Senior Manager

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 

The urgency for change has become more heightened amidst increased competitive intensity across all markets in which MTN operates. The Group's External Communications function in which this role falls within must therefore ensure the successful delivery in context of:

• Rapidly changing ICT environment
• The geographic complexity of MTN's footprint across Africa and the Middle East
• Ever changing social media regulation and dynamics
• Management of executive and local shareholder expectations across all 19 markets and aligning them to MTN's plans and strategies
• Management of customer, supplier, and other stakeholder expectations through communication
• Enhance MTN's position as a leading the bold digital work, driving digital and financial inclusion
• Internal organisational communication across a varied and deadline driven corporate communications environment
• Dynamic and fast changing organisational requirements
• Need to continuously innovate the way business is conducted
• Growing pressure from stakeholders for disclosure and transparency 

Senior Manager: Digital Communications will be accountable to achieve the following objectives:

• Drive the development and implementation of a robust digital communications strategy that aligns with the Group's External Communications strategy and supports MTN's business goals.
• Enhance MTN's digital presence by overseeing the team's delivery of targeted and relevant digital content informed by a deep understanding of MTN's priorities across markets, products, and customers.
• Forge and maintain strong partnerships with external digital and media agencies, setting clear expectations and performance indicators to ensure consistent delivery and alignment with MTN's strategic goals.
• Build, mentor, and empower a high-performing digital communications team, fostering a culture of innovation, creativity, and collaboration to deliver exceptional results.
• Encourage cross-functional collaboration between content teams to create compelling, multi-dimensional storytelling that brings the brand to life across various content types.
• Curate a diverse mix of original, user-generated, and repurposed content that resonates with target audiences, strengthens the brand, and protects MTN's reputation.
• Implement a robust social media strategy that leverages platform-specific approaches to grow the brand, increase online presence, and drive meaningful engagement across all Group platforms.
• Continuously assess and enhance MTN's web presence, leveraging data-driven insights and industry best practices to improve the user experience and optimize digital platform performance.
• Utilize advanced analytics and social listening tools to monitor public sentiment, inform decision-making, and proactively address customer concerns or industry trends.
• Conduct regular competitive analyses to inform MTN's digital platform strategies and maintain a strong market position.
• Develop and manage an integrated digital communications calendar that aligns with Group priorities and accounts for regional interests and nuances, ensuring consistent and cohesive messaging across all platforms.
• Oversee efforts to improve search engine optimization and discoverability of content, ensuring MTN's digital assets reach the desired target audiences.
• Establish a data-driven culture that leverages web traffic, analytics, and engagement data to inform decision-making, optimize performance, and drive continuous improvement.
• Regularly review and analyse the performance of MTN's digital platform presence and online reputation management efforts, using insights to inform strategic adjustments, improve results, and optimize resource allocation.
• Deliver key digital communications projects on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
• Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in digital communications and online reputation management, incorporating relevant insights into MTN's strategy and approach.
• Foster a culture of innovation and creativity in content and campaigns across digital platforms, promoting differentiation and driving customer engagement.

Key Deliverables

• Lead the formulation and continuous refinement of a comprehensive digital strategy
• Executing a comprehensive digital communications strategy
• Building partnerships and fostering collaboration
• Content creation and curation
• Analytics and actionable insights
• Team management and culture
• Social media strategy
• Project management
• Search engine optimization
• Web presence enhancement
• Digital communications calendar management

Education:

• Minimum 4-year degree in Digital Marketing, or equivalent field. 
• Postgraduate degree
• Relevant certification / accreditation / membership with professional body advantageous 
• MBA or Masters advantageous

Experience:

• Manager track record of 5 years or more; with at least 3 years in digital communications specifically in managing strategic digital communications and campaigns in a corporate or large-scale setting
• Proven track record of managing and maintaining relationships with external digital and media agencies, ensuring alignment with the company's strategic objectives and performance indicators
• Understanding emerging markets advantageous
• Demonstrated experience working across diverse cultures and geographies, showcasing adaptability and a global perspective
• Experience working in medium to large organizations, preferably with exposure to complex and matrixed environments
• Proven track record of effectively managing cross-functional teams and collaborating with various internal and external stakeholders to achieve common goals
• Demonstrated success in driving digital platform growth, enhancing online presence, and managing online reputation across multiple channels.
• Demonstrated proficiency using advanced analytics tools, social listening platforms, and other digital communications technologies. This includes the ability to measure performance and synthesise data into actionable strategies that inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement.
• Advanced project and program management skills, with a proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, meet deadlines, and deliver results.
• Experience in fostering a culture of innovation, creativity, and data-driven decision-making within a digital communications team.

Competencies:

• Exceptional communicator: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively articulate complex ideas and present to diverse audiences.
• Decisive problem solver: Has the mental agility to identify business challenges and explore effective solutions
• Innovator in value creation: Proven track record of fostering innovation and driving value creation through the development and implementation of digital communications initiatives.
• Culture and change champion: Experience navigating organizational change, influencing decision-making, and championing new ideas and initiatives.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to build, mentor, and manage high-performing teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence.
• Relationship builder: Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, and effectively collaborate across functions to achieve common goals.
• Results achiever: Proven track record of setting clear objectives, driving performance, and delivering exceptional results in the digital communications domain.
• Operationally astute: Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, meet deadlines, and deliver results.
• Continuous improvement mindset: Commitment to ongoing learning, staying abreast of industry trends and best practices, and leveraging insights to drive improvement and maintain a competitive edge in the digital communications landscape.

Other:

• Regional and international travel may be required
• Fluent in English. Ability to communicate in other African languages would be advantageous