Design Lead

A prominent financial services organisation, Liberty, is seeking a Design Lead to join their team in Johannesburg. This role is crucial in bridging the gap between business needs and technical implementation, ensuring that IT solutions are not only effective but also aligned with the company's broader enterprise architecture and strategic objectives. The Design Lead will be instrumental in guiding a team to develop comprehensive design solutions and translate complex business requirements into actionable system analysis.

About the Role

This position demands a strategic thinker with a proven track record in design leadership within the IT sector. The Design Lead will oversee the creation of detailed design solutions, ensuring they meet both functional and non-functional requirements. A key aspect of the role involves deep engagement with business stakeholders to thoroughly understand their needs and translate these into precise system analysis. This analytical work must then be harmonised with the existing enterprise information technology architecture and the overarching business strategy, guaranteeing that all delivered IT solutions effectively serve the organisation's various departments.

The Design Lead will be responsible for setting the technical direction for design initiatives and ensuring the quality and integrity of the solutions produced. This involves a hands-on approach to problem-solving and a commitment to fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment.

The Design Lead's responsibilities are multifaceted and span strategic planning, team management, and technical oversight. Key duties include:

• **Leading Design Teams:** Guiding and mentoring teams of technical specialists and business analysts in the development and delivery of robust design solutions.
• **Translating Requirements:** Effectively converting business requirements into detailed system analysis and technical specifications.
• **Architectural Alignment:** Ensuring all design solutions are aligned with the organisation's enterprise IT architecture and long-term business strategy.
• **Solution Delivery:** Overseeing the successful delivery of IT solutions that meet the needs of various business areas.
• **Technical Expertise:** Providing expert guidance on design principles, technologies, and best practices within areas such as user experience, features, and solution architecture.
• **Quality Assurance:** Implementing and maintaining quality management systems to ensure the efficacy and reliability of delivered solutions.
• **Stakeholder Engagement:** Collaborating with stakeholders across different departments to gather requirements, provide updates, and ensure buy-in.
• **Innovation and Improvement:** Identifying opportunities for process improvement and innovation within the design and development lifecycle.

What They're Looking For

To excel in this role, candidates will need a strong foundation in IT, coupled with significant leadership experience. The ideal candidate will possess:

• **Experience:** A minimum of 8-10 years of relevant experience in areas such as user experience (UX), feature design, or solution architecture.
• **Leadership:** Demonstrable experience in leading technical teams and business analysts, with a focus on successfully delivering design solutions that meet specified requirements.
• **Technical Acumen:** Comprehensive knowledge of IT applications, application support, data integrity, and the broader internal and external IT environment. Familiarity with quality management systems is also essential.
• **Analytical Skills:** Strong abilities in IT business analysis and feature analysis, enabling the transformation of business needs into technical specifications.
• **Educational Background:** A first-degree qualification in Information Technology or a related field.
• **Behavioural Competencies:** Proven ability in challenging existing ideas, convincing stakeholders, developing expertise, directing teams, empowering individuals, and exploring new possibilities.

In South Africa, a Design Lead role with this level of responsibility and experience typically commands a competitive salary, reflecting the critical nature of the position in ensuring effective IT solutions for large organisations. Such roles are commonly found within major financial institutions, telecommunications companies, and large enterprises that rely heavily on technology for their operations. Career progression can lead into more senior architectural or management positions, overseeing larger IT functions or driving strategic technology initiatives.

Type of Qualification: First Degree
Field of Study: Information Technology

Experience Required
Experience & Software Design
Technology
8-10 years
Experience gained in one or more of the technical areas namely user experience, features or solution architecture. Leadership experience in driving technical and business analyst teams in the delivery of design solutions according to set solution requirements as defined.