Senior Consultant: Programme Management (MUNA) (Limited Duration Contract) at MTN

Mission/ Core purpose of the Job

The Senior Consultant Programme Management MUNA is responsible for the implementation of the Core modernization projects across all OPCOs ; ensuring that these projects are well coordinated with all requisite resources availed timely and projects delivered to specifications; on time; on budget and to the internal customer‘s expectations and satisfaction. The Senior Consultant is responsible for the coordination, direction, implementation and execution of the projects at hand.

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

The Senior Consultant will be accountable (in accordance with sound project management principles and guidelines) to achieve the following objectives:

• Develop, implement and manage the relevant training programmes for the Opco’s on new technologies
• Resolve all technical challenges as part of the scope and develop an integrated plan for cut-overs
• Manage escalations up to executive level timeously
• Effectively manage the vendors to meet roadmap commitments and timelines
• Ensures the delivery of projects (within the programme) according to project scope while effectively managing resources, time and budget.
• Create and execute project plans and revise as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements.
• Monitor project plans including project organisation, timelines, contingency plans and resources.
• Manage (when necessary) OEMs and supplier contracts in terms of agreed scope.
• Monitor and co-ordinate the contributions of multi-disciplinary professional teams from various parts of the MTN business to delivery on projects.
• Ensure that project meetings are appropriately facilitated, including all other project related meetings, workshops etc.
• Support, run and co-ordinate project management meetings and other committees as directed by the Programme manager.
• Ensures financial control of projects being managed (e.g. budgets, cash flows, certification of all payment certificates etc.).
• Ensure the facilitation of all liaison matters with all project role-players (e.g. service providers) and internal stakeholders.
• Deliver accurate and timely input into Network Design & Planning project related reporting.
• Oversee and/or coordinate the collection, compilation, and analysis of program activity data for program reports
• Ensure the successful tracking of the project risks.
• Provide a continuous assessment of the progress of the program for evaluation and improvement
• Work with other program/project managers to identify risks and opportunities across multiple projects within the department as well as dependencies from other initiatives

Key Deliverables

• Fulfilment of the MUNA project initiatives and outcome targets
• Project budget
• Project reporting
• Delivery of project objectives on time
• Develop and input into dashboard reports

Role Dependencies

• Active support from the Group Network Design and Planning and PMO and Managed Operations functions
• Deep understanding of the MTN business strategy
• Understanding of the OpCo technology, business and regulatory context
• Timely decision making and reporting
• Alignment of OpCo and Group strategy initiatives

Job Requirements

Education:

• Minimum of 4 year tertiary degree
• Relevant Project Management certification (e.g. Prince 2)
• MBA or Masters advantageous
• French might be a pre-requisite in some markets

Experience:

• Minimum of 5-8 years’ Project Management experience managing multiple Network or Enterprise-wide projects for large Telco organisations.
• Previous experience deploying core network and MVI/IOT with other Non-Core domains
• Previous experience with NFV deployments advantageous
• Co-ordinating large Core network migrations between vendors advantageous
• Worked across diverse cultures and geographies advantageous
• Experience working in a large organization
• Outstanding working knowledge of change management principles and performance evaluation processes

Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and business acumen
• Effectively manage people, processes and projects to maximize efficient work within the central datacentre function
• Innovation to improve value and efficiency
• Effective team management skills and the ability to coach, mentor and motivate a team of technical professionals
• Ability to identify key issues in a situation and to think creatively and strategically in facing internal and external challenges.
• Very strong oral and written communication
• Excellent public relations skills to be able to function across multiple business lines in a multicultural environment
• Exceptional networking skills to build professional relationships
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills to efficiently manage partners, customers and colleagues
• Sound judgment, decision-making abilities and attention to detail
• Strong computer literacy with proficiency in MS Excel, Word and Power-Point
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Good stakeholder management and relationship building