Executive, Head of People & Culture, South Africa

Make an impact with NTT DATA
Join a company that is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We are renowned for our technical excellence and leading innovations, and for making a difference to our clients and society. Our workplace embraces diversity and inclusion – it’s a place where you can grow, belong and thrive.

About NTT DATA, Inc.

Continue to make an impact with a company that is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. At NTT DATA, we are renowned for our technical excellence, leading innovations, and making a difference for our clients and society. Our workplace embraces diversity and inclusion – it’s a place where you can continue to grow, belong, and thrive.

Your career here is about believing in yourself and seizing new opportunities and challenges. It’s about expanding your skills and expertise in your current role and preparing yourself for future advancements. That’s why we encourage you to take every opportunity to further your career within our great global team.

Role Purpose

The Strategic People & Culture (P&C) Business Partner for South Africa is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the people strategy, talent agenda, and cultural transformation across the region. Embedded within the business, this role ensures that people and culture priorities are fully aligned with evolving strategic goals and operating models.

This role translates business needs into future-focused, data-driven P&C initiatives that enable growth, innovation, and agility. It plays a pivotal role in shaping organizational design, leadership effectiveness, workforce planning, and cultural integration—while championing digital enablement, AI fluency, and future-of-work readiness. The Strategic P&C Business Partner will collaborate and work closely with P&C Consultants and Centres of Expertise (CoEs) like Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, Employee Engagement, and others. While these CoEs do not report directly to this role, the incumbent will be expected to partner effectively with them to deliver integrated people solutions aligned with business needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the people strategy for South Africa, aligned with global and regional P&C priorities and local business objectives.
• Drive adoption of NTT DATA’s evolving culture, values, and leadership attributes to support transformation and a unified employee experience.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on strategic people matters including organization design, leadership effectiveness, and change management.
• Lead strategic workforce planning based on future skills to support business growth, digital transformation, and operational agility.
• Translate business plans into actionable P&C initiatives using data analytics, market trends, and digital insights to drive measurable outcomes.
• Collaborate with other Strategic P&C Business Partners globally to align on enterprise-wide transformation priorities and share best practices.
• Ensure successful execution of performance management, total rewards cycle, and employee engagement initiatives tailored to local needs.
• Support succession planning, integrating digital leadership and AI-enabled capabilities into talent pipelines.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), embedding inclusive practices into all aspects of the people strategy.
• Ensure compliance with relevant (local and / or international) employment regulations, mitigating people-related risks and maintaining ethical and compliant practices across the region or business unit.
• Own digital adoption of global P&C tools and platforms within the region.
• Support cross-functional initiatives including M&A, global org integration, and scale-up efforts.

Key Competencies:

• AI-First HR Mindset: Champions digitization and AI use in all P&C functions.
• Org Design & Succession – Leads organization design, mobility, and succession planning.
• CXO Influence: Operates with gravitas, advising senior leaders on P&C priorities.
• Global Outlook – Skilled in navigating the complexities of a global workforce while driving regionally aligned strategies.
• Compliance Expertise – Deep knowledge of local labour laws and employment legislation.
• Culture & DEI Builder: Shapes unified culture across geographies with a strong DEI foundation.

Required Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Organizational Psychology, or a related field.
• An advanced degree such as an MBA is desirable.
• Proven experience in strategic P&C leadership roles within complex, matrixed organizations.
• Experience leveraging AI-enabled tools, digital platforms, and people analytics to inform decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change and maintain engagement during transformation.
• Professional certifications such as SHRM-SCP, CIPD, or HRCI (SPHR) are advantageous.

Workplace Type:

Hybrid Working

About NTT DATA
NTT DATA is a $30+ billion trusted global innovator of business and technology services. We serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping clients innovate, optimize and transform for long-term success. We invest over $3.6 billion each year in R&D to help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. As a Global Top Employer, we have diverse experts in more than 50 countries and a robust partner ecosystem of established and start-up companies. Our services include business and technology consulting, data and artificial intelligence, industry solutions, as well as the development, implementation and management of applications, infrastructure, and connectivity. We are also one of the leading providers of digital and AI infrastructure in the world. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group and headquartered in Tokyo.

Equal Opportunity Employer
NTT DATA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer with a global culture that embraces diversity. We are committed to providing an environment free of unfair discrimination and harassment. We do not discriminate based on age, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, disability, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected category. Join our growing global team and accelerate your career with us. Apply today.

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