Managing Consultant, Services Business Development, Analytics at Mastercard

Overview

• Our professional services practice specializes in delivering data-driven consulting, AI and analytics solutions, data strategy advisory, and digital transformation programs to clients across all industries. Leveraging deep domain expertise, advanced technology capabilities, and a proven track record of solving complex business challenges, we drive measurable value for our clients and strengthen our position as a market leader in the Africa region.

Role Description and Major Responsibilities
Drive Sales Engagements

• Lead consultative sales engagements and strategic client development initiatives spanning Analytics, AI, Data Strategy, Data Engineering, MLOps, and Cloud capabilities across all industry verticals in Africa
• Deliver against sales targets by identifying, qualifying, and closing new business opportunities while nurturing long-term senior client relationships
• Contribute actively to deal bids and RFP responses, ensuring high-quality, differentiated proposals aligned with client objectives and market context
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline through proactive prospecting, networking, and thought leadership positioning in the Africa market

Client Needs Analysis & Problem Structuring

• Build trusted relationships with C-suite and senior executives by developing a deep understanding of both explicit requests and underlying business needs across diverse industries
• Analyze and prioritize critical aspects of complex, ambiguous business problems to define clear, commercially grounded objectives and solution pathways
• Develop structured analytical approaches and testable hypotheses for large-scale, multi-dimensional engagements spanning data, AI, and digital domains
• Frame client opportunities in financial terms, articulating value quantification, ROI projections, and business case rationale to accelerate decision-making

Sales Pitch Development & Client Communication

• Design and lead compelling sales pitches and executive presentations, from initial storyboarding through to high-impact face-to-face delivery
• Craft succinct, persuasive written deliverables — proposals, points of view, solution briefs — tailored to varied audience levels from technical teams to board stakeholders
• Collaborate with cross-functional delivery and solution teams to ensure seamless transitions from sales to execution, maintaining accountability for client outcomes

Innovative Solution Design & Thought Leadership

• Design integrated, industry-agnostic solutions combining Analytics, Generative AI, Data Strategy, Data Engineering, MLOps, and Cloud to address complex client challenges
• Drive internal knowledge management by organizing training sessions, conceptualizing new solutions, and expanding the regional solution suite to reflect emerging market needs
• Author thought-provoking articles, blogs, and whitepapers on emerging AI, data, and analytics trends relevant to the Africa and broader MENA market
• Represent the practice at industry events, conferences, and client forums to elevate brand presence and generate business development opportunities in Africa

Capability Integration & Ecosystem Collaboration

• Leverage deep expertise across Analytics, AI, Data Strategy, Data Engineering, MLOps, and Cloud to design and position end-to-end, integrated solutions for clients
• Collaborate with global and regional capability teams to continuously adapt and enhance solution offerings in response to evolving market demands and technology trends
• Partner with alliance and technology ecosystem partners (cloud providers, AI platform vendors, data infrastructure providers) to develop joint go-to-market propositions

All About You
Education

• Undergraduate degree in Statistics, Economics, Engineering, Computer Science, AI, or Data Science field required
• MBA or relevant postgraduate degree recommended
• Professional certifications in Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) or AI/ML frameworks are a strong advantage

Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of demonstrated experience in management consulting, technology advisory, or relevant data and AI industry roles, with a strong track record of delivering impactful, measurable outcomes
• Proven ability to independently initiate, develop, and close complex, multi-stakeholder sales engagements across diverse industries
• Analytics and AI domain expert with hands-on advisory experience across the full spectrum: Data Strategy & Governance, Advanced Analytics, Generative AI, Data Engineering, MLOps, and Cloud-enabled AI solutions
• In-depth knowledge of Generative AI technologies and trends, with the ability to translate technical concepts into compelling, commercially relevant business applications
• Strong understanding of Data Engineering principles — data pipelines, lakehouses, data mesh architectures — and the ability to position and sell these capabilities to business and technical audiences
• Familiarity with MLOps practices including model deployment, monitoring, retraining, and AI productionization, sufficient to lead advisory conversations and shape client engagements
• Solid understanding of major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their role in enabling scalable, enterprise-grade AI and data solutions
• Expertise in Data Strategy including data governance, data product design, and analytics-driven decision-making frameworks
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to construct business cases, conduct ROI analysis, and frame complex opportunities in financial terms
• Strong ability to work across multiple internal stakeholders and subject matter experts in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to create high-impact presentations and written deliverables tailored to C-suite and technical audiences alike
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for creating data-driven deliverables and executive presentations