Who are we?Sanlam Group Technology is responsible for the provision of a digitally enabled technology service as a group COE, drive business and transformation and provide group-wide digital and data architecture.
We operate the various technology platforms and shared services, ensure Cyber and Information Security resilience, and act as technology governance and risk orchestrator for technology across Sanlam.What will you do?In order to meet business objectives and evolving client needs, it is necessary to ensure continuous business improvement through the introduction of new products, enhancement of existing products or changes to systems, processes or business capabilities that enable improved optimization and/or efficiency.
This involves introducing some level of change into the business.
The squads within an agile release train (ART) define, design, build, test and deliver these changes and ensure their integration into existing business processes.
The Release Train Engineer (RTE) has a solid grasp of how to scale lead and agile practices and understands the unique opportunities and challenges associated with continuously aligning a large development program.
The Release Train Engineer manages and optimizes the flow of value through the ART.
The RTE facilitates the ART events & processes and assists teams in delivering value.
The RTE communicates with a wide range of stakeholders, escalates impediments, helps manage risk and drives relentless improvement.What will make you successful in this role?
Manages and optimizes the flow of value through the ART using various tools such as the program kanban and other dashboards.
Establishes and communicates the annual calendars for iterations and program increments (PIs).
Facilitates PI Planning readiness by fostering a continuous exploration process which drives the synthesis of a vision, roadmap and backlogs, and through pre and post PI Planning meetings.
Facilitates the PI Planning event (end state).
Summarizes squad PI objectives into program PI objectives and publishes them for visibility and transparency.
Assists in tracking the execution of features and capabilities.
Facilitates periodic synchronization meetings including the ART sync at the essential level.
Assists with economic decision making through facilitating feature and capability estimation by squads and the roll up to epics.
Assists in enabling leaders, teams and agile facilitators with lean agile practices and mindsets.
Helps manage risk and dependences across squads within the ART.
Escalates and tracks impediments.
Provides input on resourcing to address critical bottlenecks.
Encourages collaboration between squads.
Works with product management, product owners and other stakeholders to ensure strategy and execution alignment.
Improves the flow of value streams by enhancing and assessing the practices associated with devops and release on demand in the continuous delivery pipeline.
Understands and operates with lean budgets and ensures adherence to guardrails.
Facilitates system demos.
Drives relentless improvement via inspect and adapt workshops; assesses the agility level of the ART on an ongoing basis.
Fosters communities of practice and the use of engineering and built-in quality practices.
QualificationsMatricAny relevant IT Qualification (IT Diploma or Degree) will be a strong recommendationRTE certification recommended Experience Management of Release for At least 4 years of working in an agile environment At least 2 years of coordinating a sizeable release train Knowledge/experience within the Life Assurance industry (or in broader Financial Services industry) Knowledge & Skills Thorough knowledge of agile practices, rituals and ceremoniesGood understanding of engineering practicesThorough knowledge of Jira and Confluence Good understanding of how agile works at scale Thorough understanding of how to utilize dashboards, KPI/metrics & burn down charts Good understanding of Behavior Driven Development methodology practiced in SanlamSolid grasp of how to scale lean and agile practices Understanding of the unique opportunities and challenges associated with facilitating and continuously aligning a large development program Servant leadership Systems thinking Problem solving Influencing Strong facilitation skills Negotiation Personal AttributesDecision quality - Contributing through othersOptimises work processes - Contributing through othersPlans and aligns - Contributing through othersAction orientated - Contributing strategicallyCollaborates - Contributing strategicallyCultivates innovation - Contributing strategicallyBuild a successful career with usWe're all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees.
We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things.
We pride ourselves in helping our employees to realise their worth.
Through its five business clusters – Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.Core CompetenciesBeing resilient - Contributing through othersCollaborates - Contributing through othersCultivates innovation - Contributing through othersCustomer focus - Contributing through othersDrives results - Contributing through othersTurnaround timeThe shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached.
The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers.
