Lead Architect-Cloud Health Information System (ACRN)-Harare or Johannesburg

Location : Harare or Johannesburg South Africa - On site at one of these locations

Hours : Full Time

Reports to : Chief Technology Officer – Africa Clinical Research Network

Our Mission :

The African Clinical Research Network (ACRN) is an African-led and African-driven clinical research organisation. Our work not only promotes and supports a vibrant life sciences ecosystem but also profoundly impacts Africa's health and economic development. By facilitating sustainable, innovative, collaborative, and community-oriented research, ACRN is poised to transform healthcare and improve lives across Africa, inspiring a new era of clinical research.

We provide high-quality data, harmonise regulatory processes to improve timelines, support capacity building within the existing ethics and regulatory systems, and enhance community trust and research participation. These are some of the first key steps to making Africa more competitive in the global life sciences industry, a goal we are proud to contribute to.

The ACRN drives clinical research excellence by connecting researchers to opportunities, enhancing research capacity in existing facilities, implementing high-quality trials and research, and leveraging a robust digital infrastructure.

We are committed to fostering the community's understanding of research. Through our community engagement network, we significantly increase stakeholder buy-in of clinical results, thereby enhancing the transparency and credibility of our research.

Job Summary :

We are seeking a Lead Architect with a strong background in cloud-based health systems architecture, automation, and project management (PMO). The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing a secure, scalable, and interoperable Cloud Health Information System (HIS) that integrates health data, automation tools, and regulatory compliance frameworks.

This role requires strategic leadership, technical expertise, and project management acumen to ensure smooth execution of complex IT transformations within the healthcare and finance sectors. You will work closely with PMO teams, stakeholders, and technical teams to ensure that system architecture aligns with business objectives, operational workflows, and compliance requirements.

Key Responsibilities :

Cloud & Enterprise Architecture

Design and oversee the development of a cloud-native HIS using AWS, Azure, Oracle or GCP, ensuring scalability, security, and high availability.

Develop enterprise-wide architecture that integrates HIS, EHRs, LAB, financial systems, automation tools, and regulatory compliance frameworks.

Ensure alignment with industry standards (FHIR, HL7, DICOM, ISO 20022, PCI-DSS, etc.) for seamless data exchange and interoperability.

Health Systems Integration

Architect and manage integration between healthcare information systems LAB and financial platforms (billing, claims, revenue cycle management, and payment gateways).

Design a secure data exchange between clinical and financial systems, ensuring regulatory compliance and data privacy.

Oversee automation of financial workflows, including claims processing, fraud detection, and reconciliation.

Project Management & PMO Collaboration

Partner with the PMO team to ensure that architecture aligns with strategic project goals, budgets, and timelines.

Establish and enforce governance frameworks, best practices, and compliance standards for cloud system implementation.

Provide technical oversight on large-scale digital transformation initiatives in healthcare and finance.

Act as a bridge between technical teams, business stakeholders, and executive leadership to ensure smooth project execution.

Automation & Digital Transformation

Lead the implementation of AI / ML-driven automation for patient workflows, LAB Processing and Reporting, Financial transactions, and claims processing.

Leverage RPA (Robotic Process Automation) to streamline administrative tasks in healthcare operations and financial systems.

Design real-time data analytics platforms to provide actionable insights for decision-making.

Security, Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure HIPAA, GDPR, GCP, GLP, POPIA, PCI-DSS, and ISO compliance across cloud health and financial systems.

Develop a cybersecurity strategy to safeguard patient and financial data from threats.

Implement identity and access management (IAM), encryption, and fraud detection mechanisms.

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

Lead a multidisciplinary team of developers, DevOps engineers, PMO professionals, and automation specialists.

Collaborate with healthcare providers, clinical research sites and government agencies to align system capabilities with regulatory requirements and industry needs.

Act as a thought leader in digital health transformation, driving continuous innovation.

Qualifications & Experience :

10+ years in IT architecture, with at least 5 years in cloud-based healthcare or financial systems.

Experience working in PMO environments within healthcare, finance, or digital transformation projects.

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science, Health Informatics, Finance, or a related field.

Strong expertise in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Oracle, GCP) and microservices architecture.

Experience with FHIR, HL7, SMART on FHIR, DICOM, ISO 20022, and financial transaction APIs.

Proven track record in enterprise-wide system integration and automation.

Deep understanding of security frameworks, data governance, and regulatory compliance.

Project management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile methodologies) is a plus.

Excellent leadership, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving skills.

Work Environment :

This position can be based in Zimbabwe or South Africa, with occasional travel to other office locations as necessary. The role may require flexible working hours to support remote teams and ensure systems are running smoothly across time zones.

Please apply online providing a covering letter specifically highlighting how your existing skills and experiences support fulfilling the responsibilities of this role.