Provide leadership to projects and create technical solution architecture and align to IT and telecommunications best practises and frameworks. The technical solution architecture is multi-disciplinary, covering application, data, infrastructure, operating system, database, middleware integration, network, security and business architecture aspects. To ensure  deployment of IT systems that are fit for purpose; support business needs; are future proof; are cost efficient; flexible and sustainable.

Context
    The incumbent aligns the vision of MTN with the strategic objectives of IS in order to be part of a team with technical expertise and common goals
    Implementing best practices to achieve technical excellence taking cognisance of the impact these changes will have on the total organisation
    Analyses business change drivers to determine business, information, solution and information technology requirements
    Ensuring alignment to architecture frameworks, ensuring documents and artefacts are up to date, complete and correct to ensure efficient operation of the Solution Architecture team

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

Tactical Strategic  Input 
    Provide feedback and input  to MTN Architecture teams on strategies, frameworks, principles, standards and policies across all Enterprise Architecture domains (business, application, data, integration, security, infrastructure, etc), in order to improve the quality and completeness of the Enterprise Architecture practice
    Understand how business and IT requirements can be met using the correct blend of existing and new IT technologies, as well as the correct blend of out-of-the-box commercially available software and bespoke systems development per project.
    Provide input to infrastructure and application development areas on application roadmaps to fit in with business and IS strategies, Enterprise Architecture and industry trends.
    Provide input to technological roadmaps  from an architectural perspective

    Solution Design
    Perform all the analysis, design, modelling and documentation tasks necessary to create solution architectures for complex (multi-application) business and technical projects. Lead projects (from a design perspective) through the systems development life cycle, including the successful adherence to all relevant MTN IS governance.
    Ensure alignment of solution architectures to MTN Enterprise Architecture strategies, frameworks, principles, standards and policies across all Enterprise Architecture domains (business, application, data, integration, security, infrastructure, etc).
    Focus solution designs on simplifying the IT architecture, reducing costs, improving effectiveness and efficiencies of the IT environment.
    Ensure that technical designs for systems & applications are integrated end-to-end; are consistently applying MTN Enterprise Architecture standards; are technically sound and sustainable; are aligned to IT best practises; are suitable within the MTN context.
    Design IT solutions that meets business and IT requirements, and includes functionality, processes, data, products to be used, application interfaces internal and external to MTN

Efficiency and Documentation
    Update the Enterprise Repository and other architecture artefacts.
    Assist with administrative requirements and compliance to policies, guidelines, processes and other governance.
    Liaise with other departments to ensure efficient processes, quality and integrity of information and the flow thereof.
    Ensure reasonable and practical adherence to all industry standards and best practices MTN IS subscribes to (like TM Forum Frameworx, TOGAF, etc).
    Maintain appropriate end-to-end enterprise solution architecture models by appropriately aggregating project and initiative solution architectures into an enterprise architecture repository.
    Ensures the strategic alignment of IT architecture with agreed business outcomes within the portfolio, relevant IT Architecture Enterprise principles, key approved decisions and enterprise wide programmes

Relationship Management 
    Maintain close contact with business operations, strategies, information requirements, and priorities in order to align with IS architecture.
    Build and group relationships with MTN architecture, applications and operations teams to keep up with strategic direction, future direction and technology plans.
    Consult with IS advisory bodies (Gartner, Tele Management Forum, etc) and vendors, as well as media scanning.
    Ensure that project architectural risks are properly identified, assessed and handled/mitigated, and highlight/resolve inter-project technical dependencies.
    Continuously review, improve and integrate processes and systems, in order to overcome fragmentation.

Mentoring and Coaching
    Provide consultancy to process analysts, business analysts and other business stakeholders at a project level on application, data, security, infrastructure, testing and operational designs through interactions with other MTN architects, applications and operations subject matter experts.
    Mentor and coach juniors and graduates

Supervisory / Leadership / Managerial Tasks
    Technical leadership of project teams (not project management)

Role Dependencies
    MTN business units (All, including Marketing, Sales, Service, Finance, IS, Network Group, etc)
    MTN IS Architecture teams (Enterprise, Infrastructure, Security)
    MTN IS Applications teams (Billing, CRM, ERP and others)
    MTN IS Operations
    MTN Business Architecture
    MTN business strategy including MTN Group strategy

Lateral Dimensions: These indicate the areas where the individuals could contribute uniquely in addition to the indicated duties, as
well as how they could be affected by others or circumstances not necessarily under their control.
Creativities (improvement / innovation inherent)
    Technical design process improvements
    Implement and enhance IT continuity discipline
    Investigate and research best practices in IS technology architecture and related disciplines with a view to leveraging for MTN
    Opportunities for consolidation of software use, application and servers, functional boundary control to ensure applications are fit for purpose
    Input and leadership in analytical thinking for MTN
Vulnerabilities (control span)
    Dynamic business and industry trends – business direction
    Dynamic and rapid industry changes
    Increasing complexity & business pressures
    Obsolete technologies
    Multi source application vendors

Collaboration:  Refers to formal and informal relationships
Responsibility towards: 
    Matrix reports: Dotted line reporting to the Project Managers
    Key customers: All departments within MTN SA plus MTN Group
    Key suppliers:  All major software and hardware vendors and IT research companies including various application development and maintenance partners
    Relations: All departments in MTN SA and MTN Group, notably Enterprise Architects and Managers, Application development managers, IT Security, IT Operations, Project Managers, Business Analysts
Discretionary Space: The degree to which individuals are allowed to exercise independent thought and judgement.
Independent thought and Judgment:
    Leadership in tactical technical roadmaps for projects
    Make tactical decisions to resolve mission critical problems and issues
    Provide input into strategic forums with longer term holistic view
Authorities:
    Recommendations on application strategies, technologies and development frameworks
    Implementation of defined enterprise strategic vision and mission of information technology artefacts

Minimum Requirements
Education:
BSc or BCom in IT (Preferable)  or Diploma in IT
Fluent in English and language of country preferable

Experience:
    Minimum of 3 years multi-disciplinary IT experience with a strong focus on system analysis, design and development, architecture disciplines (notably application architecture, service oriented architecture and middleware), application management, database management, and operations.
    Experience working in a medium  organization
    Experience in supervising others

Training:
    Communication (written and verbal)
    Negotiation skills
    IT specific – application development qualifications in various domains, including commercial off the shelf applications in areas like ERP, CRM, Billing; middleware
Competencies

Head – Big Picture Focus (10)

•    Analytical Thinker –   Manages the alignment and execution of tactical activities
•    Problem Solver  –  Assists in solving business challenges but looks to others for advice and guidance
•    Operational Value Creator –  Executes on innovative commercial practices and identifies areas for continuous improvement

Heart – Emotionally Intelligent (20)

•    Culture and Change Champion –  Role models ethical practices by living the MTN values and vital behaviours for others to follow
•    Supportive People Manager – Is self-aware and supports team capability development through opportunity creation for realising potential
•    Relationship Manager  –  Builds relationships with customers and teams to uphold the MTN brand

Hands – Results Focused (50)

Results Achiever  –  Drives team objectives and contributes to sustainability of results
Operationally Astute –  Clarifies priorities, plans, organizes and co-ordinates the work of others

Knowledge:
    Knowledge of all components of the enterprise architecture
    Basic knowledge of business process, planning and organizational skills
    Knowledge of IT and IT technical roadmaps including commercial off the shelf vendor products in CRM, ERP, Billing systems, middleware integration technologies (SOA, BPM, BPEL, EAI), data warehousing and MIS, portal technologies
    Knowledge of data analysis concepts aligned to data mining and data analysis
    In depth knowledge of analysis and design concepts
    In depth knowledge of IT systems modelling
    Awareness of IT and telecommunication industry key trends
    Broad knowledge of implementation platforms
    Knowledge of IT industry standards and frameworks
Skills / physical competencies:
    Good interpersonal skills, including teamwork, facilitation, and negotiation
    Strong application leadership with creative thinking and planning skills
    Legal understanding
    Ability to translate business needs into requirements for technical architecture
    Ability to estimate financial impact of the solution architecture alternatives
    Ability to apply multiple information technology solutions to business problems
    Ability to quickly comprehend the functions and capabilities of new applications and technologies
    Excellent communication skills
    Ability to embrace new ideas of alternative initiatives
    Strong problem solving skills
    Highly self-motivated / managed individual
    Applied lateral thinking ability
    Focussed with a proactive stance to innovation
    Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with others at all levels
    Open mindedness to criticism
    Strong analytical ability with attention to detail
    Diversity facilitation / sensitivity
    Openness to change / flexibility
    Ability to balance the long-term (“big picture”) and short term implications of individual decisions
Behavioural qualities:
    Agnostic towards technology / application vendor and product choices – focus on results rather than personal preferences
    Has a reputation for integrity and displays a high degree of solution intellectual integrity
    Respected individual, specifically by the application development group
    Future visioning
    Professional ethics
    Assertive
    Initiative
    Foresight
    Perseverance and empathy towards colleagues
    Networking abilities
    Team builder / player
    Ability to adapt to change
    Passion for IT