Manager: Research & Development needed at Vodafone Global Enterprise

Your responsibilities will include:

• Collaborate with the Technology Strategy Team to co-lead the identification and evaluation of emerging technologies, innovation enablers, and disruptive trends in telecoms and adjacent industries.
• Establish the Group’s position on these trends and advise the SLT on their strategic implications.
• Identify, opportunities/challenges across the business and facilitate/guide the execution of initiatives (proof-of-concepts/trials/proof-of-value assessments) that address these opportunities/challenges.
• Measure and articulate their potential impact and value to the business, including commercial, operational, and customer benefits.  Translate this into commercial/operational strategies to be presented to senior leadership.
• Collaborate closely with technology strategy, networks, IT, commercial teams, the Vodafone R&D team, and operational markets to identify business challenges/opportunities that R&D can address. 
• Translate abstract opportunities into well-structured, technically feasible initiatives. 
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with academia, research institutions, vendors, startups, and partners to harness external innovation. 
• Represent the Group in relevant forums, think tanks, and collaborative innovation initiatives
• Tracking, Reporting and Administration of R&D initiatives across the Vodacom Group markets, and to the Tech Exco/SLT at regular intervals. Manage, mentor and inspire a team of R&D professionals, while fostering a culture of experimentation, curiosity, and structured exploration. 
• Ensure knowledge transfer and publication of findings internally across markets and functions. 

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

• Matric/Grade 12 (or SAQA Accredited equivalent) is essential
• A relevant 4-year Honours Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or Information Systems is essential
• A postgraduate qualification (Masters/PhD) in a technology or innovation-related field is highly desirable
• A minimum of 10 years in telecoms or ICT, with at least 3 years with experience in an R&D, innovation, systems design/architecture or technology strategy function.
• Experience in vendor management, and contract negotiations