Manager - Data Engineering Technology Information at MTN

Mission/Core purpose of the Job
To build, implement and deliver large scale data engineering solutions for MTN South Africa in the field of data engineering, data analytics, data governance, data products, cloud, APIs and machine learning. The key objective’s of this role is:

• Implement and Maintain Data Engineering Solutions
• Drive Operational excellence and implement best practice methodologies.
• Design, Implement and maintain processes which improve the Speed of Delivery through Agile and DevOps
• Drive Automation
• Enable Self Service - Provide tools and capabilities to enable our customers to access the right data at the right time
• Collaborate and share knowledge with key stakeholders in the organization 
• Manage team of permanent resources and consultants
• Context (Global influences, environmental / industry demands, organisational mission etc.)
• This role is within the Enterprise Information Systems technology department within MTN. The purpose of the EIS department is to provide overall direction in the design, development, implementation and maintenance of large-scale Business Intelligence solutions to meet MTN’s strategic Information provision, management and decision support requirements.

Additional Context:

• High Data Volumes in Big Data Landscape processing over 25 billion records per day and over 1700 feeds including batch and real-time
• Highly dynamic and fluctuating Telecommunications industry 
• Cutting edge field of advanced analytics and AI (Big Data, Machine Learning, Cloud)
• Over 15 data platforms (Data Warehousing, Data Products, Data APIs, Data Governance, Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Big Data. Microservices etc) 
• Exponential growth in BI and Data Demand
• Within the legal, regulatory and commercial environment of South Africa 
• Highly competitive market with new and established competitors 
• Context changes in terms of technology advancements 
• Highly Outsourced Environment

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

Strategic Input 

• Develop goals, tactical strategies, and plans needed to achieve the portfolio’s vision and build the capabilities to enable optimal delivery with input from relevant stakeholders.
• Drive the enablement of a self-service philosophy.
• Support the frameworks created that process the acquisition and dissemination of data from/to external sources based on the needs of the organisation.
• Support the strategic analysis of MTN system strategies to ensure that the strategic technological direction aligns and supports MTN Group objectives.
• Assist with developing the information roadmap, sourcing of new data sets and phasing of core reference data sets.

Data Engineering

• Define and implement data marts based on system requirements and business requirements
• Work with the team in the designing of databases and data models to ensure interoperability.
• Enable and drive data migrations across different data lake platforms and different servers, for example Oracle and Big data.
• Drive the resolution of data issues within the business systems and across the business source systems and provide guidance and/or presents solutions to these issues.
• Drive the Design and develop programs to deliver project requirements or enhancements to existing programs.
• Build efficient and re-usable services that can be reused to deliver requirements from different business units or projects.
• Provide input on the improvement system maintenance, performance and support initiatives.
• Maintain organizational intellectual property through documenting of solutions on the organization’s wiki platform.
• Knowledge Sharing through forum presentations and internal training

Tactical Planning and Operations 

• Provide operational leadership to the team, in line with business requirements, technology standards and best practices within the Data Engineering function.
• Identify areas where value can be added / exploited further, areas where value is being destroyed and areas where value is latent, and act accordingly.
• Drive best practice, continuous improvement and innovation, continuously refine the information, reporting, and analytical needs of the assigned business units.
• Utilise technology to optimise the data dissemination. 
• Enable business units to track performance reporting at a business unit level
• Identify and support initiatives to identify redundant / duplicated reporting
• Support and proactively drive system optimisation research.
• Influence and manage SLA’s with Infrastructure support to ensure high levels of availability and limit redundancy.
• Engage with other operations to extract potential benefits and efficiencies achieved at a technical implementation and/or process layer.
• Ensure that vendor and 3rd party developers are developing applications that comply with business specifications and implemented according to approved quality standards
• Provide consultation for all applications related projects so that decisions can be made as to the most appropriate delivery methodology
• Ensure SLA’s are in place for timely production data and dashboard update delivery with business and other data users.
• Ensure incident and problem processes are in place for collaboration with IS Helpdesk, Incident and Problem managers.
• Ensure delivery of (authorised) projects according to the prioritised project list
• Evaluate new technologies and products to determine feasibility and desirability of incorporating their capabilities into the Company’s IS systems
• Define and establish management systems, processes, policies and procedures for effective team functioning.
• Ensure  the team performs the necessary analysis, design, modelling and documentation tasks necessary to pass MTN IS governance forums
• Provide high level analysis and design reviews to other teams to avoid duplication efforts in solving the same application problems within different products within MTN
• Provide consultation on critical business and IT problems, researching and identifying enabling technologies based on customer requirements and defined business processes
• Provide a quick reaction task force to attend to major EIS incidents with a view to improving on systems design and stability
• Continuously review, improve and integrate processes, in order to optimize outputs and overcome fragmentation.
• Develop and implement IS solutions that meet business and IT requirements. These include functionality, processes, data, major products to be used, application interfaces internally and external to MTN.
• Participate in the design and implementation of an enterprise architecture based on business requirements and information technology strategies and trends.
• Partner with business leaders and peer-level managers to assess the technological cost and impact of recommended changes, help clarify priorities, and coordinate cross-organizational consortia where common needs have been identified.
• Assess risks and the effects of specific requirements on other business processes and system priorities to ensure technologies are aligned with EIS objectives
• Identify, interpret and guide future development by using the appropriate technology to provide solutions using the available technologies

Project Delivery

• Develop and drive the execution of agreed projects.
• Drive the implementation, tracking, monitoring and compliance of Projects
• Co-ordinate project reporting
• Ensure effective implementation of the integrated project management model 
• Risk management

Financial

• Tracking the budget for the functional area
• Provide input to CAPEX Plans for the area 
• Provide input to compile and manage CAPEX and OPEX budgets relating to functional activities
• Assist in the forecasting, planning and development of the portfolio’s budget and business plans for IS
• Give input into budgets that will enable delivery of area of expertise to the relevant business unit.
• Support CAPEX submissions to ensure that funds are secured.
• Support the creation of the business case for initiatives and projects in functional areas
• Assist in ensuring contract information is updated centrally and drive with the IS Commercial team
• Adhere to a non-inflationary or escalating contract pricing model
• Continually drive efficiencies
• Vendor and Contract Management in line with Procurement Policies
• Track and document all System licensing making sure that MTN is not paying for licensing that is not used.

Customer

• Develop a prioritisation process to drive prioritisation of requirements and initiatives in EIS to ensure timeous delivery of requirements.
• Integrate business requirements and BI roadmap to ensure delivery in a sustained manner in conjunction with the release management.
• Understand customer needs and develop/fine-tune systems accordingly.
• Educate business on data and information that is available for consumption through knowledge share and other practises.
• Give input to the relevant business units into the key drivers for budget and forecast purposes
• Ensure that EIS present to business on a regular basis on underutilized capabilities of systems, reports and future BI landscape

Internal Processes

• Make sure that common area for capturing and updating of Project Info exist and are used and ensure that all documentation, scripts and project information in stored in a central fashion and is easily accessible to the team and that methods for applying versions are logical and consistently followed.
• Manage outsourced partners for delivery of projects
• Ensure that the team defines, plans, architects and implements requirements with vendors and Operational area/ Ensure that Living System Logical Architecture Documentation is updated with each project, showing functional architecture, use cases, functional logic and that quality is determined by whether an alternative vendor could use it to reproduce a systems functioning with least 95% level of accuracy
• Ensure that Living System Snapshot, Roadmap and Project History Documentation is updates quarterly covering capacity, utilisation, functional overview, project history, project roadmap and costing.
• In all matters and decisions seek consensus with, and contributions from, as wide a group of stakeholders as possible.
• Raise and Manage Risks within portfolio
• Job Requirements (Education, Experience and Competencies)

Education: 

3 year Degree in Technology Systems (Telecommunication Management / Information Technology, Computer Science) or related Managerial courses will be an advantage.

Experience:

• At least 3 to 5 years in a multi-disciplinary IT environment, including, but not limited to, business intelligence, application architecture, application management, application design and development, middleware, database management, operations.
• At least 5+ years programming and analytics experience in the BI environment
• At least 2 years of senior leadership in similar positions, in fast-moving industries
• Strong understanding of all aspects of BI and Information Management processes.
• Experience in a telecommunications environment highly preferred
• Project management and business optimisation experience would be advantageous.
• Exposure to managing external vendor/supplier relationships and service level agreements.

Competencies:

Head - Big Picture Focus (10)

• Analytical Thinker - Manages the alignment and execution of tactical activities.
• Problem Solver - Assists in solving business challenges but looks to others for advice and guidance.
• Operational Value Creator - Executes on innovative commercial practices and identifies areas for continuous improvement

Heart – Emotionally Intelligent (20)

• Culture and Change Champion -  Role models ethical practices by living the MTN values and vital behaviours for others to follow
• Supportive People Manager – Is self-aware and supports team capability development through opportunity creation for realising potential.
• Relationship Manager - Builds relationships with customers and teams to uphold the MTN brand
• Operationally Astute -  Clarifies priorities, plans, organizes and co-ordinates the work of others.

Hands – Results Focused (50)

• Results Achiever - Drives team objectives and contributes to sustainability of results.

Other:

• Ability to take clear and economically sound decisions in a fast moving competitive environment
• Superb people leadership and management skills and demonstrated ability to build and energize high performance teams 
• Strong “can-do“ attitude combined with an ability to take a step back and articulate the implications of key decisions
• Business Acumen – a deep understanding of the business as a whole
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Strong understanding of data warehouse methodologies
• Networking skills – the ability to build relationships internally that foster the flow of work
• Excellent communication skills – the ability to translate strategy into actions and drive implementation
• Flexibility – the ability to adapt and change in the light of changing circumstances / new information
• Facilitation skills
• Strong presentation and writing skills

Authorities

• Recruit, develop and retain people with outstanding skills, qualifications and potential.
• Ensure effective performance management and ensure the identification of training needs takes place.
• Ensure accountability such that customer centricity culture is adhered to.
• Maintain good Employee relations and enhance collaborative teamwork.
• Ensure that subordinates obtain the coaching and guidance that they need.
• Mentorship, Coaching, Guidance and training to EIS Resources
• Build professionalism, loyalty and commitment to the organization.

Collaboration (Formal and Informal Relationships)
Responsibility towards: 

• Key customers: MTN SA Executives, General Managers and senior Managers with their functional areas
• Key suppliers: Procurement, Architects, Professional services suppliers, Managed Services Vendors