Company: Absa Bank Limited
Location: Sandton, South Africa
Work Type: Full Time
Remote Type: Hybrid
Closing Date: 05 January 2026
Job Requisition ID: R-15982313
About Absa
With over 100 years of rich history, Absa is a proudly African banking group with strong regional and international expertise. Joining Absa means being part of a purpose-driven organisation committed to shaping Africa’s future through insight-led growth and responsible banking.
Job Summary
The Senior Specialist: Research and Competitor Analysis leads and manages the research and competitor intelligence capability within the SCVM Business Unit.
The role delivers actionable market, customer, and industry insights that support strategic planning, strengthen competitive advantage, and drive sustainable growth within Business Banking.
Key Focus Areas
Market & Competitor Intelligence
- Lead competitor and market research to inform Business Banking strategy
- Track industry trends, customer behaviour, and market shifts
- Benchmark performance against competitors and industry standards
Strategic Insight & Decision Support
- Translate complex data into clear, actionable recommendations
- Support product development, pricing, and go-to-market strategies
- Enable executive decision-making through structured analysis and reporting
Customer & Segment Insights
- Identify unmet customer needs across business segments (SMEs, corporates)
- Integrate Voice of the Customer into strategy formulation
- Inform segmentation, targeting, and value proposition development
Sustainable Growth & Innovation
- Identify growth opportunities through market gap analysis
- Support long-term strategy through forecasting and scenario planning
- Benchmark sustainability and ESG practices to support responsible banking
Operational Effectiveness & Digital Enablement
- Build dashboards and research tools for insight sharing
- Promote digital adoption, automation, and data-driven decision-making
- Establish early-warning systems for market and competitor shifts
Stakeholder & Talent Leadership
- Engage senior stakeholders and present insights to leadership forums
- Build and mentor research and analytics capability
- Foster a culture of insight-led innovation and continuous improvement
Qualifications & Experience
Education
- Postgraduate Qualification (NQF 8): Honours Degree, Postgraduate Diploma, or Professional Qualification
- Field of Study: Business Strategy, Marketing, Economics, Data Analytics, or related fields
Experience
- 8–10 years’ experience in strategic research, competitor analysis, or related capability
- Proven experience delivering market intelligence that informs strategy and drives growth
- Exposure to digital transformation and data-driven decision-making
- Strong stakeholder engagement and executive presentation experience
Core Competencies
Leadership Competencies
- Strategic Thinking
- Business Acumen
- Influence & Communication
- Creativity & Innovation
- Delivering Results
- Collaboration & Adaptability
Technical Skills
- Market and competitor analysis
- Qualitative and quantitative research
- Data analytics and visualisation
- Benchmarking and performance tracking
- Insight storytelling and reporting
- Risk and opportunity identification
Employment Equity
Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Preference will be given to suitably qualified candidates from designated groups in line with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998.
Absa reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised.