We at Lonestar Cell MTN are a purpose and value-led organization. At Lonestar Cell MTN, we believe that understanding our people’s needs and aspirations is key to creating experiences that delight you at work every day. We are committed to fostering an environment where every member of our Y’ello Family is heard, understood, and empowered to live an inspired life.
Our values keep us grounded and moving in the right direction. Most importantly, they keep us honest. It is not something we claim to be. It is in our DNA.

As an organization, we consider it our mission to create an exciting and rewarding place to work, where our people can be themselves, thrive in positivity and ignite their full potential. A workplace that boosts creativity and innovation, improves productivity, and ultimately drives meaningful results. A workplace that is built on relationships and achieving a purpose that is bigger than us. This is what we want you to experience with us!

Our commitments go beyond an organizational promise. It is in our leadership and managerial ethos to meaningfully partner with our employees, customers, and stakeholders with a vision to realize our shared goals.

We are delighted that you are considering us as your career partner to make a mark in the world. We look forward to your application!
Driving a superior Network experience for our customers in a challenging unpredictable Network environment with limited resources in a highly competitive market.
Ensuring effective deployment, operational performance, and maintenance of MTN radio Networks, switching systems, VAS systems, RF Transmission systems and fibre Network and the information systems functions to satisfy the telecommunications needs of the target subscribers.

Responsibilities:

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

• A highly dynamic and evolving field of telecommunications and competition policies


• Aggressive business growth


• Best practices not the norm amongst similar companies or parallel industries


• Company mission and business plan


• Networking demands between business and technology.


• Emerging and developed Networks markets.


• Inconsistency in the support systems and infrastructure; vendors / suppliers services


• Infrastructure deficiencies and constraints


• Integration across Network Group and IS


• MTN goal to operate as a least cost operator (LCO) and the need to manage financial resources within contract.


• Understanding the telecommunication industry (globally and locally) as well as future developments and assessing impact on the business plan of the division. 

KEY PERFORMANCE AREA: Core, essential responsibilities / outputs of the position (KPA's)

Operational responsibilities:

• Working with the commercial teams to drive Mobile Networks roll out (acquisition, implementation)


• Core Network and IP Networks Implementation


• Networks Operations and Maintenance


• Ability to manage diverse departments with highly technical requirements.

Key Tasks:

• Drive superior Network availability across voice and data and proactively driving a cost-efficient Network.


• Ensure effective deployment; operational performance and maintenance of MTN radio Networks; switching systems; IT Applications, VAS systems; RF transmission systems and fibre Network to satisfy the telecommunications needs of the target subscriber.


• Provide leadership and management with the visibility; control and decision support required to understand and manage Network group; as well as provide the team with the expertise to build the teams’ capabilities to drive effectiveness and efficiencies within the team.


• Prepare the annual technology work plan and ensure the effective execution thereof to ensure the business objectives are achieved.


• Manage technology group functions alignment with MTN OPCO objectives to effectively drive the overall business and group objectives.


• Actively Monitor performance benchmarks for the technology function to ensure superior delivery ongoing effectiveness of the division.


• Prepare; monitor and control the annual departmental budget to ensure expenditure is in line with the business plan.


• Develop and maintain effective processes to ensure an effective interface to customer service departments; marketing; sales and finance departments.


• Ensure excellent Network and service platforms quality that meets and exceeds pre agreed service standards in the following areas: Service accessibility; General service availability; Service retention; Service delivery.


• Ensure reduction of expenditure via sharing of infrastructure and services; outsourcing/managed services and more effective use of existing assets.


• Ensure standardization of Network technology; including evolution path as well as standardized group architecture; toolkits; templates etc and ensure standardized processes for implementation and maintenance.


• Establish competency centres within the OPCO to offer technical support in a cost-effective manner
  Manage suppliers and ensure effective delivery and cost-effective arrangements.

Supervisory/Leadership/Managerial Complexity:

• Direct and monitor work of MTN Technology Division employees to drive maximum employee engagement.


• Ensure the team is led; motivated and rewarded to achieve key performance areas.


• StraNetwork monitoring and management vendors and third parties to ensure the optimal delivery of MTN Liberia objectives.


• Manage the performance and deliverables of direct and indirect reports to ensure that the objectives of the department are achieved.


• Provide clear direction and communicate the implication and interdependencies of each functional unit.


• Recruitment and ensuring accelerated skills transfer to local staff.


• Transfer skills to ensure staff development; motivation and business continuity.


• Dynamic and hands on leadership to supplement skills depth.

Role Dependencies

• Budget availability


• Caliber of Line managers and support and commitment towards the environment


• Information System Management efficiency


• Network coverage


• Prioritization of projects – competitive spending and smart capex


• Relationship with regulator and other external stakeholders


• Relationship with the executives.

Profile Criticality (re. Business Continuity)

• Future Progression within the business


• From which position can the job holder progress into this role (possible roles where background and responsibilities relate to this role)


• CEO/Group positions – Functional Controlling


• Senior Telecommunications or NETWORK positions.

Creativities (improvement/innovation inherent)

(Indicates the potential for improvement and / or innovation inherent in a position.)

• Combine strategic work with operations


• Technology consulting to the CEO


• Drives cross functional formations of Network strategy


• Concludes deals with NETWORK vendors within Group Guidelines


• Identifies potential service sharing/outsourcing opportunities and executes them in a timely manner


• Consensus building; conflict Network resolution and prevention; strong understanding of team dynamics


• Contribute towards continuous improvement through the implementation of best practice


• Convert the opportunities and threats availed by the specific country; its natural resources and people; into workable solutions


• Create an efficient, innovative, and best quality technology department


• Develop high end relationships and contacts


• Manage the relationship between strategic intent and required means


• Relationship management with key internal and external stakeholders


• Responsible for managing how the mission of the organization is achieved


• Working closely with MTN OPCO business leaders to analyze the current strengths and weaknesses in operations as far as best practice in sustainability is concerned. 

Vulnerabilities (control span)

(Refers to the latent difficulties, or things that could potentially go wrong that affect a specific position. Such vulnerabilities may / may not be under the control of the incumbent. Direct implication or first level of impact.)

1. Desire for change in the organization


2. Caliber and skill level in the operations as well as the level of technical training


3. Corporate governance aspects


4. Inadequate systems and processes


5. Complexities in rolling out new and upgrading existing Networks


6. Stock management/Material availability


7. Value chains that do not support the Network strategy


8. 
   

   Dynamic and complex stakeholder community

   
   


9. Scarcity of skills which impacts continuity


10. Relatively tough environment with limited social activities
    

    Discretionary Space:

    
    

    The degree to which individuals are allowed to exercise independent thought and judgment.

    
    

    Independent thought and Judgment:

    
    

    Relate to the decision-making constraints place upon a position or conversely, the degree of freedom in decision-making.

    
    


11. (Does the job holder work independently?


12. How often do you supervise the work and give new instructions?


13. Can the job holder judge independently or does he/she need managerial approval for all decisions?


14. (how far does the independent thought and judgment go for the job holder)

• Spend money optimally ensuring costs are low yet products / services meet the standards set by MTN


• Allow strategy and objectives to guide decision making processes


• Propose Network strategy


• Ensure integration of Network strategy with business context and internal environment


• Identify and select suppliers and manage escalated issues 
  

  Authorities:

  
  

1. Budget / Revenue Control
2. Does the job holder have communication will all levels of management without your presence?
What type of reporting / written work is required from the job holder?
(Readily available information or in-depth analysis of various sources)

• Approval of headcount and budgets


• As per delegation of authority


• Provide necessary budget information and performance numbers to CEO and the board.


• Group and board approval 

Business Strategy:

• Build a clear and coherent strategy for Network Technology Department ensuring alignment with Lonestar Cell MTN corporate strategy and goals and develop plans to support business initiatives and enhance Network support capacity.


• Translate the Business objectives into low level plans and projects.


• Research into the technological trends and evolution and advise the business of their appropriateness and alignment to business objectives.


• Manage the expectations of internal customers as well as the performance of the external Contractors underpinned by SLA that is in turn aligned to the business expectations.


• Business Risk Management and mitigation

Implement of Strategy:

• Develop and implement Network strategies and plans.


• Provide clear indications of expected value contributions in line with corporate vision and mission.


• Develop and/or improve upon framework, policies, and procedures to guide Network operations.


• Enable the department to deliver high quality services to customers and attain set goals and objectives of Lonestar Cell MTN.


• Assess/facilitate the evaluation of office applications and hardware in accordance with defined parameters.


• Acquire, deploy and maintain office applications and hardware to support users and business operations in an effective manner.

Financial Management:

• Propose budget to provide effective Network services and control and monitor department’s expenditure, in accordance with approved budget and associated rules and procedures.


• Build Business cases and motivate Network Projects that will ensure a return on investment acceptable to the business.


• Prepare budgets necessary for the realisation of the capital projects as well as smooth and efficient operation of the department to achieve the overall goals of the division and the business.


• Ensure all the departmental outsource contracts are operating within budget and deliver value to the business.


• Ensure financial governance framework is adhered to by self, team, partners, and vendors.


• Police Revenue Assurance practices and controls to minimise leakages.
  

  Leadership:

  
  


• Lead and mobilize the team to attain the departmental, business and Group goals.


• Spearhead and support the continuous development/re-engineering of the Network policies and processes to adapt to the changing business, market, and regulatory environment.


• Make professional and informed decisions to enable the business retain leadership in the market.


• Be the fountain through which the team sees the MTN Values and through which the vital behaviours are exhibited.


• 
  

  Administration & Organisational Support:

  
  


• Support and coordinate with other departments for the common business objectives.


• Manage, spearhead and champion special projects and initiatives set up by the company, Regulator and/or MTN Group
  

  Staff/Resource, Recruitment, Development & Management:

  
  


• Support the Organisation structure and align to the business objectives.


• Resource/Talent Recruitment, and Development


• Staff Performance management

Managerial / Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Coach and mentor direct reports to ensure staff motivation is high.


• Ensure skill transfer for staff development, motivation, and business continuity in line with succession planning strategy.


• Ensure the team is led, motivated, and rewarded to achieve high performance areas.


• Guide and direct suppliers and third parties in achieving Opco objectives.Identify staff training and development needs and implement necessary actions.


• Manage team (including recruitment, on-boarding, etc.)


• Set goals and objectives for direct reports, monitor progress and maintain motivation.


• Set up appropriate structure to meet departmental management objectives.


• Provide an advisory function on governance and best practices in client experience