implement the department’s strategic initiatives/projects assurance methodology and roadmap.
• Track progress on strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with business priorities and risk appetite.
• Participate in the planning and execution of internal audit reviews related to key strategic initiatives.
• Partnering with key stakeholders and provide assurance over various aspects of strategic initiatives:
• Identify emerging risks in ongoing projects (e.g. ERP implementations, customer experience initiatives, expansion strategies).
• Evaluate internal controls, processes, and systems in areas undergoing transformation.
• Advise stakeholders on strengthening governance frameworks and control environments.
• Evaluate overall project governance, change management, and controls integration.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop appropriate audit scopes for strategic initiatives/projects.
• Operationally understanding the impact of any implementation on the respective business unit and providing assurance over the key implementation risks.
• Define project review scopes, milestones, timelines, and resource requirements.
• Monitor and report on project progress, risks, and outcomes to senior stakeholders.
• Collaborate with senior executives, project sponsors, and external consultants.
• Partner with other Internal Audit functions like Retail/Selling Audit and IT Audit teams to provide comprehensive assurance over the respective strategic initiatives.

· Serve as a liaison between internal audit and other strategic functions (e.g., Strategy, IT, Finance, Supply Chain).

· Engage at various project related meetings, professionally challenging decisions, asking the right questions.

· Present findings and recommendations in an effective and timely manner to the Programme Leadership.

· Assist in audit committee reporting related to the internal audit of strategic initiatives.

· Bachelors Degree in Finance, Auditing, IT, Data Science or related fields.

· Certification in project management methodologies (Agile/Scrum, Prince2, PMP)

· Professional certification will be added advantage (e.g. CA(SA) /CISA / CIA)

· 5 years’ experience in internal audit, strategic planning, or project management within the retail, supply chain and FMCG, industries.

· Strong understanding of risk, governance, and control frameworks (e.g. COSO, ISO 21500, 21502, 31000)

· Experience with digital transformation or systems implementation audits (e.g., ERP, POS, WMS)

· Experience with data analytics , audit management tools, and digital transformation initiatives is advantageous.

· Strategic Thinking: Able to see the big picture and align audit activities with business objectives. Recognises emerging risks and industry trends that could impact strategic goals.

· Project Management: Excellent planning, execution, and delivery skills with attention to timelines and quality. Strong capability to manage providing assurance and keeping track of multiple strategic projects at one time.

· Agile: Able to prioritise, re-plan, and adjust in a fast-changing environment. Resiliently navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities.

· Innovation Orientation: Passion for continuous improvement, digital tools, and process optimisation. Continuously seeks innovative solutions to enhance strategic project audit efficiency and impact.

· Analytical Skills: Strong capability to analyse data, trends, and performance metrics. Able to distil large volumes of data into actionable insights. Comfortable with technology, digital tools, and automation relevant to internal audit and strategy (e.g. audit analytics, data visualization tools etc).

· Ability to influence: Challenges assumptions and identifies areas of improvement across processes or initiatives. Able to influence decision-making and drive alignment on strategic priorities.

· Communication: Clear, concise and timely communication and reporting for both technical and executive audiences.

· Stakeholder Engagement: Strong relationship-building skills with cross-functional and senior stakeholders, sharing knowledge and supporting collective goals. Fosters a collaborative environment within and outside of Internal Audit.

· Integrity & Ethics: Demonstrates high integrity and discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive matters. High level of professionalism, independence, and adherence to ethical standards.

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is a vibrant and cosmopolitan university, anchored in Africa and driven by a powerful strategy focused on attaining global excellence and stature (GES). With an emphasis on independent thinking, sustainable development, and strategic partnerships, UJ is an international university of choice. The University is guided by the Vice-Chancellor’s vision of “Positioning UJ in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) for societal impact in the context of the changing social, political, and economic fortunes of Africa.”

NB: All applicants are requested to submit a detailed CV and cover letter.

The University is seeking to appoint an exceptionally motivated and energetic person of high professional and academic standing to serve as the Director for the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study (JIAS; one of the flagship institutes under the Global Excellence and Stature (GES) Catalytic Initiatives.

JIAS, launched in May 2015, is the first and only fully-fledged institute for advanced scholarship in Gauteng - South Africa’s economic and political heartland. It is one of only three institutes for advanced study on the African Continent. Its purpose is to promote cutting-edge research in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences beyond regular teaching and research activities at higher learning institutions.

Since its inception, JIAS has created conditions in which scholars, researchers, and writers can partake and deliver cutting-edge interdisciplinary thought and research at the highest academic level. This is done by reaching beyond the regular teaching and research routines of contemporary institutions of higher education and by encouraging collaborative scholarly cooperation in the Humanities, Natural, and Social Sciences. JIAS is also a full member of the University-Based Institutes for Advanced Study (UBIAS), a global network of similar institutes drawn from all over the world. The JIAS Advisory Board comprises men and women of great distinction, accomplishment, and expertise drawn from various academic fields and other sectors of society.

Responsibilities and expectations:

• Determine, articulate, implement and lead the development of intellectual content for JIAS activities, further advancing JIAS nationally, regionally, and internationally in accordance with its strategic objectives including enhancing UJ’s Global Excellence and Stature.
• Expend the reach profile of JIAS in South Africa, on the African Continent, as well as globally through the building and strengthening of relationships.
• Serve as liaison between JIAS and important stakeholders in the academic and research community, the state, and other sectors in society business.
• Contribute towards other UJ academic programmes, including curriculum development, supervision of postgraduate students, and hosting postdoctoral research fellows.
• Contribute towards the generation of new knowledge and thought leadership through an active research and media profile.
• Ensure the financial self-sustainability of the JIAS through networking and fundraising (in conjunction with the UJ’s Development Office).
• Ensure effective and efficient management of the JIAS research cost centres, finances, and other resources; and
• Effectively manage academic, administrative, and professional support staff, including staff and visiting academic recruitment, development, and retention.

The requirements will also be used to determine appointability at the level of full or associate professor:

• A Doctoral qualification, with a substantive research portfolio or significant professional experience.
• Professional networking and fundraising experience, and an ability to work productively with partners.
• Ability to conduct and direct research and communicate ideas to a range of stakeholders.
• A track record of successfully securing both national and international funding in thematic areas of Pan-African and global importance.
• A track record of successful postgraduate student and postdoctoral supervision.
• A track record of leadership, governance, organisational management, administration, and financial management.
• Experience in communications will be an added advantage.

Recommendations:

• Rated by the National Research Foundation (NRF) or meets the criteria for NRF rating in the South African system (incumbent will be required to apply if not rated; see

* By default, this is a 5-year fixed-term position. Subject to financial sustainability and exceptional performance, the candidate may be renewed for another 5-years. The university will also consider exceptional and/or NRF-rated academics, for a fallback or tenured academic position. The evaluation will be subject to the successful attraction of external funding.

Enquiries:

Enquiries regarding the job content: Prof Victoria Graham on Tel:

Enquiries regarding remuneration & benefits: Ms Lungisa Zihlangu (HCM Business Partner) on Tel: