Careers

​Position: Enterprise/Solutions Architect (4S1)                                                               

Closing Date: 31 January 2021

Department: IT

Reporting Line: IT Executive: Enterprise Architecture

Location: Johannesburg, Parktown

Purpose of the Job:

A technical specialist role, reporting into the IT Executive: Enterprise Architecture, this role is responsible for the solutions architecture and end-to-end solutions design, balancing requirements against resource utilisation and architectural factors. The successful incumbent will be responsible for enabling and driving the vision that underlies the solution and the execution of that vision for those solutions. This role will ensure that application software is effectively and efficiently designed, produced and tested to meet business objectives.  

Areas covered include: data, work flow, integration, encompassing applications, hardware platforms, interfaces with peripheral systems, internal and external checks and controls and the evaluation of 3rd party vendor solutions.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Enterprise Architecture:

• Evaluating internal functions, business development strategies, and IT processes and suggesting improvements.
• Defining the scope of programmes that has been identified e.g. suggesting ideas to reduce costs in IT and business leadership
• Ensuring the efficiency, security, and support of the organisation's goals
• Finding ways to improve the IT department's functions so they support the business’ future goals
• Evaluating our systems engineering, talent recruiting and accounting models for discrepancies or vulnerabilities
• Locating ways to reduce costs in IT and business leadership
• Identifying ways to increase employee knowledge and skills to support future growth
• Providing business architecture and systems processing guidance

Solutions Architecture:

• Reviewing, interpreting and responding to detailed business requirements specifications (BRS) to ensure alignment between customer expectations, current or future ICT capability
• Ensuring the operational readiness of the business units
• Ensuring the standardisation and reuse of architectural artefacts, avoiding duplication of solutions
• Defining the roadmap to reach target architecture and driving implementation of the technical architecture roadmap
• Using appropriate tools, including logical models of components and interfaces, to contribute to the development of systems architectures in specific business or functional areas
• Supporting the IT Executive: Enterprise Architecture in driving the solutions architecture and end-to-end solutions design
• Co-creating IT architecture disciplines and frameworks that supports adaptability, scalability, availability, and reuse
• Keeping up to date with emerging technologies and architectural approaches, promoting alignment between technology and business strategy
• Defining and design technology solutions to assist the business in meeting their business objectives within the agreed enterprise architecture,
• Managing and maintaining technology solutions and business continuity
• Working closely with the Development team to organise the development efforts

Solutions Design:

• Producing detailed component specifications and translating these into detailed designs for implementation using selected products
• Assisting with the preparation of technical plans, cooperating with business assurance and project staff to ensure that appropriate technical resources are made available within a business change programme
• Providing advice on technical aspects of system development and integration (including requests for changes, deviations from specifications, etc.) and ensuring that relevant technical strategies, policies, standards and practices are applied correctly
• Identifying ways to increase employee knowledge by advising and providing consultation on solutions proposed and available in the market. i.e. scoping the gap and providing the priority items to close that gap
• Specifying and designing large or complex systems using appropriate design standards, methods and tools
• Reviewing other systems designs to ensure selection of appropriate technology
• Assessing new requirements and making design recommendations
• Evaluating and undertaking impact analysis on major design options and assesses and managing associated risks
• Ensuring that the system design balances functional, service quality and systems management requirements

Technical Support:

• Providing solutions in areas of disaster recovery, data integrity and security. Evaluating and recommending software technologies in these areas, evaluating alternatives and analysing problems
• Supporting the creation and communication of programme architecture guiding principles, strategic technology standards, frameworks, and roadmaps
• Hands-on design for a secure, efficient, and adaptable connected services model.
• Work closely with Applications Architects and Development groups to meet program functional and non-functional requirements
• Supporting design reviews, gap analysis and assessments
• Supporting failure mode and performance management analysis processes

IT Environment:

• Influencing and enabling the technology environment with best practice solutions
• Ensuring that the solutions architectural capabilities are up to date and cost effective
• Engaging with business and IT leaders to ensure that architecture roadmaps continually align with business objectives
• Collaborating with IT management to suggest and guide innovation of new solutions software and technologies aligned to best practices

IT Governance:

• Adhering to the architectural governance framework in order to mitigate risk and abide by requirements protocols
• Delivering software programmes, applications, and third-party solutions to support the delivery of business goals within the set IT standards
• Reporting architectural risks and suggest alternative and solutions
• Participating in the governance process for reviewing specific solutions to assure they are properly leveraging program frameworks and standards.

Effective Communication and Stakeholder management:

• Collaborating with key business stakeholders, marketing, production, and operations, sharing insights to improve multichannel experiences, product development and needs identification
• Communicating requirements of any future infrastructure solutions, in collaboration with the other IT capabilities
• Anticipating and responding appropriately to the needs, reactions and feedback of stakeholders
• Ensuring that key business-inhibiting capabilities are highlighted with a solution-orientated approach
• Regularly communicating with stakeholders in a thorough manner using appropriate and effective communication tools
• Harnessing business improvements and optimisation in line with IT business objectives
• Creating and sustaining networks for best practices and insights across the architecture environment so that multi-disciplinary approaches are leveraged
• Providing regular information and insights to improve the architect design and software applications principles

Formal Qualifications:

• Matric (Grade 12)
• Bachelor’s degree in either Information Systems, Informatics or Computer Science or Engineering (or equivalent work experience)
• Honours or Master’s degree in Information Systems, Informatics, Computer Science or Engineering is preferred
• TOGAF Framework or equivalent certification

Experience:

• At least 5 -7 years’ experience in an IT technical specialist role
• 5 - 7 years’ experience in a current solutions architect position in a sizable organisation; Banking or Financial Services industry preferred
• Experience creation and operations of IT solutions architecture roadmaps in a medium to large division/company
• Proven experience in adopting architecture and governance frameworks e.g. TOGAF or Zachman
• Advanced experience in the design and implementation of complex computer systems
• Experience in code refactoring, design patterns, design-driven development, continuous deployment, highly scalable applications, application security.
• Experience in pair programming, continuous integration, test-driven development & incremental design.
• Project management experience
• Ability to test RSpec, JUnit or Selenium frameworks. Clear understanding and application of relational and NoSQL data stores

Knowledge and Skills:

• Sound analytical, logical reasoning and business acumen
• Sound planning, organising and execution skills
• Sound knowledge of software development, with knowledge of Agile software development process
• Able to write architectural design documents or review design documents provided by others
• Good understanding of Node.js, Go, Ruby on Rails, Java, PHP, Perl, SQL, HTML, .Net, JavaScript or CSS
• In depth infrastructure knowledge including RESTful APIs, Single Sign On, LDAP, LAMP, Search Technologies
• Proficiency in implementing reliable, complex, secure, high performance and scalable solutions from creation to production
• Able to draft accurate documentation that supports the project management effort and software development
• Demonstrates the ability to understand and interpret key technology platforms relative to PPS
• Knowledge of the technology elements that contribute to maturing the 4th Industrial Revolution objectives; robotics, automation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, etc.

Competencies:

• Sound communication (verbal and written) in English, expressing opinions, information and key points of view clearly and assertively
• Confident in conceptualising, building and presenting concepts and plans
• Excellent customer relations skills and the ability to work with demanding customers
• Sound problem-solving and analytics skills
• Innovation orientation
• Business acumen
• Persuading and influencing
• Change navigation and adaptability

Preference will be given to Employment Equity candidates

Please send your applications to recruitment@pps.co.za

​Position: Intermediate Java Developer (Adobe Experience Manager) (3D)                                                                       

Closing Date: 31 January 2021

Business Unit: IT

Reporting Line:  Team Manager: Communications  

Location: Johannesburg, Parktown

Purpose of the Job: 

Providing support and maintenance for all IT Communications to members and intermediaries as well attending to new requests for automated communications. The successful candidate will manage the environment and support the current Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) processes, making recommendations on improvements in the current environment with a special focus on making use of AEM.

Main duties and responsibilities: 

• Developing communications using the following technologies: Adobe Experience Manager, Designer, HTML, Java, JavaScript, XML, JSON, Swagger and Mongo
• Accurately recording, updating and documenting requests using the IT Service Desk system
• Managing the tickets logged by users for production incidents and requests as per agreed deadlines
• Adhering to PPS Priority Matrix response times and resolution times
• Adhering to security management practices, as well as promote established security standards
• Adhering to team and departmental development standards
• Following agreed procedures, prompt response and feedback to requests for service assistance by providing information to enable users to resolve their problems
• Performing a production support role for a week at a time on a rotational basis for the production mailbox
• Performing regular system maintenance tasks as assigned
• Supporting the Development team members during the detailed design and coding phase
• Logging change control as per the IT release cycles
• Creating and maintaining business process and technical documentation
• Maintaining and consistently demonstrating a general knowledge of company guidelines, processes, practices and procedures

Formal qualification: 

• Grade 12 (Matric)
• College diploma or university degree in the field of Computer Science or equivalent working experience
• Adobe experience Manager Certification (Dev/Ops Engineer, Developer and/or Architect exams)
• Java Certification (OCA, OCP)

Knowledge and Experience:

• Competent IT skills and computer literacy
• Understanding of the organisation’s goals and objectives
• Minimum of 3 years’ in Development Experience, 1 Year+ with Java software development and JavaScript, implementation, system design and related business experience, HTML5
• Working with Rest and SOAP protocols 
• XML and JSON knowledge
• Competent technical knowledge of Adobe Experience Manager Forms, Build HTML, Adaptive and interactive Form template
• Understanding of system integrations
• Technical documentation skills
• Acceptable debugging skills
• Experience implementing Adobe Experience Manager forms and creating Java services
• Familiar with relational database concepts
• Technical documentation skills

Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Skills:

• Effectively manage and solve complex problems through problem-solving
• Self-motivated and directed, with keen attention to detail
• Able to communicate with a wide variety of people in a professional manner, face-to-face, on the telephone and in writing
• Able to operate within defined standard operating procedures
• Competent at managing tasks through to completion; prepared to work after hours when required
• Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment - managing time effectively, setting priorities appropriately and scheduling calls
• Teamwork – must be able to work  cooperatively in a team environment
• Good customer service principles
• Has a pleasant manner, even under pressure
• Good interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills
• Ability to present ideas in user-friendly language

Preference will be given to Employment Equity candidates

Please send your applications to recruitment@pps.co.za

Position: Project Manager (4S1)                                                                                               

Closing Date: 31 January 2021

Business Unit: Program Management and Digital Transformation

Reporting Line: IT Executive: Program Management and Digital Transformation

Location: Johannesburg, Parktown

Purpose of the Job:

A Project Manager drives Project Lifecycle compliance: planning, organising, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives. The successful candidate will have the authority, accountability and responsibility for managing a project to achieve specific objectives.

The incumbent will be required to plan, budget, oversee and document all aspects of the specific initiative being worked on. The Project Manager will work closely with upper management to make sure that the scope and direction of each project is on schedule, as well as with other departments for support.

Main duties and responsibilities: 

• Acting as the Project Lead/Scrum Master for various initiatives using project management and agile best practices and skills as required
• Making decisions and solving problems involving varied levels of complexity, ambiguity and risk
• Providing implementation and support to all business owners based on agreed initiatives
• Preparing and maintaining detailed project plans, Kanban Boards, status reports, risks and issuing logs
• Ensuring that agreed project deadlines are met through planning, problem-solving and agreed prioritisation
• Liaising directly with project sponsors, Product Managers and business owners to understand the requirements and facilitate the implementation of new developments as scoped
• Managing project costs according to the allocated budget, raising change requests to get approval for increased scope and costs
• Managing the project delivery process to meet its goals, objectives and stakeholder expectations
• Setting up a governance structure with project/agile team and relevant stakeholders as documented in the project management governance framework
• Reporting on project/agile team accomplishments and deliverables to management on a monthly basis
• Proactively identifying operational opportunities to increase service quality or efficiency
• Building and enhancing positive working relationships business partners
• Building an organisation-wide understanding and sharing knowledge

Formal qualification: 

• Matric (Grade 12)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Science or Commerce or related discipline with an information technology focus,  or equivalent qualification
• A minimum of 5 years’ project management and/or Scrum Master/Agile Coach experience with analytical, technical or consulting expertise requiring the management and delivery of multiple projects and/or applying agile principles whilst working with a software development team
• Business consulting experience in the Financial Services and/or Insurance industry
• Large scale IT Programme Management/Large Solution experience preferred

Knowledge and Experience:

• Extensive knowledge in agile methodology and frameworks as applied in the Software development lifecycle (SDLC) e.g. Agile (Scrum, SAFe, Kanban) PMBOK, Prince 2
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentation)
• Good skills to coach team how to follow agile methodologies practically.
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives/EPICs, manage budgets, meeting deadlines and adapting quickly to changing priorities
• Ability to work in self-directed, fast-paced environment
• Proven track record in establishment of a new networks and collaborative relationships

Computer Literacy:

• MS Office tools (e.g. MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Visio, etc.)
• Is adept in the use of the latest Adobe Design suite.
• Is adept in the use of Agile toolkits (e.g. Miro, JIRA, Trello, etc.)

Strategic Orientation

• Knowledge and understanding of the PPS vision, strategy and member value proposition

Commercial Acumen:

• Demonstrates awareness of market trends and opportunities and keeps up to date with competitor developments impacting area of responsibility
•  Proven ability to maximise the impact of stakeholder and customer activities

Communication:

• Articulate and communicates in a logical way and structures information to meet the needs and understanding of intended audiences
• Expresses opinions, information and key points of view clearly and assertively
• Confident in conceptualising, building and presenting concepts and plans
• Anticipates and responds appropriately to the needs, reactions and feedback of an audience
• Exceptional networker

Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Skills:

• Ability to coach lead and influence
• Sense of urgency and be a self -starter
• Acts with confidence and works independently most of the time
• Excellent at problem solving
• Conflict resolution skills
• Excellent relationship building skills
• Strong time management skills
• Attention to detail and high levels of accuracy
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentation)
• Ability to work under pressure

Preference will be given to Employment Equity candidates

Please send your applications to recruitment@pps.co.za

​Position: Financial Advisors (3D)                      

Closing Date: 28 February 2021 

Department: Financial Advisory

Reporting Line: Regional Manager

Location: Johannesburg, Parktown, Durban & Cape Town

Purpose of the Job:

An exciting career opportunity has become available for a Financial Advisor in the PPS Financial Advisory department. The key purpose of this role is to provide professional financial services to a client or a member. The successful candidate will be responsible for sourcing, retaining and growing a membership and client base for eligible professionals by implementing PPS financial solutions in line with the client’s needs. The individual must have a valid driver’s licence and own reliable vehicle. The role is based in Johannesburg.

Main duties and responsibilities: 

• Providing suitable advice to best fit the needs and requirements of professionals
• Preparing and presenting proposals to existing and potential clients using state of the art financial planning tools
• Meeting clients to understand their financial objectives
• Explaining complex information relating to Financial Advisory in a clear and effortless way
• Managing, maintaining and building new and existing client relationships
• Growing a client book within the first 24 months and consistently thereafter
• Adhering to compliance, operational procedures and practice management standards
• Staying abreast of product information, performance and industry changes
• Building a professional network and suitable business within the professional market

Formal Qualifications: 

• Relevant Commercial/Financial Tertiary qualification (NQF 7)
• RE 5
• Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning Advantageous
• CFP Advantageous
• Successful completion of supervisory process

Experience and Knowledge:

• 2 years’ experience in the Financial Services industry in a Sales role within the risk and investment spaces
• Knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of the professional client market
• Experience and track record in high-performance sales environments
• Knowledge of best practice in Financial Planning and Financial Advisory Services
• Knowledge and understanding of financial planning through meaningful client engagements

Computer Literacy: 

• Proficient in MS Office
• Experience using a CRM system preferable
• Experience using financial planning software

Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Skills: 

• Strong sales, interpersonal and business-orientated person with the acumen to build client relationships
• A passion for the financial planning environment
• Relationship management and networking skills
• Able to plan and manage time effectively
• Analytical and numerical skills with the ability to analyse and interpret statistical information
• Impeccable work ethic
• Able to work independently
• Strong communication
• High attention to detail
• Team-orientated
• Self-motivated and highly driven
• Strong presentation skills
• Resilience and Tenacity
• Emotional Intelligence

Preference will be given to Employment Equity candidates

Please send your applications to recruitment@pps.co.za

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES

​Position: Team Manager Claims Assessment (4A)                                                                 

Closing Date: 31 January 2021

Business Unit: Claims

Reporting Line: Executive Claims Assessor

Location: Johannesburg, Parktown

Purpose of the Job:

Reporting to the Claims Manager, this a management role that is accountable for day-to-day Permanent Incapacity (PI) Claims activities. The successful candidate will conduct effective resource planning to maximise the productivity of resources (people, technology etc.). This also involves managing a team responsible for assessing Sickness, Permanent Incapacity and Disability claims as well as case/claims management of ongoing claims, ensuring best practice and supporting the company in meeting its objectives.

Main duties and responsibilities: 

People Management:

• Leading a team responsible for long-term sickness claims, Permanent Incapacity and Disability claims
• Providing team leadership (setting individual objectives, managing performance, developing and motivating staff, provision of formal and informal feedback and appraisal) in order to ensure that the highest level of performance is achieved
• Conducting regular performance discussions, coaching and mentoring of staff
• Cultivating a performance-driven team collaborating with support and other operational teams
• Creating a healthy and enabling organisational culture and climate, so that all employees are able to perform to their full potential and overall business performance is maximised
• Creating an environment where people are encouraged to take ownership and their own initiative to find the best way of implementing plans
• Hiring, coaching and providing training to personnel to maintain high customer service standards

PI Claims Responsibilities:

• Authorising claims within the approved Delegation of Authority (DoA)
• Responding promptly to all queries/escalations raised by members, PPS Branches, Internal Advisors/Brokers and other stakeholders. Attending to complaints received through written or telephonic communication
• Aligning and maintaining processes to ensure effective claims assessment and decisions are taken
• Ensure that Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) principles are embedded in the claims assessment process
• Managing claims assessment output
• Workload allocation and monitoring
• Identifying opportunities for training and development
• Performing random staff claims call audits
• Contributing to the improvement of claims process and member experience

Stakeholder Management:

• Building and maintaining relationships with internal and external clients and stakeholders. Liaise with internal stakeholders to ensure finalization
• Taking up and resolving administrative and service issues that hinder good relations with business
• Collaborating effectively with peers to achieve business results
• Collaborating with Research & Development to ensure continuous improvement and updating of work instructions and process documents
• Collaborating with Research and Development, Actuarial, Operational Finance, Underwriting, Re-insurers and other relevant role players to effectively manage claims
• Providing support to Claims Assessors, ensuring clear, concise and transparent communication

Risk and Compliance:

• Driving risk awareness and controls within the claims team and report any operational losses
• Compiling monthly Case Management, Permanent Incapacity and Disability reports to expose operational opportunities and risk management in claims
• Identifying trends in claims and training the Claims team on the consequences thereof, and long-term management of claims
• Adhering to internal service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure operational efficiency and achievement of agreed customer service standards
• Ensuring adherence to audit requirements
• Ensuring adherence to regulatory and compliance requirements

Education: 

• Matric (Grade 12)
• Degree in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy
• Management qualification would be advantageous

Experience:

• 10+ years’ experience within the Claims environment, 3 years of which should be as a Team Leader or Team Manager
• 5+ years’ experience in sickness and permanent disability claims assessment at a senior level
• Training experience an advantage

Knowledge and Skills:

• Claims management principles/knowledge
• Audit principles/knowledge
• Risk management knowledge
• Knowledge of the Long-Term Insurance industry
• Knowledge on FICA/FAIS legislation requirements and TCF outcomes
• Systems knowledge on MS Office
• Excellent mentoring, coaching and people management skills
• Teamwork, leadership and motivational skills

Competencies: 

• Problem-solving
• Business acumen
• Competent writing and communication skills – including the ability to communicate technical information
• Able to prioritise and multi-task
• Proactive thinking
• People skills and able to communicate at all levels
• Able to handle pressure situations

Preference will be given to Employment Equity candidates

Please send your applications to recruitment@pps.co.za