Senior Manager - Fixed Network Planning and IP Core Architecture

Senior Manager - Fixed Network Planning and IP Core Architecture

Roodepoort, Gauteng, South Africa

(Hybrid)

Want to know more about us? We’ve got you! Please scroll to the end of the section to get to know us better.

Job Description

The Senior Manager: Fixed Network Planning and IP Core Architecture serves as MTN Group’s principal technical authority for Transport, Transmission and IP Architecture. It provides specialist architecture, planning and engineering expertise across fibre, optical transmission, IP/MPLS, international and submarine capacity, satellite connectivity, peering, transit and content interconnection, under the strategic direction and accountability of the General Manager: Transport and OSS Tools.

This is a specialised Group Technology role requiring deep domain expertise in fixed, fibre, transmission, transport and IP core network planning, design, architecture and technology evolution. The role requires that all outputs are explicitly anchored in the Transport domain with key focus on network resilience or broad network planning deliverables.

The role is the MTN Group subject-matter authority for Transport, Transmission and IP Architecture, providing authoritative technical analysis, architecture recommendations, standards and decision support.

Measures of success include high-quality technical recommendations, architecture frameworks, planning inputs, regulatory and compliance assessments, design principles and tools that support approved Group priorities for cost effectiveness, network efficiency, service resilience and technology evolution.

This position is designed for a Transport and Transmission professional with deep technical mastery across fixed network planning, fibre and transmission systems, metro and backbone transport, IP/MPLS core architecture, satellite transmission, network resilience and technology evolution. The role requires strong technical authority, sound judgement and the ability to influence Group-wide architecture outcomes, supporting the GM Transport and OSS Tools.

The incumbent will develop technical standards, reference architectures, planning inputs and technology evolution recommendations; support OpCo investment and architecture assessments; strengthen network resilience; and define Transport architecture requirements for software-defined, automation-ready and AI-enabled networks. Final strategy, roadmap, investment, vendor and AI direction is approved by the General Manager and the relevant Group governance structures. The role translates deep engineering expertise into measurable customer, operational and financial outcomes under MTN Ambition 2030.

Context

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:

• Rapidly changing ICT environment
• The geographic complexity of MTN’s foot print across Africa and the Middle East
• Management of executive and local shareholder expectations across all 20 OpCos
• Achievement of top quartile operating efficiency and effectiveness through scale and common processes
• Driving growth through business intelligence and standardization to maximize business impact
• Management of customer and supplier expectations
• Enhance MTN position as a leading network and system provider
• Constant dynamics and local challenges in the economic, regulatory and legal environments

Values

We at MTN are a purpose and value-led organization. At 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 organisation, 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 organisational promise. It is in our leadership and managerial ethos to meaningfully partner with our employees, customers and stakeholders with a vision to realise our shared goals.

Live Y’ello

• Lead with Care
• Can-do with Integrity
• Collaborate with Agility
• Serve with Respect
• Act with Inclusion

Responsibilities

• The Senior Manager: Fixed Network Planning and IP Core Architecture will act as the Group’s principal technical authority for Transport and IP Architecture across six accountability areas. The role develops standards, performs assessments and provides recommendations and implementation support; it does not own Group strategy, approve roadmaps, make final investment or vendor decisions, own AI strategy, or carry overall Group transport leadership accountability.

• 1. Transport and Transmission Strategy Support

• Develop technical inputs, analysis and recommendations supporting the Group Transport and Transmission Strategy

• across fibre, metro, aggregation, backbone, DWDM, IP transport, satellite, submarine and international capacity domains.

• Translate MTN Ambition 2030, OpCo business plans, capacity demand and resilience priorities into technical roadmap proposals for review and approval by the General Manager and relevant governance forums.

• Develop technical analysis and recommendations for international submarine, satellite transmission, IP peering, transit, CDN, PNI and IXP direction to improve performance, scalability and cost efficiency.

• Assess technology and market shifts and provide technical implications for transport planning, capacity sourcing and network evolution decisions by the General Manager and relevant governance forums.

• Provide technical recommendations to inform General Manager and governance decisions on topology evolution, convergence, redundancy and the long-term sustainability of the Group transport footprint.

Measurable deliverables:

• Evidence-based technical inputs to the Group Transport and Transmission strategy and annual evolution roadmap, submitted for General Manager and governance approval.

• Documented technical inputs for submarine, satellite, peering, transit, CDN, PNI and IXP decisions, with implementation guidance aligned to approved Group direction.

• Quarterly technical progress report against approved roadmaps, covering implementation status, risks, dependencies and business impact.

• 2. Architecture and Technology Evolution

• Develop architecture recommendations and technology evolution options for approval through Group governance structures.

• for fixed networks, fibre, transport, transmission, IP core and multi-service backbone evolution.

• Develop proposed reference architectures, design principles and technology standards covering IP/MPLS, SR-MPLS/SRv6, IPv6, PCE, traffic engineering, QoS and convergence for approval through Group governance.

• Develop and recommend options for open and disaggregated transport architectures, automation-ready design and cross-layer IP-optical orchestration, subject to approved Group technology direction.

• Assess emerging technologies including fibre sensing, satellite evolution, open networking and IP core modernisation for Group relevance and readiness.

• Conduct or, where delegated, facilitate architecture reviews, technology assessments, proof-of-concept evaluations and supplier technical engagements, and submit recommendations through the applicable governance process.

Measurable deliverables:

• Proposed Group reference architectures, design standards and technology roadmap recommendations submitted for approval, with approved versions published through the applicable governance process.

• Completed architecture review reports and technical recommendations for priority OpCo and Group initiatives.

• Technology evolution position papers with adoption criteria, risks, dependencies and implementation guidance.

• 3. Network Planning, Resilience and Performance

• Develop and recommend Group planning principles for capacity, topology, redundancy, resilience, scalability, service quality and long-term network sustainability for approval by the General Manager and relevant governance forums.

• Assess OpCo fixed, transport, transmission and IP core designs against Group standards, resilience requirements and cost-efficiency targets.

• Develop transport planning models, network converg