Manager - Subsea Project Management 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.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Consultant Submarine Cable Projects role will be accountable to achieve the following objectives:

• Project manage the implementation of new submarine cables from MTN point of view to ensure cable is delivered on time and within budget according to contractual specifications.
• Project manage cross functional teams to deliver infrastructure and facilities such as cable stations, fronthaul, backhaul and other related infrastructure.
•  Project manage the procurement and deployment of terminal equipment that interfaces to the subsea cables.
•  Project manage upgrades of existing cable systems.
•  Prepare management reports on the various projects, their progress status, delivery timelines, risks and mitigations etc.
•  Ensure effective participation in the required regulatory process to ensure required permissions are obtained for implementation of infrastructure projects and platforms.
•  Track, support and report on permitting, rights of ways approvals etc.
•  Support commercial and technical activities related to existing MTN GlobalConnect investments in submarine cables and other JV infrastructure, including managing and monitoring the recovery of international infrastructure investment costs. 
• Support commercial and technical activities related to the investments in new subsea cable and JV initiatives, including building the investment and business cases and supporting the decision on prioritisation of investments.
•  Manage cable and JV consortia partners and lobby within the cable consortia to ensure MTN interests are accounted for and that decisions taken are in line with MTN GlobalConnect strategy.
• Ensure that the project plans for new subsea and infrastructure investments are tracking according to the plans to ensure the realization of the business case and MTN return on investment.
•  Ensure processes and governance relating sub-sea cable and JV activities are effective.
• Support planning, delivery, contracting and management of international capacity trading, including swaps of submarine cable, terrestrial and other capacity, and connectivity.
• Assist in financial aspect of recommendations towards implementing strategic changes to subsea cable assets plans. 
• Provide inputs to quarterly analysis of Opco and Group-wide demand forecasts and trends with a view to managing any market and capacity availability risks.
• Provide ad hoc performance reports, performance scorecard targets and plans related to submarine cable and JV projects, capacity, and business.
• Participate in subsea cable commercial sub-committees where appropriate.

Role Deliverables

• Project management of existing and new subsea cable investments.
•  Commercial management of the cable consortia to ensure MTN interests.
• Management of cable consortia and participation in commercial / technical sub-committees.
• Subsea investment recovery management.

Role Dependencies

• Sales and commercial management
• Subsea technical management
•  Technical operations

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

•  Minimum 4-year Academic Degree (BBA, Engineering /Computer Science) 
• Project Management certification (such as PMP or equivalent)
• Post graduate qualification MBA/Masters (Economics, Engineering /Computer Science) preferred 
• English, French 

Experience:

•  5+ years relevant project management experience in the deployment and implementation of fixed line international telecommunication industry preferably in enterprise/carrier business 

Competencies:

• Able to work effectively with multiple stakeholders in a multi-cultural environment
• Strong analytical skills to adequately anticipate demand and make investment decisions
• A working knowledge of business practices
• Knowledge of risk management (a risk taker who carefully considers risk/reward) and business development
• Ability to identify key issues in a situation and to think creatively and strategically in facing internal and external challenges
• Strong computer literacy 
• Understanding the connectivity infrastructure wholesales landscape with a focus on emerging markets

Other:

• Regional and international travel
• Ability to adapt to changing requirements of business and staff members 
•  Excellent Interpersonal skills

Method of Application