General Manager: Decision Science, Data and AI at MTN

Mission/ Core purpose of the Job

The General Manager: Decision Science Data & AI is responsible for defining, developing and executing the Data Monetisation strategy by providing guidance, input and leadership across the Decision Science function, using AI, ML and advanced data science methodologies.

The role will lead the application of Machine Learning/Deep learning to optimize the use of data assets across Group Finco, in order to mine actionable insights to value generating outcomes. The General Manager will oversee the development of data monetization and prediction capabilities across BankTech to ensure effective management of data and business insight generation across Group Finco.

The General Manager role will be the intersection of data and the business, partnering closely with data owners and senior leaders across Group Finco, whose strategy will be informed by outcomes of the Decision Science function.

As part of the leadership team, the General Manager is responsible to contribute to BankTech’s overall strategic goals, to achieve profitable growth, and to continuously improve the operations performance.

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

Strategy Development and Implementation

• Provide input into the BankTech strategy in line with the overarching business goals, ensuring that Finco maintains and improves its leadership positioning
• Define the overall Data Monetisation strategy strategy and business planning for the team
• Ensure the effective execution of the strategy by means of providing direction, structure, frameworks, models, plans and roadmaps, aligned to group strategy and frameworks, implementing to OpCos
• Drive the effective cascading of the overall business plan
• Execute the Data Monetisation strategy by driving customer awareness, engagement, experience and monetization
• Provide input into the BankTech Business Plan and cascade this to OpCos
• Drive product revenue and growth, operational excellent and customer satisfaction

Staff & Leadership Management

• Build and manage a high performing team by providing leadership, role clarity, training and career development
• Build and manage a high-performance team
• Continually develop a culture of strong collaboration and effective team working
• Ensure open communication channels with staff and implement change management interventions where necessary
• Provide definition of roles, responsibilities, individual goals and performance objectives for the team
• Set KPIs and provide regular performance feedback through a well-defined and implemented performance review program
• Develop and implement a training plan in order to build and develop skills within the team
• Encourage knowledge transfer through the implementation of a knowledge transfer plan and drive continuous improvement philosophy through the knowledge transfer plan
• Performance manage resources in accordance with HR policy and legislation where necessary
• Actively participate in leadership team and develop skills of own team
• Promote a ‘Finco centric’ and ‘partnership approach’ to develop strong relationships with other working groups and ensure adherence to Group governance

Operational Delivery

Functional Leadership:

• As the functional leader of the Decision Science Data & AI vertical, the General Manager is accountable to:
• Establish, monitor and align the direction, strategy and results of the Decision vertical collectively and as individual work areas
• Lead and drive an integrated solution development and problem-solving philosophy within the function

Functional Leadership:

• Monitor true-value metrics to measure the impact and benefit of the function to Group Finco
• Drive continuous improvement across the function

Delivery Leadership:

As the delivery leader of the Decision Science Data & AI vertical, the General Manager is accountable for the following work area outcomes

• Oversee & Drive the roll out of services in terms of partner engagement, project management and Finco implementation
• Develop and drive the Data Monetisation strategy by providing guidance, input and leadership
• Lead and increase the maturity of AI and ML in the Finco environment and drive the use and adoption of Data Engineering and Data Science capabilities
• Guide and work with product developers to leverage the scoring as a service functionality to bring about potential value in the business
• Create, manage, and oversee systems for collecting, managing, and reporting data across Group Finco
• Develop plans for data engineering needs in order to maintain and enhance the infrastructure required for consistent data management and reporting across Group Finco
• Apply strong understanding of data science techniques and libraries to business problems
• Develop and implement innovative banking and value proposition leveraging Finco’s assets
• Sign off models in accordance with company risk and profit profile to ensure business and customer growth
• Lead the full set of banking services that includes savings, loans, and insurance with regards to decision support, machine learning, and statistic models
• Ensure that Finco generates revenues on banking business
• Support Finco’s in implementing new services and value proposition
• Capacity development and best practice knowledge sharing at group level
• Oversee the definition, development and evolution of Fincos Digital Banking prediction capability, and the optimisation thereof
• Develop the BankTech Data Monetisation strategy and approach to:
• Demonstrate improved risk prediction in leveraging data, evolving to include 3rd party / partner data, across the various products and services developed by MTN, including but not limited to:

1. Risk
2. Affordability
3. Fraud

• Ensure improved business operations. Further ensuring that embedding and measurement happens across all the Finco’s and is aligned to the Group-wide data monetisation strategy
• Identify future challenges and opportunities within the function
• Monitor and continuously improve Group & Finco strategic and operational plans to achieve business objectives.
• Define, create, and maintain business metrics relevant for data analysis
• Ensure synergy across the functional areas through effective management of inter-functional relations and activities.
• Ensure synergy across the Group functions, Finco’s and partners through effective management of inter-functional relations and activities.
• Apply Deep Learning and Big Data

Governance

Operational, Tactical and Strategic Meetings

• Hold strategic meetings, ensure relevant participation and provide guidance and support in the various discussions
• Drive enterprise-wide transformation initiatives, elicit inputs from relevant parties
• Drive adequate risk mitigation and controls, and elicit inputs from relevant parties
• Sign off approval on new initiatives
• Provide relevant budget for internal projects
• Prepare proposal on change initiatives, SLA policies and procedures

Escalations

• Resolve and provide guidance to escalations that have impact on critical path of service delivery
• Resolve issues that will result in severe time, scope, productivity, and cost or resource or reputational impact

Tactical

• Review BankTech-related projects initiated (internal or global)
• Review and finalise objectives, targets, and budgets for the BankTech Decision Science Function as applicable
• Review key risks, issues and dependencies and set mitigation actions
• Sign-off / provide guidance on decisions regarding tactical changes

Performance

• Define the standards and set targets for performance across the sub-division and identify the parameters for measurement of performance
• Responsible to drive revenue, this is one of the core revenue generators for the business
• Monitor performance against business plans (i.e. business plan tracking) as well as alignment with Finco’s global strategy and industry best practices
• Identify opportunities for improvement, and provide the necessary support to respective teams to take the corrective action needed to drive performance against business targets
• Oversee business planning, forecasting and reforecasting

Reporting

• Report on a periodic basis to the BankTech Executive relating to progress made within the function and in accordance with the measurement metrics set by the organisation
• Report on an ad hoc basis on specific projects, as required

Budgets

• Develop and manage the Data Science budget in line with business objectives
• Develop and manage project initiative budgets in line with business objectives
• Ensure that the “cost of operations” is reduced, in line with a least cost operating strategy stemming from the business drivers
• Ensure delivery of revenue and growth targets

Managerial & Supervisory Responsibilities

• Continually develop a culture of strong collaboration and effective team working
• Provide guidance and leadership ensuring future focus and current efficiency
• Coach and mentor direct reports to ensure staff motivation is high
• Ensure adequate succession planning & that succession plans are achieved

Job Requirements (Education, Experience and Competencies) 

Education:

• Minimum of 4 year tertiary degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science or related field
• Master’s Degree in a Financial, Commerce, Statistical or related field (preferred)
• MBA or Masters (advantageous)

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience with a Global Brand
• A minimum of 4 years’ experience at a Senior position in Financial services, consulting, strategy, analytics, engineering, or related industry
• Experience in leading and managing large scale logistical regression / machine learning prediction models in a highly data driven environment, preferably within a Financial Services / Consumer Finance concern, in a senior technical capacity
• Experience in decision science and data analysis within banking or financial services industry
• Experience with SQL, Python, or other data analytics/data science languages

Competencies:

Functional Knowledge:

• Proficiency in working with Python (Numpy, Scikit-learn, Pandas, Scipy, Matplotlib, Tensorflow, Keras, Seaborn, Bokeh), SAS or R / Scala for data clean up and advanced data analytics
• Knowledge of Deep Learning and its applications.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to automate reports using standard enterprise BI tools like Tableau, Power BI, D3, SQL Server Reporting Services
• Working knowledge in Hadoop, Apache Spark and related Big Data technologies
• Highly proficient in database management systems like Postgres, Oracle, Mongo, MSSQL
• Ability to design, deploy and maintain machine learning and predictive model for different business use cases
• Data analytics
• Data mining and modelling
• Data management systems
• Machine learning and predictive modelling
• Payment, E-Commerce and digital platforms
• Understanding of FinTech, banking, microfinance and payment businesses
• Expert knowledge on Deep Learning and its applications
• Working knowledge in related Big Data technologies

Skills

• Business Acumen
• Analytics and Interpretation
• Strategic Thinking
• Organizational Agility
• Digital mind-set
• Dealing with ambiguity and complexity
• Decision Making
• Conflict Management
• Negotiation
• Financial and Numerical
• Project Management
• People Management
• Executive Presentation

Behavioural Qualities

• Adaptable
• Complete candour
• Culturally aware
• Emotional Maturity
• Innovation
• Integrity
• Leadership
• Team Player