Head of Technology and Innovation at Wisrod Group – Harare

Wisrod Group is a fast-growing Zimbabwean financial inclusion group. Through Wisrod Investments, our retail business Wisrod Shop and a network of more than 50 branches, we serve informal traders, SMEs and salaried clients across the country. The Group IT Strategy aims to turn Wisrod into a secure, digitally enabled lending platform, ready for regional growth.

We are looking for a Head of Technology and Innovation to lead that transformation. Reporting to the Group CEO, with a functional line to the Chair of the Board Innovation & Technology Strategy Committee, you will own the Group’s technology agenda end to end: strategy, systems, security, data and the team that delivers them. This is a hands-on executive role in a lean team that you will build.

As Head of Technology and Innovation, you will lead delivery of the Board-approved Group IT Strategy and report quarterly to the Board IT Committee. You will build and lead the technology team, starting with four Leads: Applications, Development & Integration; Infrastructure & Cybersecurity; Data & AI; Business Analysis & PMO.

Key responsibilities include digitising the lending journey from onboarding and appraisal to e-signing, disbursement and collections, across branch, mobile, WhatsApp and USSD. You will also build an API-first integration layer for mobile money, payment gateways, credit bureaus and partners, and strengthen cybersecurity, data protection and disaster recovery to regulatory and international standards (ISO/IEC 27001). Furthermore, you will turn data into trusted dashboards, apply AI where justified by business case and risk controls, and manage vendors, budgets and benefits with discipline.

This is a rare chance to shape the technology of a growing financial inclusion business from the top: a Board-approved strategy, a seat on the Executive Committee, direct access to the Group CEO and the Board, and the mandate to build a team.

- A degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or a related field.
- A Master’s degree (MBA or MSc).
- At least 12 years in technology, including 5+ years as Head of IT, IT Director, CTO or CIO.
- Financial services experience: microfinance, banking, mobile money or fintech.
- A track record of delivering core banking or lending systems, integration and cybersecurity programmes, with measurable results.
- Experience reporting to a Board, and working knowledge of the Cyber and Data Protection Act and RBZ requirements.
- CISSP, CISM, CISA, TOGAF, ITIL or PMP certification is an advantage.
- Unquestionable integrity, handles client data with care and reports bad news early.
- Hands-on and cost-conscious, treating every dollar as the Group’s money.
- Calm and decisive under pressure, whether in an outage or a cyber incident.
- Able to explain technology in plain business terms to the Board, executives and branch teams.
- Committed to financial inclusion and to the customer at the end of every system: the trader and the SME.