Senior Manager - Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Advanced Analytics.Commercial Operations SA at MTN

Job Description

• Lead and operationalise enterprise grade Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Advanced Analytics capabilities, translating business problems into high impact AI, ML and Agentic AI solutions that deliver measurable commercial, operational and customer value.

The role is accountable for:

• Leading AI and ML use‑case ideation, design, build and value realisation across MTN SA
• Driving adoption of Agentic AI, intelligent automation and decision intelligence within core business processes
• Building scalable solutions using the Microsoft AI ecosystem (Azure AI Foundry, Power Platform, Databricks, Copilot, Fabric)
• Embedding responsible AI, governance, and model lifecycle management into production solutions.  Collaborate with business functions to solve business problems and explore opportunities using Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning and deep-learning through the development of models, algorithms and software.

Responsibilities

Technical / Platform Experience

• Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
• ML use case development: forecasting, personalisation, churn, next best action, optimisation, risk, automation
• Experience with Agentic AI / autonomous agents, decision agents or multi agent workflows (design, orchestration, governance)
• Hands on experience with LLMs, GenAI, prompt engineering, retrieval augmented generation (RAG) and AI assisted workflows
• Microsoft & Enterprise Platforms (Hands on required)

Microsoft Azure AI ecosystem, including one or more of: 

• Azure AI Foundry / Azure OpenAI
• Microsoft Copilot & Copilot Studio
• Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI)
• Microsoft Fabric
• Databricks (feature engineering, ML pipelines, model training, MLOps)
• Strong understanding of cloud based data architectures and integration patterns
• Analytics & Engineering
• Python, SQL; familiarity with modern ML libraries and frameworks
• Experience working with large scale data platforms and modern data stacks
• Strong data visualisation and executive storytelling capability

Work Experience

• 8+ years’ experience in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning or Advanced Analytics roles
• 5+ years in a leadership / senior management role delivering AI or data‑driven solutions at scale
• Proven track record of taking AI/ML use cases from concept to production in large, complex organisations
• Demonstrated experience delivering measurable business benefits (e.g. revenue uplift, cost reduction, efficiency gains, customer experience improvement)
• Experience working in telecommunications, financial services, insurance, retail or large enterprise environments (preferred)
• Experience leading cross‑functional delivery with business, IT, data engineering and governance teams
• Strong exposure to operationalising AI (MLOps, model lifecycle, monitoring, adoption)

Key Job Responsibilities

Strategic Input

• Align all operational activities undertaken in the department to the MTN South Africa’s strategy objectives
• Drive best practice, iterative improvement and innovation at a strategic deployment level
• Define and drive the AI, ML and Agentic AI delivery roadmap aligned to MTN SA strategy
• Prioritise use cases based on business value, feasibility and scalability
• Own value realisation tracking for AI initiatives (benefits, ROI, adoption)
• Partner with IT and Data Engineering to ensure platforms support AI at scale

Decision Making and Business Case Management

• Manage the various Senior Specialists by developing models, algorithms and software that will help them achieve business result and solve business problems 
• Contribute towards the establishment of measurable performance parameters and standardised sources for measurement, to evaluate the performance of Senior Specialist in the DACoE 
• Identify business improvement and optimisation opportunities that will result in business problems being solved effectively

AI, ML and Agentic AI Delivery

• Define and drive the AI, ML and Agentic AI delivery roadmap aligned to MTN SA strategy
• Prioritise use cases based on business value, feasibility and scalability
• Own value realisation tracking for AI initiatives (benefits, ROI, adoption)
• Develops frameworks to assist Senior Specialist in implementing deep learning algorithms to solve real business problems
• Utilises analytics programs, AI, machine learning and statistical methods to prepare data for use in predictive and prescriptive modeling, using algorithms and software in alignment with the Business Intelligence framework 
• Explore and examine data from a variety of angles to determine hidden weaknesses, trends and/or opportunities across all MTN SA’s segments
• Devise data-driven solutions to the most pressing challenges presented by research on local market
• Recommend cost-effective changes to existing procedures and systems

Collaboration / Coordination 

• Collaborate with other functions across the business to ensure effectiveness of analysis conducted
• Collaborate with other functions to drive and where applicable enhance the utilization of models, algorithms and software’s that help solve business problems
• Collaborate with and communicate to various departments the various predictions and findings through effective data visualizations and reports

Governance 

Talent Density Development

• Build and lead high performing AI and analytics teams
• Mentor senior specialists and future AI leaders
• Ensure compliance with enterprise governance, risk and regulatory requirements

Tactical meetings

• Set up / contribute in adhoc and operational meetings 
• Lead the agenda for tactical meetings
• Participate in any other cross-functional tactical meetings

Budgets

• Manage the Data Science and Advanced analytics divisional budget in line with business objectives
• Manage project or initiative budgets in line with business objectives

Escalations

• Provide input and recommendations / escalate serious issues to ensure all actions are aligned to the business plan and strategic intent
• Contribute towards generating solutions to issues that require formal resolution

Reporting

• Review and submit reports for the General Manager(GM) addressing periodic activity, budget compliance, feedback and key departmental results to facilitate decision making
• Prepare reports on operational performance and detailed reports on specific projects when required

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4-year Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics or related quantitative field
• MSc or PhD degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics or related quantitative field (preferred) 
• Fluent in English
• Post-Graduate in Artificial Intelligence would be preferable. 

Technical / Platform Experience

• Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
• ML use case development: forecasting, personalisation, churn, next best action, optimisation, risk, automation
• Experience with Agentic AI / autonomous agents, decision agents or multi agent workflows (design, orchestration, governance)
• Hands on experience with LLMs, GenAI, prompt engineering, retrieval augmented generation (RAG) and AI assisted workflows
• Microsoft & Enterprise Platforms (Hands on required)

Microsoft Azure AI ecosystem, including one or more of: 

• Azure AI Foundry / Azure OpenAI
• Microsoft Copilot & Copilot Studio
• Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI)
• Microsoft Fabric
• Databricks (feature engineering, ML pipelines, model training, MLOps)
• Strong understanding of cloud based data architectures and integration patterns
• Analytics & Engineering
• Python, SQL; familiarity with modern ML libraries and frameworks
• Experience working with large scale data platforms and modern data stacks
• Strong data visualisation and executive storytelling capability

Work Experience

• 8+ years’ experience in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning or Advanced Analytics roles
• 5+ years in a leadership / senior management role delivering AI or data‑driven solutions at scale
• Proven track record of taking AI/ML use cases from concept to production in large, complex organisations
• Demonstrated experience delivering measurable business benefits (e.g. revenue uplift, cost reduction, efficiency gains, customer experience improvement)
• Experience working in telecommunications, financial services, insurance, retail or large enterprise environments (preferred)
• Experience leading cross‑functional delivery with business, IT, data engineering and governance teams
• Strong exposure to operationalising AI (MLOps, model lifecycle, monitoring, adoption)

Apply Before 04/28/2026