Head of Technology - CTIO at MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria is part of the MTN Group, Africa\'s leading cellular telecommunications company. On May 16, 2001, MTN became the first GSM network to make a call following the globally lauded Nigerian GSM auction conducted by the Nigerian Communications Commission earlier in the year. Thereafter the company launched full commercial operations beginning with Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. MTN paid $285m for one of four GSM licenses in Nigeria in January 2001. To date, in excess of US$1.8 billion has been invested building mobile telecommunications infrastructure in Nigeria. Since launch in August 2001, MTN has steadily deployed its services across Nigeria. It now provides services in 223 cities and towns, more than 10,000 villages and communities and a growing number of highways across the country, spanning the 36 states of the Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Many of these villages and communities are being connected to the world of telecommunications for the first time ever. The company\'s digital microwave transmission backbone, the 3,400 Kilometre Y\'elloBahn was commissioned by President Olusegun Obasanjo in January 2003 and is reputed to be the most extensive digital microwave transmission infrastructure in all of Africa. The Y\'elloBahn has significantly helped to enhance call quality on MTN network.

This role is to provide sound technical leadership in all aspects of business. The role is expected to be the technology go-to expert and play an integral role in setting up the fiber infrastructure & service orchestration. The CTIO will oversee overall IT Network & Infrastructure development utilization plans and manage all information technology resources for the Opco FiberCo.

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

Key Deliverables

The Head of Technology & Network will be accountable to achieve the following objectives:

Strategy Development and Implementation

• Cascade the Group strategy to create functional strategy aligned with the overarching business goals, under oversight of the GlobalConnect CTIO 
• Ensure effective implementation of the functional strategy by means of providing direction, structure, frameworks, models, plans and roadmaps
• Oversee regular review of the functional strategy and roadmap, under oversight of the CEO, to ensure its alignment with the changing dynamics of the internal and external ecosystem

Staff Leadership and Management

• Source, induct and manage talent in accordance with legislative guidelines
• Continually develop a culture of strong collaboration and effective team working
• Ensure open communication channels with staff and implement change management interventions where necessary
• Provide definition of roles, responsibilities, individual goals and performance objectives for the team
• Set KPIs and provide regular performance feedback through a well-defined and implemented performance review program
• Develop and implement a training plan in order to build and develop skills within the team
• Performance manage resources in accordance with HR policy and legislation where necessary
• Actively participate in leadership team and develop skills of own team
• Promote a ‘partnership approach’ to develop strong relationships with other working groups and ensure adherence to Group governance

Governance 

Strategic Meetings

• Participate and provide input in strategic meetings
• Provide inputs & drive OpCo wide transformation initiatives, elicit inputs from relevant parties
• Provide inputs to and ensure adequate risk mitigation and controls in the function
• Perform evaluation baseline of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and KPIs
• Drive preparation of proposals/ business case on change initiatives SLA, policies and procedures

Escalations

• Escalate issues that will result in severe time, scope, productivity, and cost or resource impact to CEO / GlobalConnect Technology teams
• Manage and provide solutions to escalations that have multiple processes / functions impact on critical path of service delivery

Function Tactical

• Review and finalise objectives, targets and budgets for the function, under oversight of CEO
• Review key risks, issues and dependencies and set mitigation actions, seeking guidance from the CEO as and when required
• Sign-off / make decisions regarding tactical changes and where required seek sign-off from Management

Performance

• Monitor Technology & Network functional performance and alignment with overall OpCo strategy
• SLA approval and exception performance review 

Budgets

• Manage function’s budgets in line with business objectives, under oversight of CEO
• Ensure that the cost of operations are managed, in line with a least cost operating strategy stemming from the business drivers, under oversight of the CEO

Operational Delivery

Functional Leadership: 

As the functional leader of the Technology & Network vertical, the role is accountable to:

• Monitor and align the direction, strategy and results of the Technology & Network vertical, collectively and as individual work areas in the OpCo, ensuring that the Group guidelines are duly complied with
• Lead and deploy an integrated solution development and problem-solving philosophy across the function
• Serve on the executive committee to align technology goals to other departmental and organizational objectives

Delivery Leadership: 

As the delivery leader of the Technology & Network vertical, the role is accountable for the following work area outcomes:

• Manage the Technology Infrastructure, Network and Service delivery for International IP Leased Lines, National IP Transit, Backhaul, National & Metro Leased Lines
• Manage Fiber assets & capex in excess of 20 Mn USD
• Oversee team, resources and service providers to ensure provision and quality of service and connectivity and to support implementation of changes to support service delivery
• Accountable for the architectural and design to the develop of the Fibre Network and supporting Infrastructure environment
• Manage technical implementation of agreed initiatives working with all required parties to ensure successful delivery 
• Assist Group Technology team in deploying IT Infrastructure and assets within the OpCo and monitor to ensure that Infrastructure & assets usage, performance & maintenance is as per standards
• Oversee Technology & Network work packages including fiber network design, underground conduit design, and fiber splicing design
• Oversee Fiber infrastructure Network Deployment plans in line with GlobaclConnect Technology team guidelines.
• Accountable for network resilience and redundancy plans for the network
• Oversee & Manage equipment providers, subcontractors (civil engineering), technical teams 
• Oversee & manage Network Planning & Capacity, Network operations and Infrastructure roll out 
• Manage the enterprise Information Security & IT service management for the Opco 
• Ensure customer complaints & escalations are resolved within the agreed SLA timelines with the Manager Services provider 

Understand the technology trends in telecom infrastructure and need to validate and apply relevant technology changes to evolve the company infrastructure to meet changing business and customer requirements

• Build quality assurance and data protection processes and policies by ensuring accurate SOPs and maintenance of critical documentation
• Develop, track, and maintain network availability and quality metrics for all routes 
• Knowledgeable in the Disaster Recovery processes of the systems & infrastructure 

Oversee &  ensure appropriate maintenance processes are in place to protect the performance of the service in the longer term

Job Requirements (Education, Experience and Competencies)

Education:

• Minimum B.Tech/B.Eng. /B.Sc.
• Minimum 4-year degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related field
• Master’s degree in technology/Engineering is preferred

Experience:

• Minimum 5 to 8 years relevant experience in a similar position with at least 3 years in a managerial role
• 10 to 12 years of Professional/Technical Experience in wholesale/infrastructure/B2B Telecommunications sector/ industry with good knowledge in Planning & Designing of FTTX Networks 
• Experience working in a service-based business for FTTx and Telecommunications Design of Infrastructure (Civils and Fibre) will be advantageous 
• Experience in MapInfo/Spatial net/GIS Tools/AutoCAD will be useful
• Good knowledge of BOQ and BOM for FTTx Designs
• Proven track record in leading and delivering successful network rollout projects
• Experience working in a global/multinational enterprise with a good understanding emerging markets

Functional Knowledge: 

• FTTX Network solution design & planning
• Backbone transmission planning & roll-out
• Service Orchestration 
• Cabling & leased line management
• Network operations management
• Outsourcing contract management
• IT service & platform management
• Service monitoring

Skills

• Strategic thinking
• Technical Acumen
• Business Acumen
• Analytical thinking
• Conflict management
• Data interpretation
• Decision making
• Delivery focused
• Leadership
• Negotiations
• Innovation
• Presentation

Method of Application