Senior Manager - Senior Regional Manager Technology Information at MTN

Job Description

Primary Job Purpose: 

• To provide focused strategic and operational leadership for the regional team, and responsible for the integrity of the MTN Network in the region. Be the primary interface with MTN management, including accountability and authority within the Region. Provide a superior quality Network continuously striving to satisfy the needs of our customers.

Responsibilities

Key Performance Areas: 

Strategic Planning:

• Provide input into all long term plans regarding Network Operations for the region
• Provide input the annual business plan 
• Translate the Network Operations strategies into operational plans and activities to realise these strategies within the region
• Adopt and align NWG strategies with that of Sales and Marketing

 Operational Excellence

• Responsible for managing the following NWG functions in the Region in accordance with the Head Office matrix management structure:
• Radio: Radio Planning (Coverage & Quality), Optimisation and Network quality
• Transmission: Planning, Optimisation and Transmission quality
• Operations: Radio maintenance, Switching Operations and Switching maintenance
• Mechanical and Electrical: Energy management, Energy maintenance, Facilities management
• Implementation:  Co-ordinate Implementation function in the Region in conjunction with CPG Project office
• Property: Site acquisition, Site renewals and Monitoring permit process 
• Responsible for ensuring network availability across the region meets target levels
• Drive the agreed service levels and exceed as per agreed KPIs for the region
• Accountable for ongoing operation and reliability of all network infrastructure in the region including interconnect and roaming infrastructure where applicable
• Translate company objectives to align with the activities in the regions
• Drive the process to ensure the appropriate resources, systems and processes are in place to maintain and support the network in the region
• Responsible for the interface with the transmission and interconnection suppliers (e.g. Telkom) in the region
• Oversee the regional NWG staff and ensure that their operations/functions are in alignment with the objectives of the CTO
• Provide resources to support the integration of new network elements and software in the region        
• Accountable for the process to ensure all network and service faults assigned to the region and are tracked and managed effectively
• Manage MTBF and MTTR across the region as defined
• Perform annual individual assessments of direct reports in the region
• Ensure that appropriate training is received by staff, both informal and formal, and provide succession planning and career paths for staff
• Drive the implementation of special projects
• Responsible for the technical performance of the network in the Regions
• Drive the adherence to quality and safety n the region through ISO 9001,ISO14000 & RCMP and monitor the performance ensuring compliance
• Ensure participation in implementation: Manage to carry out Lab testing (software & hardware) and to perform testing, i.e. get vendor acceptance tests
• Responsible that end-to-end integration is successful
• Ensure a process for 2nd level support for network and services are in place
• Responsible for the process to ensure documentation is comprehensive, sufficiently detailed, up to date, accurate and maintained effectively to ensure business continuity

Communication and co-ordination

• Develop and maintain efficient and effective co-ordination and interworking between network operations and the planning and implementation teams in the region and between regional and central functions
• Responsible for activities carried out in the region including planning and design, deployment and implementation, integration, operation and optimisation of the network.
• Continuously review and update best practice implementation across the region and knowledge sharing with other regions and the central teams
• Ensure effective troubleshooting procedures are in place and utilised by skilled and motivated resources across the region
• Develop the matrix reporting and management practices in the region to be successful
• Represent MTN SA and/or the Network department in regional forums as required
• Present the senior face of Network in the region for negotiations on site acquisition and council authorisation 
• Develop, maintain and nurture a sound working relationship between the regional network sections and all associated parties, both within the company and external
• Hold regular meetings with all functional area heads in the region to review performance, special projects and communicate any issues from staff to management or vice versa
• Ensure vendor interaction is managed appropriately 
• Ensure close co-operation and alignment with central operations and attend monthly meetings with other regional heads 
• Prepare and submit comprehensive reporting regarding the network region as required
• Submit reports to designated management, as per the standing instructions. 
• Interface with National Managers and attend monthly meetings with other BU (Business Units) and Telco companies

Financial Management

• Forecast, plan, develop and review network operations budgets for the region in line with MTN SA financial requirements
• Ensure network operations budgets for the region are optimised 
• Manage network operations expenditure in the region in line with agreed budgets
• Identify and eliminate non-contributory expenditure

Project Management 

• 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:

• Minimum of 4 year tertiary qualification in Telecoms or light current electronics / Masters advantageous
• Fluent in English and language of country preferable

Experience:

• Manager track record of 5 years or more in year’s managing a similar function at the national/continent level in a multinational organisation experience in the telecoms/GSM industry with at least 3 years in relevant sector/ industry. 
• Budgeting and financial processes.
• Worked across diverse cultures and geographies advantageous

Training:

• Formal courses in digital transmission and switching techniques.
• Elementary training in personnel management covering supervisory fundamentals, the setting of objectives, mentoring, coaching, LR and disciplinary procedures.
• Computer literate with a good knowledge of the MSOffice packages and the ability to set up spreadsheet, databases and presentations.