Lead Platforms – Databases (Cloud)

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Job Summary

Lead the agile solution design, deployment & ongoing optimization & evolution of less complex enterprise wide technology platforms & delivery systems

Job Description

We are seeking a highly experienced Lead Platforms – Databases (Cloud) to drive the design, implementation, modernization, and operational leadership of enterprise database platforms within a Huawei Cloud Stack and hybrid cloud environment.

This role combines strategic leadership, deep technical expertise, and operational accountability, with full ownership of database platform stability, performance, resilience, governance, and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will define the enterprise database strategy, lead transformation initiatives, and ensure highly available, secure, scalable, and optimized database services aligned to strict ITSM, risk, and performance standards.

 

Key Responsibilities

Cloud & Database Strategy

• Define and execute the enterprise database and cloud platform strategy aligned to business goals
• Establish and govern architecture standards, operational frameworks, and best practices
• Drive modernization, migration, and cloud-native adoption initiatives
• Standardize database platforms to enable consistent, scalable hybrid environments
• Provide technical leadership for cloud transformation programs

 

Platform Engineering & Database Architecture

• Design, deploy, and manage highly available, scalable, and secure database platforms
• Lead database builds, migrations, upgrades, and patching across hybrid environments
• Architect and implement High Availability (HA) and Disaster Recovery (DR) solutions
• Drive:
  • Performance tuning
  • Capacity planning
  • Replication strategies
  • Backup and recovery frameworks
• Ensure strong security, compliance, and governance controls
• Support enterprise database technologies including:
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • MariaDB
  • MongoDB
  • Redis

 

Operational Excellence & ITSM Delivery

Accountable for end-to-end ITIL-aligned service management:

• Lead Incident, Change, and Problem Management practices
• Ensure:
  • SLA compliance
  • Zero aged or stale incidents
  • Strong incident reduction and prevention
• Drive root cause analysis (RCA) and continuous improvement
• Maintain high change success rates with minimal business disruption
• Implement proactive monitoring, alerting, and event management

 

Service Availability & Resilience

• Ensure availability for critical database platforms
• Maintain strong recovery capability aligned to RTO/RPO targets
• Ensure:
  • Backup integrity and successful restore testing
  • Regular DR testing and readiness
• Continuously optimize Mean Time to Recover (MTTR)

 

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Enforce governance across:
  • Security and compliance standards
  • Vulnerability management (no overdue critical risks)
  • Patch compliance
• Drive risk identification, mitigation, and closure
• Ensure audit readiness with zero repeat findings
• Maintain accurate CMDB, lifecycle management, and asset tagging

 

Infrastructure Hygiene & Lifecycle Management

• Ensure:
  • Clean and accurate CMDB
  • Proper decommissioning of assets
  • Elimination of unused or stale environments
• Drive unsupported infrastructure remediation
• Maintain strong operational discipline and platform hygiene

 

Optimization & Cost Efficiency

• Deliver continuous performance and cost improvements, including:
  • cost optimization initiatives
  • Resource right-sizing and capacity management
  • Data archiving and storage optimization
• Optimize license, infrastructure, and cloud consumption costs

Automation & Continuous Improvement

• Implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and automation frameworks
• Achieve high levels of automation for recurring operational tasks
• Standardize:
  • Runbooks
  • Operational procedures
• Enhance monitoring, observability, and self-healing capabilities

 

Leadership & People Management

• Lead and mentor high-performing database and platform teams
• Define KPIs, technical roadmaps, and execution plans
• Drive capability uplift through training and certification programs
• Foster a culture of:
  • Accountability
  • Ownership
  • Continuous improvement
  • Innovation
• Conduct architecture reviews and governance forums
• Engage effectively with executive stakeholders and vendors

 

Stakeholder & Service Delivery Management

• Act as a trusted advisor to business and leadership stakeholders
• Ensure:
  • High stakeholder satisfaction
  • Clear communication of risks and priorities
• Represent the function in governance, audit, and leadership forums

 

Required Skills & Experience

Experience

• 10+ years in enterprise database platforms and architecture
• 5+ years in cloud/platform leadership roles
• Strong experience in Huawei Cloud Stack and hybrid environments
• Proven leadership of large-scale transformation and modernization programs

 

Technical Expertise

• Strong hands-on experience with:
  • PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB
  • MongoDB, Redis
• Deep expertise in:
  • High Availability (HA) and Disaster Recovery (DR)
  • Backup, recovery, and replication
  • Performance optimization and tuning

 

Cloud & Infrastructure

• Huawei Cloud Stack architecture and operations
• Virtualization, storage, and networking fundamentals
• Infrastructure automation and scripting

 

DevOps, Automation and Engineering

• Terraform, Ansible
• CI/CD pipelines
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
• Monitoring and observability platforms
• AIOP’s
• Improving and implementing engineering capabilities to support the stack

 

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Ability to lead cross-functional technical teams
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving
• Executive reporting and presentation capability
• Strong governance, risk, and compliance mindset

Education

Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised