Senior Market Engagement Manager, Utilities at GSM Association (GSMA)

Department: Mobile for Development

Location: Nairobi or Delhi

Reporting to: Senior Director of Mobile for Development Utilities

About the Team

The Mobile for Development Utilities programmes supports partnerships between the mobile industry and utility service providers, which together are unlocking innovative business models to deliver energy, water and sanitation for underserved populations. The programme began its work in this area in 2013, then largely focused on the pay-as-you-go (PAYG) off-grid solar model, and has been pleased generate evidence for the success of this model, as well as a range of other utility service models, from PAYG cooking gas to remotely monitored digital water dispensers. Increasingly, the programme will explore the opportunity for digital solutions to improve urban utility services as urbanisation puts more pressure on these essential life services, with the greatest impact on the urban poor.

The M4D Utilities programme achieves its objective through four main activities: innovation funding, knowledge sharing and convening, advisory services to mobile operators & market building. To date, the programme has provided 53 grants as shared in our most recent Annual Report, which have collectively impacted over 6 million people.

About the Role

The Senior Market Engagement Manager (S-MEM) will be responsible for engagement with key industry stakeholders to achieve the objectives of the programme. The Senior Market Engagement Manager will work closely with colleagues responsible for insights and advocacy on the topic of mobile-enabled utilities, as well the GSMA Central Innovation Fund which will manage grants on the topic of urban utilities, in addition to other topics within M4D. The role will report to the Senior Director of Mobile for Development Utilities. Travelling is expected up to approximately 25%. 

The S-MEM will be responsible for the following activities

• Develop and execute the market engagement strategy of the programme to achieve programme objectives:
• Design and Develop the M4D Utilities Innovation Fund (see below)
• Maintain relationships with past grantees of the programme to support their scaling and investment, partnerships with mobile operators, and tallying of beneficiary numbers following our grant
• Design industry workshops to bring together stakeholders (i.e. urban utility service providers, technology solution providers and mobile operators in order to facilitate knowledge sharing and partnerships.
• Work with the advocacy/insights colleagues to identify and participate at key industry events (GSMA and non-GSMA)
• Design and Development of the M4D Utilities Innovation Fund, in collaboration with the Central Innovation Fund:
• Develop and execute a process to select utilities/municipalities that have the political will and capacity to engage with technology service providers (to be selected through the innovation fund) and mobile operators to improve essential utility services for the urban poor.
• Develop relationships with mobile operators in the markets where utilities/municipalities are selected to gain their support for working with them and the technology service providers.
• Lead on the design of the Innovation Fund round(s) (i.e. grant amount, duration, term sheets etc.) which will be managed by the Central Innovation Fund team, and therefore must be designed within pre-existing criteria/limitations.
• Support the Central Innovation Fund team with the selection and management of the Utilities grantees:
• Support the Central Innovation Fund to select grantees by advising on the feasibility and value of proposals during the initial short-listing and long-listing process, including highlighting specific context/concerns during their due diligence of applicants.
• Support the Central Innovation Fund and the Fund Manager by advising on the feasibility and value of the final proposals to support grantee selection by an external panel.
• Support the Central Innovation Fund team’s management of the grants by joining monthly calls and offering advisory to the grantee and their partners, as well as advising in any necessary amendments to the grant.
• Collaboration with the M4D Utilities Insights/Advocacy colleagues and the Central Insights Unit:
• Support insights & advocacy colleagues to develop content (i.e. written & visual) about past and present grantees
• Support insights & advocacy colleagues in developing a research agenda that fills market intelligence gaps and bring to light relevant industry learnings.

About You

The right candidate will be an expert in the role of mobile services to support utility services – in particular urban services, and be familiar with key trends and challenges in this sector.

• Experience in digitally-enabled utility services is essential with a preference for urban utility experience
• Strong understanding of both commercial business models (mobile operators and start-ups) and public utility services
• Strong strategic thinking to inform market engagement activities
• Strong ability to think operationally to independently execute market engagement activities
• Ability to lead tasks with minimal oversight, but strong coordination with colleagues
• Strong communicator and relationship management to engage urban municipalities and utilities as well as mobile operators
• Comfortable managing relationships with various internal and external stakeholders
• A team player, being able to effectively connect a wide group of internal GSMA interests and resources, to lead on work and support others in theirs
• Excellent cultural awareness and a desire to work with teams around the world

What We Offer

Working at the GSMA offers you unparalleled access to the mobile industry. We offer a chance to truly shape the direction of mobile, whatever your role. By joining the GSMA, you will be exposed to a fast-paced rapidly evolving environment, working on global solutions, genuinely fascinating and industry-changing projects and a stimulating and dynamic environment designed to enable you to flourish.

In addition to architect-designed offices and competitive compensation, our benefits include fantastic learning & development opportunities, generous holiday allowances, four additional days off for professional development and many others.

We offer a working environment that reflects our organisational values. We also hire in line with our values and recruit candidates who demonstrate a strong affinity with these 7 principles:

• DREAM BIG - Demonstrate vision and insight to lead the industry forward
• BE BOLD - Have the courage to take risks and make tough decisions
• OWN IT - Take full accountability for your decisions and actions
• WORK AS A TEAM - Collaborate to deliver impactful results
• DO THE RIGHT THING - Conduct yourself with honesty and integrity at all times
• SHOW RESPECT - Treat others as you would expect to be treated
• LOVE WHAT YOU DO - Bring passion and pride to your work

To learn more about the GSMA, visit our careers site, our LinkedIn page and our Twitter page.