Senior Manager: Advertising at MTN

Mission/ Core purpose of the Job

Support the GM Digital services in executing the Mobile Advertising strategy within MTN Group and its footprint. The Senior Manager Advertising is responsible for driving effective implementation of Mobile Advertising strategic plans to deliver value to shareholders across the key advertising pillars

• Technology and Enablement
• Insights and analytics
• Go to Market
• Products and Pricing
• Sales
• Partners management

The Senior Manager is also responsible to contribute towards MTN’s overall strategic goals, to achieve profitable growth and to continuously improve the operations performance. The SM: Advertising reports to the  General Manager Digital Services 

Context (Global influences, environmental / industry demands, organizational mission etc.)

MTN is entering a new phase in its lifecycle where operational and commercial excellence has become critical for success. The urgency for change has become more heightened amidst increased competitive intensity across all markets in which MTN operates. The SM, Advertising must therefore ensure the successful delivery in context of:

• An expertise-based multicultural organisation
• A dynamic and evolving field of Telecommunications
• Revolutionary workforce practices which are bringing together global labour markets
• Management of executive and local shareholder expectations across MTN and its OpCos
• Achievement of top quartile operating efficiency and effectiveness through scale and common policies and processes
• Dynamic legal and regulatory environment
• Convergence in markets and exploration of non-traditional revenue streams requiring complex interpretation and structuring
• Evolving industry sector constantly presenting new challenges and opportunities to the core businesses
• Rapid horizontal and vertical expansion of MTN, in terms of size, products, customers and geographic distribution

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

Key Deliverables

The Senior Manager, Advertising will be accountable to achieve the following objectives:

Strategy Development and Implementation

• Support and contribute to the development of the functional strategy in line with the overarching business goals
• Ensure effective implementation of the strategy by means of providing direction, structure, frameworks, models, plans and roadmaps
• Conduct regular review of the functional strategy and roadmap to ensure its alignment with the changing dynamics of the internal and external ecosystem

Operational Delivery

• Develop MTN’s Mobile advertising strategy, including but not limited to ABL, Search, email/SMS campaigns, social, and retargeting
• Develop the Mobile advertising s strategy and approach to ensure that embedding and measurement happens across all the opco’s and is aligned to the Group-wide advertising strategy.

Define and ensure implementation of launch, GTM and best practice guidelines handbook to support OPCO in launching and managing Mobile advertising within the territory with consideration but not limited to the below:

• Relevance, accuracy, and effectiveness in targeting campaigns
• KPIs and Performance management
• Analytics & reporting
• Pricing and offering
• Contracting and partners management guidelines
• Sales
• Financial and P&L Management
• Identify future challenges and opportunities; and identify trends to develop new advertising models and frameworks to improve performance and drive sustainable growth.
• Define, implement, monitor, and continuously improve Group & OPCO strategic and operational plans to achieve business objectives.
• Set & Implement KPIs and provide regular performance feedback through a well-defined and implemented performance review program
• Define, implement and track relevant performance metrics and indicators to drive performance within various OPCOs and at Group.
• Continuously monitor progress on targets, and make & implement appropriate recommendation of corrective actions to be taken when and where necessary.
• Specify requirements and support identification and selection of technology, sales and commercial partners required to execute on the Mobile Advertising strategy.
• Ensure synergy across the functional areas through effective management of inter-functional relations and activities.
• Ensure synergy across the Group functions, OPCOs and partners through effective management of inter-functional relations and activities.

Governance

Strategic Meetings

• Participate and provide input in strategic meetings
• Perform evaluation baseline of key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Request for relevant budget for internal projects and new initiatives
• Facilitate preparation of proposals on change initiatives, policies and procedures

Escalations

• Escalate issues that will result in severe time, scope, productivity, and cost or resource or reputational impact
• Manage and provide solutions to escalations that have multiple processes / functions impact on critical path of service delivery
• Manage and provide solutions through stakeholder consultation where relevant

Function Tactical

• Review all projects initiated (internal or global)
• Prepare objectives, targets and budgets for Advertisements as applicable
• Review key risks, issues and dependencies and set mitigation actions
• Facilitate in sign-off / making decisions regarding tactical changes

Performance

• Monitor and analyse products performance trends from financial, competitive and operational perspectives
• Monitor performance and alignment with MTN global strategy
• Ensure alignment between across other functions within the Group Digital team

Reporting

• Report on a periodic basis to the Reporting Manager relating to progress made within the function and in accordance with the measurement metrics set by the organisation
• Report on an ad hoc basis on specific projects, as required

Budgets

• Manage functional budgets in line with overall business objectives
• Manage project initiative budgets in line with business objectives
• Ensure that the cost of operations are reduced, in line with a least cost operating strategy stemming from the business drivers

Ways of Working

• Leading by Connecting: Connect people; stimulate collaboration and growth in teams across functions, operations and different cultures. Share experience and knowledge that leads to a learning organization, creating sustainable expertise which drives the development of people and innovative products,
• Leading by Delivery: Anticipate situations and take initiative to overcome them. The result is a swift and on time delivery of qualitative and quantitative results.
• Leading by Vision: From analyzing the situation inside and outside the company and seeing opportunities until communicating the vision of the company including new ideas for sustainable business strategies, products, services and ways of working. The end result is an inspiring vision on how to succeed in our markets with our consumers in the center.
• Leading by Change: From embracing change until leading and facilitating the implementation of change and handling of resistance for senior people. The end result is an on-time implementation of change projects and actions while maintaining a high level of motivation and commitment.
• Leading by Owning: Take responsibility for own results as well as for company results and values. Stimulate this attitude in others, make co-workers accountable. The end result is pro-activity, creativity and motivation: capable people who take ownership. 

Job Requirements (Education, Experience and Competencies)

Education:

• Minimum of 4-year tertiary degree (Bachelor of Science, Engineering or related field)
• MBA or Masters (advantageous)

Experience:

• Manager track record of 5 years or more; with at least 3 years’ experience in telecommunications, digital marketing, digital product management, content management
• Experience in Advertising product category will be advantageous
• Hands on experience in managing and implementing digital products and initiatives
• Project Management experience will be advantageous
• Deep understanding of the digital ecosystem, players, business models and industry related best practices.
• Understanding emerging markets advantageous
• Worked across diverse cultures and geographies
• Pan Africa multi-cultural experience is advantageous
• Entrepreneurial spirit, self-driven and ability to motivate a fast-paced team
• Attitude of Innovation, inventiveness and thought leadership
• Abreast of global mind-set and best practice
• Willing and flexible to travel within Africa and Middle East
• English speaker. French, Portuguese, Zulu, Swahili, and other African languages a plus 

Competencies:

Functional Knowledge:

• Value Added Services
• Digital content, media and/or applications
• Advertising Product and Content Management
• Digital marketing
• Project & product management

Skills

• Business Acumen
• Analytics and Interpretation
• Strategic Thinking
• Organizational Agility
• Digital mind-set
• Dealing with ambiguity and complexity
• Decision Making
• Conflict Management
• Negotiation
• Financial and Numerical
• Project Management

Behavioural Qualities

• Adaptable
• Complete candour
• Culturally aware
• Emotional Maturity
• Innovation
• Integrity
• Leadership
• Team Player

Responsibility towards: 

Key external stakeholders: External contractors & partners

Key internal stakeholders:  

• GM: Digital Services
• Digital Business Development & Partnership Team
• Digital Channels Team
• Product Development & Innovation Team 
• Business Verticals in MTN
• Consumer and Enterprise Business Unit teams

Closing date: 15 December2020. Late applications will not be accepted.