ROLE PURPOSE

Senior Data Architects are the subject matter experts for information technology projects, helping guide these projects to completion. They must be able to handle multiple projects and programmes spanning across different Business Units, workstreams and Industries. The incumbent must be innovative, and be able to communicate effectively across multiple departments in different degrees of technical detail. When dealing with infrastructure, they design new solutions, maintain existing ones, and ensure information technology policies are adhered to. They serve as a technical team leader and are the main point of contact for many major architectural issues. Solution architects provide guidance, support, and discipline as needed.

Vodacom will be building a common data platform and enterprise common data model for their fixed line business to support Vodacom Business and CBU FTTX business.  This is to effectively manage performance of their fixed business, including base management to minimize churn and minimize the dilution they experience during customers upgrading or migrating services.

 

Vodacom D&A team in partnership with the IT Data Enablement team has formed a dedicated fixed line data asset squad to build out the data asset on a common platform, aligned to the Vodafone Common Information Model (CIM) with semantic and reporting views to support the analyst community as well as Qlik Sense or Shiny web apps to support business.

KEY ACTIVITIES

• Primarily involved in the development, evolution, and approval of the long-term vision across a function.
• Solutions and Data Architect
• Mentoring and Management of junior technical staff
• Direct impact on business performance
• Provides technical leadership to managers and/or professional staff
• Provides technical guidance to employees

• Assume responsibility for the following:

  Industry Solutions: Support for all BU activities that pertain to specific industries (Health; Financial Services; Consumer Goods; Energy & Utilities); Train and enable the account teams responsible for the target customers on these new solutions; be involved in the handover to the pursuit leads of the more complex opportunities; and work alongside the sales teams to progress and close opportunities where required.

  Responsible for the timely delivery of proposals to customers, ensuring conformance with an effective bid strategy.

  BI And Analytical Data Deliverables (Vodacom)

  Report into the D&A Data Management chapter, under the Data Delivery & Transformation vertical

  Align to the Chapter standards, especially in respect of writing and saving code

  Contribute to the Chapter in terms of best practice sharing and training the regular chapter meetings

  Document and save all work according to the Data Management chapter standards

  Save all code developed according to the Data Management chapter standards

  Handover of all code to their chapter lead by making sure code is understood with the ability to transfer maintenance to Vodacom (internal capacity permitting).

Report into the D&A Data Management chapter, reporting into the Data Delivery & Transformation vertical

Align to the Chapter standards

Contribute to the Chapter in terms of best practice sharing and training through the regular chapter meetings

Document and save all work according to the Data Management chapter standards

Save all code developed according to the Data Management chapter standards

Data Exploration / Data Ingestion / Data Interpretation

Data table analysis and profiling

Source to target mapping support for the IT Data Enablement System Analyst

Support in the assessment of the Vodafone common information model (CIM) to ensure Vodacom alignment and identify shortcomings of the Vodafone CIM

Data model design support, including development of prototypes

Working with IT Data Enablement team to build out the data model as subject matter experts

Validate and test data models

Data modelling to support reporting views

Developing scripts to support operating reporting requirements

Developing scripts to support business performance reporting

Developing scripts to support analytical base management solution

Ad-hoc data business queries

Assurance application support, specifically the VB Billing Data Management System

Prioritization forum for all technical demands.

System uptime and technical support of the various systems

Execution of monthly production deliveries.

Verify data correctness & completeness of data

Partnering with IT Data Enablement to ensure effective handover of data operations support for the VB Billing Data Management System

Handover of all code to their chapter lead by making sure code is understood with the ability to transfer maintenance to Vodacom (internal capacity permitting)

Insights: Responsible for providing insights relating to the markets in which Nexio operates, the information relating to the base, and the needs of those customers.

Propositions: Responsible for developing compelling customer offers, planning and executing new market entry, defining the sales channel requirement; and defining the proposition, segment category, and product offer level. Responsible for providing the knowledge and tools to enable sales to clearly articulate these propositions to customers.

Responsible for creating market awareness of the Company Brand and propositions through programmes addressed at key external stakeholders: analysts; press; and customers. These programmes include web, online, social media and digital, events, seminars, press, media and analyst relations, conferences, speaker engagements and multiple other approaches.      

Additional Information:

• Individuals at this level have fully developed knowledge of the business, marketplace and clients. Is recognized as an expert in own area within the organization
• Interprets internal or external business issues and recommends best practices. Provides technical guidance to more junior levels of staff
• Able to build strong interpersonal relationships with peers, brand leaders, and other senior management throughout the company
• Able to be a “big picture” thinker
• Encouraging to team and staff; able to mentor and lead
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to align multiple strategies and ideas
• Confident in producing and presenting work
• Mentor and manage junior technical resources
• Resource Management
• In-depth understanding of the IT and Telecommunications industry
• Ability to assess and understand other Industries and markets, with the purpose of adding value through Architectural guidance and blue-printing future solutions.

TECHNICAL / PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Proven comprehension of cross-functional domains and the ability to design and present integrated solutions within our customer environments.
• Ability to interface with C-level customers, partners and peers at a strategic and technical level.
• Demonstrate creative problem-solving and decision-making to solve complicated business problems.
• Excellent analytical, organisational, presentation and customer service skills.
• Able to align and articulate capabilities as they relate to business priorities and goals. 
• Solid coaching and mentoring skills.
• Solid skill in preparing written communications and materials.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: active listening and customer-care; knowledge and compliance with email correspondence.
• Ability to multi-task and adapt to changes quickly.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work in a fast moving and changing environment.
• Willing to work overtime as and when required
• Strong understanding of Vodacom Business Products, business rules and data modelling is essential to this role.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Matric
• Bachelor's degree in information technology or equivalent qualifications essential
• 10+ years of IT experience across all disciplines in infrastructure technology solutions.
• 7+ years of experience developing architectural solutions and strategies across multiple domains and across all disciplines.
• 5+ years of experience developing architectural solutions and strategies for emerging markets.
• CCNP/CCIE/CCDE or equivalent experience
• Data Warehousing / Data Lake Architecture Design
• Minimum of 5 years Vodacom Fixed Business Experience (Systems / Products / Integration)
• SQL Certified

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Ability to delegate efficiently.
• Extensive industry knowledge with an eye on the future.
• Diplomacy And Patience
• People Skills
• Strategic Thinking
• Listening
• The Ability to Execute the Vision of the Company
• People Management Skills / Resource Management and Development