7 Strategic Thinking jobs in South Africa

We are recruiting a
Chief Director: Business Planning and Strategy
for professionals interested in opportunities within the Social Development sector. This is a senior leadership role focused on driving strategic planning, policy development, performance monitoring, and knowledge management to enhance the quality of service delivery to communities.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Strategic Leadership:
  Provide expert guidance on strategy development, policy formulation, performance monitoring, communication, and knowledge management.
• Planning & Policy Oversight:
  Lead the Department's strategic and operational planning processes in line with provincial priorities. Ensure consistency and transparency in funding cycles and align departmental policies with broader government frameworks.
• Performance Monitoring & Communication:
  Oversee monitoring, review, and reporting processes to ensure accountability and continuous improvement. Drive communication services and customer care initiatives that promote transparency and responsiveness.
• Research & Knowledge Management:
  Manage population development services, ethical social research, and evaluation projects. Ensure effective knowledge management, records management, and ICT governance to support informed decision-making.
• Change Management:
  Lead organizational change initiatives to align operations with evolving socio-economic and policy priorities.
• People Management:
  Build and lead a multidisciplinary team through mentoring, coaching, and performance management, fostering a culture of high performance.
• Financial Management:
  Oversee financial planning, budgeting, expenditure control, and compliance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and related regulations.

What You Bring:

• A recognised undergraduate qualification (NQF level 7 or higher).
• At least 5 years' experience at senior managerial level.
• Completion of the Public Service Senior Management Pre-Entry Programme (or willingness to complete it before appointment).
• Strong knowledge of legislation, policy frameworks, PFMA, procurement processes, labour relations, performance management, and socio-political issues impacting provincial government.
• Core skills in strategic leadership, programme and project management, financial oversight, change management, and people development.

Package:

An all-inclusive salary package of
R1,494,900 per annum
(Salary Level 14). The package includes a basic salary, employer pension contributions, and flexible structuring options.

What to Expect:

Once you submit your application, our team will review it carefully. If your profile aligns with the role, you will receive a message from LinkedIn notifying you of the next steps.

Job Description

Growing as a strategic advisor, you leverage your influence, expertise, and network to deliver quality results. You motivate and coach others, coming together to solve complex problems. As you increase in autonomy, you apply sound judgment, recognising when to take action and when to escalate. You are expected to solve through complexity, ask thoughtful questions, and clearly communicate how things fit together. Your ability to develop and sustain high performing, diverse, and inclusive teams, and your commitment to excellence, contributes to the success of our Firm.

Examples of the skills, knowledge, and experiences you need to lead and deliver value at this level include but are not limited to:

• Craft and convey clear, impactful and engaging messages that tell a holistic story.
• Apply systems thinking to identify underlying problems and/or opportunities.
• Validate outcomes with clients, share alternative perspectives, and act on client feedback.
• Direct the team through complexity, demonstrating composure through ambiguous, challenging and uncertain situations.
• Deepen and evolve your expertise with a focus on staying relevant.
• Initiate open and honest coaching conversations at all levels.
• Make difficult decisions and take action to resolve issues hindering team effectiveness.
• Model and reinforce professional and technical standards (e.g. refer to specific PwC tax and audit guidance), the Firm's code of conduct, and independence requirements.

About Strategy& and Fit for Growth

Strategy&, PwC's global strategy consulting business, leverages the
Fit for Growth
approach to help organizations build differentiating capabilities, strategically manage costs, and realign their structures for sustainable growth. In today's climate of uncertainty, our solutions enable clients to strengthen their core, optimize operations, and unlock long-term value.

We enable our clients to cut costs and grow stronger at the same time. Our solutions assist companies to align their strategies with their capabilities, ensure the organisation structure is conducive to enabling workforce productivity to achieve the business strategy, and the business costs are reflective of the business strategy and operations for maximum efficiencies and revenues.

Job Purpose:

Lead and deliver high-impact business transformation initiatives applying Strategy&'s Fit for Growth methodology. This role requires a leader & strategic thinker with strong analytical capabilities, deep industry insight, and a proven track record in successfully selling and delivering impact-based engagements through operating model design, cost optimization, and business restructuring.

What's going to be expected of you:

• Sell and deliver end-to-end strategy-based transformation projects across industries.
• Conduct deep-dive diagnostics into business operations, cost structures, and organizational effectiveness.
• Develop and present strategic recommendations supported by data-driven insights and industry benchmarks.
• Face-to-face engagement and interaction with client and team
• Lead business development efforts, including proposal development, client relationship management, and opportunity identification.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders to ensure alignment and successful delivery.
• Mentor and develop consultants, fostering a high-performance and inclusive team culture.
• Demonstrate resilience, agility and adaptability across client contexts and sectors.
• Experience in leading a team in the delivery of client engagements

Minimum Requirements
:

Education:

• Post graduate degree from a top tier University in either Engineering, Finance, Mathematics and/or Actuarial Science.
• CFA level 1/MBA - advantageous.

Experience & Technical Skills:

• Minimum years' strategic work experience with a reputable consulting firm.
• Demonstrated experience across the full consulting lifecycle: sales, delivery, and project closure
• Consulting experience in Financial Services, Telecommunications and Infrastructure Sectors.
• Advanced proficiency in analytics tools including excel, python etc.
• Proven track record in cost reduction, digital transformation, operating model redesign, and performance improvement.

Soft Skills:

• High emotional intelligence (EQ) and interpersonal effectiveness.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to lead and influence in complex, ambiguous environments.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive, solution-oriented approach.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in dynamic, fast-paced environments.

The Organisation requires the services of a Senior Manager: Strategy and Business Performance in the Chief Operating Officer Division. This position will be based at Groenkloof National Park, Pretoria.

GROENKLOOF NATIONAL PARK (HEAD OFFICE)

• Be in possession of a Post Graduate Degree in Business Administration or Public Management.
• Have 6-8 years of experience at a strategic level i.e., ExCo and /or Senior management role.
• Have an understanding (working knowledge) of the South African Government's Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF).
• An understanding of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) reporting format and cycles.
• An understanding of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) Framework and guidelines for the development of Strategies, Annual Performance Plans, and Annual Operational Plans.
• An understanding of the role of the AG in auditing strategies, APPs, and AOPs.
• Leadership and management skills.
• Planning and organising.
• Conflict management.
• Presentation skills.
• Computer skills.
• Listening skills.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Making rule-based and analytical decisions.
• Project management.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Strategic leadership and awareness.
• Project management skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Strategic leadership and awareness.
• Decision making.
• Teamwork and collaboration.
• Time management.
• Ethical practice and adhering to organisational values.
• Organisational knowledge.
• Effective communication (verbal and written).
• Information management.
• Analytical skills.

• Monitor the implementation of the APPs and divisional AOPs, against set deliverables.
• Manage the early warning system and reporting between divisions and EXCO.
• Compile and distribute business performance information to relevant parties internally and externally.
• Coordinate attendance and reporting of working groups and reports to Minmec.
• Provide support in the planning, preparation, organising, and execution of business performance planning sessions.
• Advice on business process efficacies.
• Collate information from previous strategic plans and provide a baseline from which a 5-year strategic plan will be developed.
• Provide support in the development of the SANParks annual performance plan (APP) in alignment with the government's MTSF and the DPME guideline.
• Ensure the development of divisional annual operational plans and assure quality.
• Ensure development of departmental operations plans.
• Provide input into alignment of APPS, OAPs in the HCM performance management system, and L&D approaches.
• Combined assurance for audit to internal and AG on the business performance report.
• Ensure timeous and correct reporting of the annual performance plans on a quarterly and annual basis to the EXCO, board committees, board, DFFE, and DPME.
• Ensure compliance with the relevant prescripts of MTSF, DPME guidelines, and the national treasury.
• Ensure compliance with the Auditor General's (AG) prescripts in terms of reporting against the annual performance plans.
• Ensure that the internal audit provides quarterly assessments on the APP.
• Ensure that audit findings from the AG and internal audit are tracked per division and corrective actions are undertaken.

SANParks reserves the right not to make an appointment.

R – R Per Annum

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements should forward their applications accompanied by the required documentation listed below to the following:

A covering letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae, certified copies of qualification(s), and Identity Document (certified within the past 3 months) to the following address:

Human Resources Division

SA National Parks

PO Box 787

PRETORIA

0001

Fax:

E-mail:

Applicants in possession of foreign qualifications are to submit evaluated results by the South African Qualifications Authority.

If you have not been responded to within 21 days of the closing date, please accept that your application was not successful.

03 October 2025

From the beginning, our goal was to establish an advisory firm that stands apart from the rest – one that is grounded in our Core Values and dedicated to creating a positive experience not just for our clients, but for our people too. We firmly believe in the strength of collaboration, enthusiasm, generosity, and perseverance as the driving forces behind our success. With advisory solutions spanning accounting and risk, technology-enabled transformation, and transactions, we partner with our clients to solve today's challenges and deliver present and future value.

Our commitment to our people has earned us numerous awards including Inc5000's Fastest Growing Companies and Glassdoor's Best Places to Work. Explore what our employees have to say about our unique culture by clicking here.

By joining our rapidly growing
Business Transformation
team you will serve as a trusted partner to our clients. You'll bring your first-hand experience, unique perspectives, and functional knowledge to deliver tailored, strategic solutions. These not only address today's challenges but also lay the groundwork for future success. With support from experienced leaders and a dedicated coach, you will join a collaborative community that encourages contributions beyond the scope of client delivery.

What You'll Do

• Working with high-performing teams to analyze, evaluate and enhance our clients businesses, including processes, governance, data and technologies
• Lead our clients and teams on their data journey which includes collaborating on their strategic vision for data, crafting a pragmatic roadmap of initiatives, and aiding our clients in the implementation of these initiatives, aligned to business objectives
• Ability to drive data governance framework design and facilitate policies and procedures development in line to meet the strategic and regulatory objectives of our clients related to data governance, data management, data quality, data risk management, and data privacy and security
• Collaborate seamlessly with key senior stakeholders, including business, IT teams and data owners to identify data needs
• Support finance transformation engagements
• Conduct interviews with clients to perform current state/future state gap analysis and identify the root causes of client's challenges
• Drive data culture and data adoption programs for clients who struggle with firmwide understanding of data ROI
• Establish KPIs related to data quality and data risk, controls, and remediation plans
• Develop roadmaps to developing data assets and data commercialization
• Drive program/project management activities including status reporting or maintain RAID logs, and able to conduct scrum meetings for defect / development management
• Support CrossCountry leadership team on internal projects, including but not limited to the following: sales/marketing initiatives, recruiting, and organizational development

What You'll Bring

• 5+ years of relevant experience and track recording delivering transformation programs into CDO, CTO, COO, CFO, and/or CRO organizations
• Strong strategic planning skills with past experience working with C-Suites executives to build out Organizational Level Strategic Roadmaps
• Up-to-date on latest industry trends in industry trends and best practices in data strategy and governance
• Knowledge of industries, including banking and capital markets, investment banking, broker-dealers, custody, fund administration and investment management
• Proven leadership roles with strong communication and presentation skills
• Professionalism and discretion in interacting with executives and clients
• Proficiency in one or more of the following: Collibra, OvalEdge, Atlan, Talend, SAP Master, BigID, OneTrust
• Experience in tools such as SQL, Tableau, PowerBI, Alteryx, Snowflake

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, Information Systems, Mathematics, Data Analytics, or similar discipline

Benefits Summary
The CrossCountry total rewards package includes comprehensive healthcare options, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; and a 401(k) with company matching. Additionally, employees can take advantage of generous parental and maternity leave policies, technology stipends, and wellness reimbursement programs, all designed to support both professional growth and personal well-being. For detailed information about benefits at CrossCountry, please visit our dedicated benefits site:

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
CrossCountry provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and believes that respect and fair treatment are critical to creating a productive and inclusive workplace.
As an equal opportunity employer, CrossCountry is fully committed to comply with all federal, state, and local laws and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, pregnancy, genetics, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity or expression or any other protected characteristic. The company also complies with pay transparency and labor laws applicable to all terms and conditions of employment.

The Department of Social Development, Western Cape Government (WCG) has an exciting employment opportunity or a dynamic, results-driven, and experienced professional who is passionate about creating a culture for people who have a passion for serving others to make a real difference in the quality of life of our citizens. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing business planning, performance monitoring, research and knowledge management services to the Department. This post is stationed in Cape Town.

• An undergraduate qualification(NQF level 7) or higher qualification as recognised by SAQA;
• A minimum of 5 years' experience at senior managerial level;
• Public Service SMS Pre-Entry Programme Certificate upon appointment:

Note: A requirement for appointment is the successful completion of the Senior Management Pre-entry Programme for entry in the Senior Management Service (SMS). This is a Public Service specific training programme which is applicable for appointment at SMS level.

None

• Strategic Management, Advice and Guidance: Provide strategic leadership, direction, and expert advice in the areas of strategy development, policy formulation, performance monitoring, communication, and knowledge management and in respect of the following functional areas to ensure integrated, responsive, and people-centred services:
• Strategy, Policy, Performance Monitoring and Communication Services:
• Coordinate and manage the strategic and operational planning processes for the Department in alignment with provincial priorities.
• Oversee the uniform funding cycle to ensure consistency, transparency, and alignment with departmental goals.
• Ensure departmental policies are aligned with broader government frameworks and provide support in policy development and review.
• Drive the performance monitoring, review, and reporting process to ensure accountability, improvement, and compliance.
• Provide corporate communication services and oversee the Department's customer care functions, promoting transparency and responsiveness.
• Research and Knowledge Management Services:
• Render population development services to inform provincial-wide and departmental planning.
• Plan, manage and coordinate ethical social and evaluation research.
• Manage and coordinate strategic knowledge resources and departmental records to support institutional memory and informed decision-making.
• Ensure the effective functioning and governance of departmental information systems and ICT governance processes in support of strategic objectives.
• Strategic Change Management: Lead change management initiatives within the Chief Directorate to align programmes and operations with evolving policy priorities and socio-economic needs.
• People Management: Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team, fostering a high-performance culture through coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
• Financial Management: Ensure effective financial planning, budget management, expenditure control, and compliance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and related regulations.

Proven knowledge and working experience of the following:

• Legislation, regulatory frameworks, policies and best practices that have a bearing on the line functions;
• Understanding of information systems that aid in the management of knowledge and information;
• Procurement and tendering processes;
• Policy development, and strategy management, monitoring and review processes;
• Global, regional and local political, economic and social affairs impacting on the provincial government of the Western Cape;
• Public Finance Management Act, National and Provincial Treasury Regulations, other financial policies, prescripts, directives and collective agreements;
• Labour Relations;
• Performance Management.

Core competencies:

• Strategic Capability and leadership;
• People Management and Empowerment;
• Programme and Project Management;
• Financial Management
• Change Management;

Skills:

• Project Management
• Accounting;
• Auditing;
• Economic, Financial and Statistical analysis;
• Legal Administration;
• Strategic Planning.

All–inclusive salary package of R per annum (salary level 14).

Note: The remuneration package consists of a basic salary (70%) and the employer's contribution to the Pension Fund. The remainder of the package may be structured according to your personal needs.

Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

All shortlisted candidates must make themselves available to be interviewed at a date, time and place as decided by the department. Please ensure that you submit your application on or before the closing date as no late applications will be considered. The selection process will be guided by the EE targets of the employing department. Kindly note that technical support is only available from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to Should you experience any difficulties with your online application you may contact the helpline at

All shortlisted candidates will be subjected to a technical exercise that intends to test relevant technical elements of the job, the logistics of which will be communicated by the Department. Following and technical exercise, the selection committee will recommend candidates to attend a generic managerial competency assessment (in compliance with the DPSA directive on the implementation of competency-based assessments).The competency assessment will be testing generic managerial competencies using the mandated DPSA SMS Competency Assessment tools. To be considered for nomination into an SMS post, you must complete the Senior Management Pre-Entry Programme. The purpose of the Senior Management Pre-Entry Programme, a public service specific training program applicable to all applicants aspiring to join the Department's Senior Management Service, is to ensure that potential SMS members have a background on SMS processes and procedures.

Furthermore, thank you to the huge public interest, we receive many applications for our posts, and as such will not be able to respond personally to all applications. Therefore, should you not hear from us within 10 weeks from close of advert please consider your application unsuccessful.

Head, Strategy Enablement, People & Culture, Business & Commercial Banking

Job Overview

Business Segment: Business & Commercial Banking

Location: ZA, GP, Johannesburg, 30 Baker Street

To provide specialised and defined business management and project management support to the Head People & Culture, Business & Commercial Banking and to design, consolidate, integrate and implement BCB's People & Culture strategic initiatives. Implement mechanisms to monitor progress, identify implementation challenges and develop tactical plans for problem solving and managing the risk.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications
Degree in Business Commerce

Experience required
• Minimum 10 years experience in Business Consulting, with the ability to demonstrate experience managing broad range of projects to completion to achieve defined business objectives or metrics.
• Builds support amongst organisational partners/stakeholders, influences and facilitates co-operation and collaboration to support the achievement of People & Culture objectives across the Business and Commercial Banking business.
• Contributes and supports the development of annual operational plans, provides a framework to operationalise the strategies in the day -to-day operations. Consolidates, monitors and provides regular feedback on the delivery of the plan, adjusts plan and resource allocation in line with changed priorities and provides analytical and research support.
• Provides periodic reports on implementation and the achievement of objectives. Provides external reporting when required. Collates and analyses relevant management information to assist business decision-making.
• Recommends, guides and implements improvement processes, procedures and analytical tools to increase efficiencies and effectiveness.
• Tracks, measures and monitors implementation of the business plan(s) and KPIs effectively. Monitors the effectiveness of plans and strategies.
• Translates, articulates and communicates the operational project and programme plans; provides direction and support to optimise the efficiency of internal resources in delivering results in collaboration with the internal communication on strategy goals and progress on execution.
• Analyse external factors and market trends to anticipate, identify and flag challenges/issues/risks, to inform decision makers, in the achievement of plans and develops mitigating plans for issue/risk resolution.