Group Technology Leader - Restaurant Systems & Operations Technology

1. Technology Strategy & Leadership

• Assess existing and emerging platforms and develop and deliver a Group-wide technology, data and AI strategy and roadmap aligned with business objectives and approved by the leadership team.

• Evaluate and approve technology systems, projects and expenditure, assessing each change holistically against the overall technology environment.

• Drive the global standardisation of systems, data and processes.

• Monitor relevant technology trends and translate them into practical, commercially viable solutions.

• Maintain and enhance existing systems while identifying new technology opportunities that deliver measurable value to the brand.

2. Restaurant Systems & Operations Technology

• Oversee all restaurant technology, including POS systems, digital menus, payments, Kitchen Display Systems (KDS), branded Wi-Fi, CCTV/audio, networking, and the Technology Blueprint for new and existing restaurants.

• Lead the Cloud POS programme, including solution selection, integration, migration, piloting and phased rollout.

• Oversee integrations with aggregators, Uber Direct, online ordering platforms and waiter ordering systems.

• Ensure restaurant technology issues are logged, prioritised and resolved through structured ticketing and escalation processes.

• Implement preventive measures to reduce recurring issues and technology-related risks.

3. Data, Reporting & Business Intelligence

• Own the Modern Data Platform (Azure / Databricks / Power BI) and the Group's data and reporting framework.

• Deliver reliable Executive Committee (Exco), operational, financial and franchise reporting that explains business performance, identifies actionable next steps and supports informed decision-making.

• Establish data governance frameworks, KPI definitions, master data management and data quality standards.

• Promote data literacy and self-service analytics across the business.

4. AI, Automation & Innovation

• Lead AI adoption across the Group, using the approved business platform and specialised AI tools where required by specific teams.

• Develop and maintain AI policies, governance frameworks and safeguards while reducing the use of unauthorised AI tools.

• Identify and implement high-value automation solutions and AI agents to reduce manual work and improve decision-making.

• Build internal AI capability through AI champions, training and adoption programmes.

• Ensure AI and automation tools are fit for purpose and deliver measurable value to the brand.

5. Customer & Digital Technology

• Oversee CRM, loyalty programmes, the OB App, customer Wi-Fi and digital platforms, ensuring secure integrations and reliable data flows.

• Partner with Marketing and Operations to increase digital engagement and grow first-party customer data.

6. Infrastructure, Cyber Security & Compliance

• Ensure optimal performance of infrastructure, Microsoft 365/Azure, devices and networks across all offices and restaurants.

• Manage technology risk, cyber security, penetration testing, IT Governance, Risk and Compliance (IT GRC), and business continuity/disaster recovery.

• Ensure compliance with POPIA, GDPR and internal security standards.

• Coordinate internal and external technology audits, resolve findings within agreed timelines, and implement controls and tools to minimise future risks.

7. Vendors, Contracts & Budget

• Develop and manage the annual Group technology budget, including interdepartmental billbacks and cost recovery.

• Negotiate and manage contracts, service-level agreements (SLAs) and renewals with technology partners and managed service providers.

• Lead Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and like-for-like vendor evaluations, providing clear and defensible recommendations.

8. People Leadership & Business Partnering

• Lead, coach and develop the Technology team through clear objectives, job specifications, KPIs and development plans.

• Build a high-performance, accountable and collaborative team culture, ensuring succession planning for key roles.

• Act as a trusted technology partner to the Group Leadership Team, departments and franchisees.

• Present technology updates, business cases and progress reports to the Group Leadership Team, shareholders and the Board.

1. Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering or a related field.

• An Honours degree, Master’s degree or MBA would be advantageous.

• Recognised industry certifications would be advantageous, particularly in Microsoft Azure, Data or AI.

2. Experience Requirements

• At least 10 years’ experience managing technology, data and reporting, and restaurant systems.

• Proven experience leading technology teams and managing outsourced partners and managed service providers.

• Experience in restaurant, hospitality, Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), retail or franchise environments, including POS systems and multi-store rollouts.

• Experience operating in multi-territory and multi-currency environments, including South Africa and international markets.

• A proven track record of delivering AI, automation or digital transformation initiatives with measurable business value.

• Experience presenting to executive teams.

3. Technical Competencies

Restaurant Systems

• POS systems (cloud-based and on-premise).

• Kitchen Display Systems (KDS), payment solutions and digital menus.

• Aggregators, online ordering platforms, loyalty programmes and CRM systems.

Data Platforms & Business Intelligence

• Microsoft Azure.

• Databricks / Microsoft Fabric.

• Power BI and SQL.

• Data modelling and API integrations.

Artificial Intelligence & Automation

• AI agents and automation solutions.

• Power Automate.

• Prompt design.

• AI risk management and governance frameworks.

Infrastructure & Cyber Security

• Microsoft 365, Entra ID and Intune.

• Networking and Security Operations Centre (SOC) environments.

• Penetration testing.

• Backup solutions and disaster recovery (DR).

Governance & Business Systems

• IT Governance, Risk and Compliance (IT GRC).

• POPIA and GDPR compliance.

• IT service management and project management.

• Understanding of business ERP systems and their integration with other systems and data.

4. Additional Requirements

• Ability and willingness to travel locally and internationally as required.

• Availability to support critical restaurant system incidents when necessary.

• High attention to detail and strong project management discipline.