Senior Consultant - Solution Architecture Technology Information at MTN

Key Performance Areas: 

Strategic Input

• Translate the strategic intent of MTN SA into clear deliverables for the enterprise and fixed technology portfolio
• Provide strategic direction and technical oversight for MTN enterprise customers pertaining to the implementation of new tools, technologies, solutions and methodologies 
• Ensure alignment to overarching strategies for execution
• Manage the technology strategy for Enterprise, Wholesale and Digital customers.

Solution Delivery

• Manage the Design and Optimisation of the Technology Enterprise Systems within the Core, IP and Access networks in line with the business requirements of MTN SA (required timelines, budget constraints and quality standards).
• Serving as the interface between customer facing entities and the various technical areas for the design, architecture and development of new sales engagement processes.
• Translate customer ICT requirements into network solutions.
• Undertake Technical Regulation assessments in order to take solutions to clients
• Develop and continually Optimize the end-to-end process flow to ultimately ensure customer satisfaction
• Gather and analyse product and service requirements from multiple customer facing entities.
• Develop relevant documents  as input to technical teams 
• Provide feedback to requestor in the form of consolidated high-level solution architecture documents, costing and time lines.
• Design and implement workaround solutions and out-of-the-box thinking to ensure speed to market.
• Develop bespoke SLAs that meets customers requirements
• Develop innovative network solutions with a strong focus on converged products that differentiate MTN in the market.
• Ensure product integration management by defining an end-to-end network architecture to support converged approach.
• Provide consolidated technology based innovation, concepts and roadmaps to satisfy business requirements and create new demand.
• Ensure vendor management of equipment and solution providers.
• Ensure Solution Architecture business plan objectives are met.
• Drive implementation of solutions and inventory
• Ensure solutions provide excellent customer experience for end subscriber. 
• Match solution requirements to device capabilities during solution development process.
• Understand industry trends and adopt them in customer solutions
• Provide input into the demand management of network and platform infrastructure for Fixed and Enterprise networks
• Ensure the right forecasting and demand management processes to cater for capacity and growth
• Ensure the right technological trends are incorporated into infrastructure planning to build a future proof network
• Develop and grow long term relationships with key corporate customers, vendors, MTN Business, Wholesale stakeholders as well as the Digital team
• Initiate required technology changes to ensure alignment with the strategic direction of the company 
• Define architectural requirements for converged solutions and required processes 
• Manage business analysis of customer demand correlated to existing and possible solution deployment 
• Develop integrated costing models and scenarios for requested solutions 

Profitable Growth

• Convert proposed solutions into sales through high quality solution documentation, presentations, client engagements
• Ensure that MTN SA has infrastructure and platform plan for enterprise and fixed solution development 
• Develop the Business cases for all Solutions (Service on Demand) in the Enterprise, Wholesale and Fixed technology domain together with commercial units
• Build inventory at the right cost structure for MTN Business, Wholesale and Digital team in order to achieve profitable revenue targets

Operational Excellence

• Analyze and evaluate customer business and technical requirements 
• Architect solutions using appropriate technologies which meet functional and non-functional requirements 
• Document, design, develop and support the management of:
  • ICT
  • Mobile
  • Fixed
  • Converged
  • Wholesale
• Define and maintain standards, procedures and policies related to Solutions management
• Assess risk factors and limitations of current systems and identify areas of opportunity for mitigation and improving team performance 
• Provide technical assessments of current and proposed methodologies for Enterprise and Wholesale Business Units 
• Perform analysis of alternative and market research studies that provide data which aid in the selection of tools, technologies, solutions and methodologies 
• Interpret, implement and adhere to applicable and/or prescribed level technology standards, policies and directives 
• Collaborate with other technical leads, participate in problem-solving and root cause analysis efforts 
• Articulate, in writing and verbally, the impact of architecturally significant change requests 
• Maintain knowledge of current and emerging tools, technologies, solutions and methodologies 
• Provide subject matter expert support to Sales teams, Systems Engineers, other Systems Architects, and application teams 
• Provide detailed development cost, resource, and technology estimates for proposed solutions. 
• Ensure accurate and timely business and performance reporting process
• Ensure appropriate business predictability across all infrastructure projects
• Ensure the right service organisation structure to enable better client experience
• Ensure the client-centric tools / systems are implemented, accurate and accessible to all stakeholders
• Continuously develop and recommend internal client service models to align the business performance
• Ensure that a process is in place for seamless handover between all divisions and client service
• Effective budget management

Client Relationships

• Implement a cross-functional solution development model, interfacing across multiple areas e.g.  PMO, Network, Customer Experience, Marketing, Sales, Product Development, MTN Business, Wholesale, Regulatory  and external parties (e.g. suppliers)
• Establish and maintain internal and external relationships
• Build strategic relationships with key stakeholders by developing a stakeholder strategy
• Partner with relevant internal and external stakeholders to support and improve service delivery
• Develop standardised operations plans to ensure reliable delivery of services to clients 
• Conduct regular CSAT surveys to monitor client satisfaction and develop improvement plans 
• Work closely with sales team to understand demand of services in the Enterprise and Fixed  markets
• Design robust network architectures to ensure high quality of customer experience and high availability of services
• Ensure effective and efficient service escalation processes are in place
• Be a custodian for customer engagement across the business
• Support aggressive market share programme

People and Culture

• Lead, develop and coach the Enterprise Technology Services team
• Act as an ambassador and role model for the Network Group and MTN Business by living the brand values and vital behaviours
• Make  environment the best place to work
• Ensure a culture of continuous evaluation and improvement

Governance and Control

• Strictly follow and ensure team compliance of relevant policies and procedures
• Ensure effective SLA strategies are in place to support the business
• Implement proper controls and processes to minimise revenue leakage
• Ensure proper project controls are in place to manage financial and operational risks across the business 

Financial Management

• Manage financial modeling of current customer as well as future customers and technologies. 
• Manage expenditure in line with agreed budget
• Ensure contract governance is in place and administered at all levels 

Project Delivery

• Develop and drive the execution of agreed projects 
• Drive the implementation, tracking, monitoring and compliance of Projects
• Contract management in line with Procurement Policies
• Co-ordinate project reporting
• Ensure effective implementation of the integrated project management model 
• Risk management

Business Analysis

• Perform Business Analysis MTN SA Business Analysis in line with the methodology and guidelines
• Identify ways to fine tune policies, processes and systems in line with changing work practices
• Determine, document, and review requirements for projects within the scope of the value stream or impacting processes and systems 
• Design, analyse and document workflow and make appropriate recommendations that will positively impact operational effectiveness
• Identify Business Improvement and Optimisation opportunities that will result in improvement of process performance 
• Ensure that benchmarking is conducted with other companies and organizations within and outside the industry. 
• Construct business cases for initiations proposed by the business. Research and consider best practice, local conditions, trends, as well as competitor activity
• Identify and implement innovative ways to use minimum resources to achieve maximum outputs

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Requirements  

Education:

• 4 Year Tertiary qualification in Engineering or equivalent
• MBA / Masters advantageous

Education Experience:

• 10 years Experience working in a Converged (ICT, Fixed, Mobile) Product environment
• 5 years’ experience in designing, building and supporting technology infrastructure for enterprise customers