Manager: Wholesale Carrier Services at Cell C

Purpose

• This role is responsible for leading and managing the Wholesale SMS function within Cell C's Wholesale Carrier Services division, including national and international SMS interconnect, Bulk SMS aggregators, and A2P messaging partnerships. It is accountable for a robust and efficient SMS service delivery whilst driving commercial performance, ensuring regulatory and contractual compliance, and developing long-term strategic relationships with key messaging partners and clients. This role also supports revenue growth, operational excellence, and competitive advantage in SMS wholesale services.

Main Responsibilities
Wholesale SMS Strategy

• Develop and execute the SMS Wholesale strategy aligned with Cell C’s Wholesale business objectives
• Identify and onboard Bulk SMS aggregators, MNOs, MVNOs, and International A2P partners to expand the messaging ecosystem. This will include market analysis, competitor benchmarking, and exploring new opportunities
• Drive monetization of SMS interconnect and A2P messaging through volume-based pricing, margin management, and value-added propositions
• Support the formulation of competitive international termination offers and regional SMS hubs
• Ensure alignment between Wholesale SMS initiatives and regulatory obligations from ICASA and international bodies (e.g. GSMA)

Wholesale SMS Service Management and Operational Excellence

• Manage SMS interconnect operations, ensuring accurate traffic routing, billing integrity, and fraud mitigation (e.g. SMS spoofing, grey routes)
• Oversee performance monitoring and reporting for all SMS partners to ensure compliance with service-level agreements
• Implement processes for proactive alerting and resolution of SMS delivery failures and routing issues
• Collaborate with Finance, Legal, and Technology teams to ensure seamless interconnect setup, settlement, and reconciliation
• Drive SMS revenue growth and protect margins through cost-effective routing, tiered pricing models, and strategic supplier negotiations
• Analyze traffic patterns, partner performance, and market benchmarks to identify commercial improvement areas
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual SMS revenue forecasts and budgets in collaboration with finance and commercial planning teams

End-to-end Partnership Management

• Manage Cell C’s current SMS Partners and global to local value-added services partners by implementing best practice partnership frameworks, models and programmes in order to meet customer needs and drive competitiveness
• Develop new market and business opportunities through the selection and engagement of key potential and strategic partners to increase revenue
• Drive the growth of Cell C’s SMS portfolio by developing and implementing best in class partnership framework and programmes in order to enable operation excellence
• Conduct full partner management throughout the partnership lifecycle to achieve incremental value, guided by the agreed yearly targets and partner satisfaction metrics
• Monitor the performance digital partnerships by evaluating programs to assess both the sales impact of the solution(s) in the marketplace and the overall success of the partnerships

Partnership Governance and Risk Management

• Manage compliance to the partnership rules of engagement as well as contractual obligations, by monitoring adherence to partner level thresholds, requirements and measurements
• Lead audits, fraud investigations, and due diligence processes on SMS routing integrity and partner legitimacy
• Identify and manage partners and ensure all contracts are managed in line with procurement policies and standards to drive compliance to set processes and procedures
• Work closely with technical, commercial, and legal teams to ensure seamless service delivery, compliance, and customer satisfaction
• Other related duties/projects
• Perform any other related duties/projects as requested by Management

Qualifications

• Honors degree(s) in Computer Science/ Business Management/Commerce / Telecommunications/IT or related field

Experience

• 8+ years’ experience in the telecommunications industry, preferably in Wholesale or Interconnect environments
• 5+ years’ proven experience specifically in SMS Interconnect, A2P messaging, and Bulk SMS partnerships
• Experience in managing national and international partner agreements, pricing models, and regulatory compliance

Deadline:10th February,2026