Senior Manager: Data Platforms and Solutions Architect at MTN

Mission/ Core purpose of the Job

The SM Data Platforms and Solutions Architect will use a variety of models, frameworks, and structures to design, test, and operate data warehouses for keeping raw data, metadata and other data assets secure and accessible within a greater IT infrastructure. The Data Platforms Architect will consider ROI and financial metrics for projects in order to determine best practices and deliver solutions that drive profit, as well as those that keep data versatile.

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 Group’s Technology function must therefore ensure the successful delivery in context of:

1. Rapidly changing ICT environment
2. The geographic complexity of MTN’s footprint across Africa and the Middle East
3. Management of executive and local shareholder expectations across all 21 OpCos
4. Achievement of top quartile operating efficiency and effectiveness through scale and common processes
5. Driving growth through analytics and standardization to maximize business impact
6. Management of customer and supplier expectations
7. Enhance MTN position as a leading network and system provider

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

The SM Data Platforms and Solutions Architect will be accountable to achieve the following objectives:

• Work with the business to gather functional requirements as well as the functional design process that is aligned to the Group Technology strategic objectives, standards and best practice.
• Conduct business specifications requirements and align such requirements to the data platforms architecture and physical design to ensure alignment between data platforms and business requirements.
• Provide input into the development of a strategy to support current and future data platform needs.
• Collaborate with the customers as well as vendor’s technical team to define technical data requirements such as performance, maintainability and scalability.
• Set development standards for the data platforms that meet business requirements and are aligned to the Group Technology strategic objectives, standards and best practice.
• Lead ETL/data platform design that meets business requirements and are aligned to the Group Technology strategic objectives, standards and best practice.
• Produce data platform architectural design documentation, and provide this to relevant internal stakeholders.
• Build data platform solutions that that meet business requirements and are aligned to the Group Technology strategic objectives, standards and best practice.
• Manage the approval and acceptance process for the technical architecture, designs and implementation (in cooperation with the Opcos), managing issues and escalations as required.
• Ensure architectural alignment of the designs and development with the requirements and specifications of other architectures within the business.
• Establish quality processes to deliver a stable and reliable data platform solution that meets specifications, standards and best practice.
• Measure TCO, ROI and financial metrics for architecture projects in order to and deliver solutions that drive profit, as well as those that keep data versatile.
• Communicate business plans and strategic objectives with internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with technology partners, 3rd party service providers and internal stakeholders.

Key Deliverables

1. Definition and maintenance of data platform standards, specifications and frameworks
2. Data platform architecture aligned to specifications
3. Data platform operations management including:
4. Process architecture; and
5. System processes
6. Database and data store design and architecture
7. Ingress and Egress capability design and architecture
8. Business intelligence and visualisation architecture
9. Database normalization, partitioning, design documentation, and management solutions along with Change data design, including slowly changing dimensions
10. Data aggregation, and conversion solutions
11. Data Governance and Quality solutions

Role Dependencies

1. Deep understanding of the MTN business strategy
2. Active support from the Group CTIO, Group CIO and GM: BI & Analytics
3. Alignment with industry partners to effectively integrate new data & analytics services
4. Understanding of the OpCo technology, business and regulatory context
5. Timely decision making and reporting
6. Direct engagement with Group BICC and OPCO Technology & BICC teams to formulate business strategies

Job Requirements (Education, Experience and Competencies)

Education:

1. Minimum of 4 year tertiary degree (B.Eng / B Tech / B Sci)
2. MBA or Master’s advantageous
3. Relevant certification/accreditation/membership with professional body as required for role
4. Fluent in English

Experience:

1. Minimum 5 years of Management Experience in the Data Platforms and Solutions space
2. Telecommunications and/or Financial Services industry experience advantageous.
3. Deep experience in traditional data platform technologies, new big data technologies (Hadoop, Cloudera and related technologies), BI or Visualisation technologies and cloud technologies.
4. Must have extensive experience in platform modernization and platform architecture.
5. Proven track record of strategy development and platform management.
6. Experience in working for a large organisation with diverse cultures and geographies advantageous

Skills

1. Expert in Data Architecture, Platform Architecture and Solution Architecture
2. Good working knowledge in Enterprise Architecture
3. Proficient in telecommunications functions like Consumer, CVM, Enterprise, Digital, FinTech, Networks
4. Deep data engineering skills using big data and cloud technologies a must

Competencies:

1. Strategy Formulator, Decisive Problem Solver, Innovative Value Creator
2. Culture and Change Champion, Inspiring People Leader, Relationship Builder
3. Results Achiever, Operationally Astute

Other:

1. Regional and international travel
2. Collaboration (Formal and Informal Relationships)

Responsibility towards:

1. Key customers: MTN OpCos, Group Technology, Group BICC, Group Functions
2. Key suppliers: Key Technology Partners, Relevant Industry Bodies