Executive: Software Engineering at MTN

Mission/ Core purpose of the Job

In line with the technology trend pivot towards to software Defined Everything (SDx) and pursuant to the MTN Ambition2025 and Platform business strategic aspirations, the Executive Software Engineering (SE) is responsible for defining, developing and executing on the Software Engineering Strategy and maintaining the long term growth for delivering the software engineering on front end customer experience layer systems, partnerships and integration points.

The Software Engineering business will be established as a commercial, separate entity within MTN Group providing Software Engineering services to 18 Core Telco Opcos and all Business Platforms such as Fintech, Enterprise, Chenosis, Ayoba and Fiberco.

The role is responsible for the definition of the overall strategy, the business plan and for the execution of the plans across the MTN OPCOs and platforms footprint, will lead the SE to facilitate business outcomes, by effectively managing technological, financial, operational, commercial, and strategic business objectives.

The role will be responsible to execute the required strategy to orchestrate the software and data architecture across complex, multi-faceted applications hosted across cloud platforms, private clouds, and on-prem domiciled applications across multiple markets and platforms. The role will help achieve business agility, at scale; impacting multiplier effect by bringing about positive impact in multiple OPCOs and platforms, various product areas, and newer markets.

Key Performance Areas: Core, essential responsibilities / outputs of the position (KPA's)

The Executive Software Engineering will be accountable to achieve the following objectives:

• Translating business strategy into SE strategy; develop, build, operate and maintain SE strategy and roadmap.
• Lead the establishment of the separate entity and strategy in line with the business goals.
• Manage the relationship between the SE and OPCOs and Platforms Leadership.
• Provide a high degree of leadership through ownership and follow through of objectives and tasks.
• Autonomy to provide direction to SE within the scope of the board and stakeholders.
• Ensure effective implementation of the strategy by means of providing direction, structure, frameworks, models, plans and roadmaps
• Embed the agile software development methodology, employ continual planning, team collaboration, evolutionary development and service delivery.
• Committed to servicing the Software Engineering needs of the OPCOs and Platforms and their customers with innovative products and services and help them to stay in the front line.
• Keep abreast of new trends and best practices in the software engineering landscape.
• Work closely with the Group technology, OPCO and platforms business leaders and teams such as Digital, Fintech, Chenosis, Enterprise…, to define and deliver new software products, enhancements, and artefacts.
• Define the software Engineering standards, across Group, domains, platforms and OPCOs.
• Ensure effective implementation of the SE strategy by means of providing direction, support, technical frameworks, models, roadmaps, partners, and products to the OpCos and platforms
• Define software engineering governance, run and report on activities of these forums and report to Group Exco on progress update.
• Ensure the collation, consolidation, and delivery of Software engineering demand in a manner that promotes Software re-use and preservation of intellectual property across the group core OPCOs and platforms.
• Integrate various tools in the DevOps toolchain to accelerate development teams’ velocity while maintaining high standards for quality and consistency
• Develop, incubate and nature internal talent in line with MTN objective of ins-sourcing key software development skills.
• Managing risk around release management through configuration management, patch management, and version control and other means.

Accountability

• Accountable for the P&L of the SE
• Build and lead the SE leadership team to develop a high performance culture that sustains effective delivery.
• Lead and manage the SE strategy, services, solutions and offerings
• Ensure Financials of the SE are maintained in line with business objectives and business plan.
• Accountable for Risk management in the SE
• Oversee the optimal allocation and use of resources at one’s disposal to deliver maximum shareholder value.
• Rollout of the Software reference architecture across all MTN Opcos and platforms business
• Responsible for execution of transformational technology initiatives
• Ownership of projects and problems with effective self-management.
• Responsible for ensuring the right financial methodology well implemented to recover the cost of the SE using the group charge back models.
• Manage the SE in accordance with long term sustainability goals and drive Interventions and innovations to ensure long term viability

Role Dependencies

• Active support from MTN Group MANCO
• Support and collaboration from Group Technology & Information Office.
• Alignment and collaboration with OPCOs and Platforms Leadership.
• Timely decision making and reporting
• Fully integrated Agility operating model

Education, Experience and Qualification requirements

Education:

• A minimum 4 year post graduate degree in Engineering or Computer Science degree or equivalent
• An MBA would be advantageous
• Prior experience managing software development teams in a large organisation
• Relevant certification/accreditation/membership with professional body as required for the role

Experience:

• At least 10 years senior management and professional experience
• Minimum 8 years of relevant work experience in a global / multinational business environment (understanding of emerging markets advantageous)
• Experience and understanding of DevOps practices and principles, keen understanding of AGILE Fundamentals
• Relevant Executive management experience with a regional or global organization
• Exceptional leadership and management skills; track record of developing a communication strategy, building relationships across teams and key stakeholders to achieve goals
• Working experience in building API Platforms and Cloud Native Tools – including API DevOps, API Management Platforms
• Abreast of global mind-set and best practice
• Preference for Telco Domain Experience, Banking & Retail also relevant
• Work across diverse cultures and geographies, pan Africa multi-cultural experience is advantageous
• Experience in leading change / transformation at a strategic and operational level advantageous
• Work across diverse cultures and geographies

Competencies:

• Decisive Problem Solver; Value Creator
• Culture and Change Translator; Inspiring People Leader; Stakeholder Influencer
• Results Achiever
• Strong knowledge of core technology (Infrastructure, Applications), business processes and technology supplier community
• Extensive industry knowledge with an eye towards the future.
• Thought leader in the DevOps field and capable of consulting with multiple teams to determine the best possible toolset to ensure that software projects
• Strategy Implementers, Decisive Problem Solver, Best Practice Value Creator