Chief Technology Officer at Liquid Telecom South Africa

• To develop technical aspects of the company’s strategy to ensure alignment with its business goals. Discover and implement new technologies that yield competitive advantage by helping departments to use technology profitably.
• Supervise system infrastructure to ensure functionality and efficiency.
• Build quality assurance systems and develop Networks for best customer experiences. Process and Monitor KPIs to assess technological performance. Use stakeholders’ feedback to inform necessary improvements and adjustments to technology. Implement LIT group wide strategy as defined by GCTO/GCOO. 
• Lead product design to position LTSA in competitive market by implementing new and robust technologies.
• Responsible for overall management of inhouse and offshore network engineering and revenue Assurance. Instrumental in determining cost of sales for products and network proposals. Responsible for leading end to end project management and delivery of engineering projects including business cases, design, planning, sourcing, technology / vendor selection, implementation and handover. Instrumental in business development.
• Manage key relations at executive level with customers and vendors.

NETWORKS STRATEGY AND BUSINESS PLANNING

• Define and drive process to achieve PPP (Proactive, Predictive, Preventive Assurance). In conjunction with the LTSA Executive Management Team, participates in and contributes to the Strategic Business Plan for Networks and Operations.
• Carrying out market and spatial analysis and demand forecasting in conjunction with ‘Enterprise and Consumer’ Business Units. Analyse Market dynamics and create strategy.
• Provides Networks Long Range Planning.
• Directing the future high-level architecture and design to, and for the Network, including technology evaluation and selection, research, identification and development of network capacity.
• Managing the network life cycle to ensure sustainability and operational efficiency. Strong emphases on onboarding and insourcing capabilities for engineering and operations.
• Execute the 3 to 5 year Strategic Plan for LTSA approved by Board and GCTO.
• Ensures that LTSA is viewed as the Technology Leader in the market.
• Manages the various partnership relationships within Networks, including Voice Interconnection, Data Centre, Fibre and other associated network services.
• Represents LTSA as official spokesperson on technology matters and providing technical support and inputs on regulatory matters.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL

• Provide and manage Capex and Opex for the LTSA Network.

ENGINEERING & INNOVATION

Technology and Innovation

• Develops a strategy that drives LTSA towards digital transformation in line with LIT Group strategy defined by GCTO. Guide teams to consolidate manual process and build systems to achieve automation. Enables a culture of innovation and technical advancement within all teams.

Core Engineering

• Ensure that engineering teams achieve project deadlines, complete all long outstanding projects. Lead engineering PMO and implementation team to deliver projects on time by working across LTSA departments. 
• Ensures a core network that is strong and robust to achieve the strategic goals. Execute IP/ Transmission Strategy and Wireless Strategy for business, covering 5G, IOT, PTP/PTMP, Microwave and LTE. Execute Automation and digital transformation focusing on AI, Machine learning, robust processes, KPI dash boards and one click provisioning.

NETWORK DIRECTION AND MANAGEMENT

• Network Planning and Design - Lead the Architects and Senior Managers in Network planning and Design. Make sure all vendor design submitted are compliant to overall network strategy. 
• Regulatory Compliance - ensures that the Licence obligations and compliance for the Network are adhered to the General Managers.
• Attends and participates in forums and workshops arranged by the Regulatory Authority.

SERVICE ASSURANCE, Field Operations & Service Delivery

• Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
• Approves the service assurance plans which enable the continuity and uptime of the network and takes immediate corrective action. Enables an environment of efficiency within the Network Department to customer SLA is achieved.
• Oversees the coordination and operations of Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans with team.
• Network Operations Centre (NOC)/ Service Operations Centre (SOC)
• Liaise with GCNO to manage NOC/SOC to provide best customer experience. Implement PPP strategy and empower NOC/SOC team with right tools and updated workflow to resolve customer and network issues.
• Manages the overall delivery of the Network Products. Execute strategy for Managed Services and process flows to improve customer experience. Implement updated process flows.
• Monitors and proposes solutions to Operations to improve customer experience, introduce new digital ways to manage customer enquiries.
• Manage and provide KPI reports to Exco on MTTR, Ticket resolution and efficiency monthly reports.

Field Operations

• Manage the North and South Executive for Operational support for Assurance, Fibre and Network Maintenance, reinstatements, faults and management.

Service Delivery

• Manage Service delivery revenue realization for LTSA.
• Innovate Service delivery process, implement one touch provisioning and digital transformed models.

Infrastructure and Planning

• Manage infrastructure POPs, co-locations facilities and data centre space. Manage Power, cooling, security and capacity.
• Execute Centralized planning and control for fibre and IP as per strategy defined by GCTO. Implement tighter control of change management and built plans to get quality and faster execution.

HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

• Overviews, updates and maintains the relevant organisation structures and maintains liaison with the Chief Human Capital.
• Develops the necessary plan/s to ensure that the Networks meets its agreed goals and objectives.
• Carries out evaluation of staff, identifies performance strengths and deficiencies, and arranges for necessary action (for example further on the job training).
• Ensures that members of staff are being rewarded equitably and that the requisite human resource policies, procedures and systems are in place and are being followed accurately.
• Ensures, through the Line Managers, the enablement, and implementation of the requisite Company Risk and Compliance policies and processes and the maintenance of good Corporate Governance.

Job Requirements

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or Telecommunications along with Network Engineering certifications mandatory

Experience

• 15 years' Telecommunications (fixed line), Engineering, Design of Networks and similar, with approximately 10-12 years in a Senior Management position