Senior Manager/ Lead- Roaming and International Services at Safaricom Kenya

JOB DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the Tribe Lead – Enterprise Solutions, the role holder will be required to identify and enhance all key opportunities of Roaming and International Services, deliver planned footprint rollout for both inbound & outbound and monitor and grow Inbound revenues. In addition, the role holder will negotiate & effectively track outbound costs, develop roadmap for roaming Value-Added Services and develop robust framework for International Services. Part of the responsibilities will also include growing International Voice Services and SMS Services and Negotiate & effectively monitor international calling costs and Sms costs. 

The role holder will also be expected to manage key relations & partnerships, represent the business at key networking events regionally & internationally and identify and pursue large scale opportunities international business. In addition, he/she should stay updated on emerging market trends across legal, regulatory and technological landscapes. Further to this, the role holder will conduct process audit and secure key compliance certifications as well as  Implement risk management audits for critical service.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Deliver planned footprint rollout for both Inbound & Outbound 

• Coordinate and project manage bilateral roaming partners and all other outsourced partners to deliver against Safaricom rollout plan, in line with the commercial priorities. 
• Drive contract negotiations and drafting (with legal support) all the way up to signature.
• Contract ownership for all bilateral roaming contracts. Which includes creating a comprehensive database where all deviations for all bilateral roaming partners is managed.
• Oversee and manage the process of setting up the configuration of new roaming partners for both IREG and TADIG testing by all concerned parties.
• Coordinate and assist with the troubleshooting activities with all concerned parties as appropriate.
• Ensure that all testing criteria have been met and communicate with all concerned parties the outcome of testing and service readiness.
• Track and note various business models being used regionally and internationally to develop and growth wholesale sales.
• Explore different roaming technologies that deliver excellent and improved services to the roaming customer at affordable prices.
• Ensure compliance with GSMA guidelines and protocols.

Monitor & grow Inbound Revenues   

• Track and monitor on a daily, monthly and quarterly basis revenue growth against set budgetary targets.
• Develop a well thought out IOT e commercial mode framework that ensures regulatory compliance while optimizing inbound roaming opportunities for the business.
• Develop effective business case that clearly justify investment potential for new inbound roaming opportunities.
• Monitor and track roaming pricing both locally and international for similar products.
• Minimize revenue leakage due to under-reporting and incomplete recognition of revenue.

Develop Roadmap for new Roaming Valued Added Services (VAS) 

• Identify new roaming customer segments that can drive valued added services for roaming customers.
• Monitor and track product pricing both locally and international for similar VAS products.
• Minimize revenue leakage due to under-reporting and incomplete recognition of revenue.

Manage Outbound Roaming Costs

• Ensure all IOTs for outbound and properly tracked and implemented on TAP in the system.
• Ensure all testing impacting outbound roaming scenarios are done effectively to minimize cost over-runs.
• Develop robust and insightful business cases that help demonstrate the more effective cost strategy.
• Ensure quality is not compromised via Sim-box and is a key compliment in optimizing the cost framework.
• Institute a clear framework for mitigating fraud by liaising effectively with internal stakeholders and developing complementary tools that proactively mitigate fraud

Develop Robust framework for International Services

• Carry out a SWOT analysis to identify potential areas of new business.
• Track and note various business models being used regionally and internationally to develop and grow international interconnect and SMS
• Carry out extensive research and market intelligence to identify new opportunities for growth of revenues.
• The framework should include clear decision milestones for review of the international interconnect rates and their implications on retail. 
• Document a clear roadmap with the necessary SWOT implications built in that will inform the business and drive its international interconnect & SMS strategy.

Grow International Voice Services 

• Track and monitor on a daily, monthly and quarterly basis revenue growth against set budgetary targets.
• Ensure framework is in place to proactively manage and monitor SIM-box abuse and misuse.
• Minimize revenue leakage due to under-reporting and incomplete recognition of revenue.

Grow International SMS Services   

• Track and monitor on a daily, monthly and quarterly basis revenue growth against set budgetary targets.
• Ensure framework in place to proactively manage and monitor SIM-box abuse and misuse.
• Minimize revenue leakage due to under-reporting and incomplete recognition of revenue.

International Calling Costs   

• Using Least Cost routing identify effective framework that is dynamic and responsive to the needs of the business for routing all international outgoing calls.
• Ensure routes identified maximize calling quality.
• Institute a clear framework for mitigating fraud by liaising effectively with internal stakeholders and developing complementary tools that proactively mitigate fraud.

International SMS Costs   

• Using Least Cost routing identify effective framework that is dynamic and responsive to the needs of the business for routing all international outgoing sms
• Ensure routes identified maximize sms quality and delivery.
• Institute a clear framework for mitigating fraud by liaising effectively with internal stakeholders and developing complementary tools that proactively mitigate fraud

Manage Key relations & partnerships.   

• Prepare and maintain an effective annual calendar that optimize the relationships with various operators, partners & outsourced roaming providers to enhance competition.
• Develop an effective framework for monitoring effective partnerships.
• Explore new partnership opportunities that create opportunities for growth.

Attend Key networking events.   

• Identify and plan for all known key events touching on Interconnect, roaming and messaging.
• Attend at least one key networking event annually.
• Document and implement learnings for the benefit for the business.

Supervisory

• Recruit, develop and retain people with outstanding skills, qualifications and potential.
• Performance management and identification of training needs
• Build talent by identifying and developing new leaders for the respective environment.
• Employee relations and collaborative teamwork 
• Coaching and guidance of subordinates
• Build professionalism, loyalty and commitment to the organization.
• Communicate actively and effectively resolving any potential conflicts that may arise

QUALIFICATIONS

• A graduate in technology, business/commerce or related field 
• Proven experience of over 10 years in leadership, managing commercial and product teams in Telecommunications or related field 
• Extensive knowledge & a track record in handling wholesale and international business (roaming, voice, messaging)
• Able to take a holistic view of the business
• Able to develop strong analytical framework to aid in swift and objective decision making.
• Have strong business acumen and highly developed commercial experience
• Planning and execution skills
• Networking skills – the ability to build relationships internally that foster the flow of work.
• Influencing skills – able to influence people for action over whom he/she has no line of authority.
• People skills – creating and nurturing the tone of the internal culture.
• Flexibility – the ability to adapt and change in the light of changing circumstances / new information.
• Change management skills
• Ability to handle uncertainty