Job Purpose:

The International Roaming Wholesale Manager is responsible for providing strategic, commercial, and administrative oversight, supporting the department's objectives. The role encompasses the negotiation, management, and seamless delivery of Zain’s international roaming services. The primary focus is to ensure operational efficiency and effectiveness, while driving the growth of the international roaming and SMS (A2P, P2P) business.

Key Accountabilities and Tasks:

·  Strategic Planning and Execution: Formulate and execute the strategy, roadmap, and design for wholesale roaming and international SMS business (A2P, P2P). Lead highly complex, cross-functional projects aimed at improving customer experience, implementing revenue assurance objectives, and enhancing key metrics related to roaming and SMS.

• Evaluate and refine roaming product offerings based on competitive analysis and market research.

·  Budgeting and Forecasting: Develop and oversee budget plans and forecasts for roaming services and related operational expenditures (e.g., GRX & Signaling, LTE, IPX).

  Conduct forecasting based on market trends and usage patterns to align capacity with demand.

·  Portfolio Management: Manage and monitor the SMS portfolio, including demand forecasts, open connectivity, and wholesale pricing.

·  Product and Service Management: Oversee international roaming products and services, including GSM roaming, CAMEL, data roaming for prepaid and postpaid, and 3G, 4G, and LTE roaming.

: Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with international regulations governing roaming services.

• Manage documentation related to agreements and regulatory requirements, coordinating with relevant regulatory bodies.

·  Performance Assurance: Ensure business performance aligns with the strategic roadmap and business plan.

·  Team Management: Set yearly strategies, targets, and objectives for the team, ensuring alignment with the company’s business plan.

  Lead, motivate, and develop the partnership team, fostering a culture of collaboration and high performance.

  Identify training and development needs within the team, ensuring continuous improvement and skill enhancement.

·  Cross-Functional Coordination: Collaborate with relevant teams to ensure timely launching and implementation of new roaming services.

·  Quality and Customer Service: Handle commercial aspects of roaming quality of service, including addressing customer and roaming partner queries and complaints.

 Ensure high standards of service quality and customer experience in roaming services.

  Monitor customer queries and complaints related to roaming, implementing necessary improvements.

·  Partnership Management: Manage international roaming agreements and partnerships to increase revenues and reduce costs. Analyze partner traffic and revenue for accurate proposal and negotiation, ensuring alignment with contracts.

Ensure optimal commercial terms and conditions in roaming agreements, maximizing partnership value.

·  Traffic Redirection: Drive outbound roaming network traffic redirection in line with company strategy and cost-efficiency goals.

·  Policy Coordination: Update inbound and outbound roaming policies and relevant standard documents (e.g., IR21s, AA14).

·  Financial Coordination: Work with the finance team for funding and roaming settlement; ensure timely payment and issuance of partner invoices based on global roaming usage.

·  Data Clearing and Dispute Resolution: Manage and monitor data clearing services with the data clearing house, including financial clearing and settlement. Liaise with roaming partners for dispute resolution.

·  Representation and Networking: Represent the company at international events and gatherings related to roaming services.

·  Information Management: Manage Zain’s roaming information in the GSMA database.

·  Market Consultation: Consult with the marketing department to align wholesale services with market demand. Work with VAS and technical teams to develop responsive roaming services.

• Operational Oversight:

Oversee the end-to-end process of international roaming agreements, ensuring successful implementation and operational delivery.

Manage the technical aspects of roaming services, including GRX, signaling, LTE, and IPX, collaborating closely with IT and technical teams.

·  Process Development: Develop processes, procedures, and systems for team operations, including vendor selection and management.

·  Contingency Planning: Understand and regularly review contingency plans to mitigate risks as the customer base grows and the business expands.

• Business Development:

• Explore opportunities for expanding the roaming portfolio, introducing new services, and enhancing revenue streams.

• Represent the company at international forums and events to strengthen partnerships and identify new business opportunities.

Typical Performance Measures:

• Achievement of departmental targets

• Effectiveness in managing commercial agreements

• Successful implementation of departmental strategy

• Oversight of Zain’s wholesale agreements

• Leadership of partnership, business development, and roaming operations teams

Dimensions:

• Reports to : Director Wholesales • Carrier Relations & Regulatory.

·  Strategic Leadership: Accountable for the development and execution of Zain’s international roaming strategy, including both technical and commercial elements of roaming services and international SMS (A2P and P2P).

·  Operational Management: Overseeing the end-to-end operations of international roaming services, including budgeting, forecasting, managing service portfolios, ensuring quality, and handling partner relations.

·  Team Management: Leading cross-functional teams to achieve strategic objectives, ensure efficient project delivery, and foster innovation in roaming and SMS services.

·  Financial Responsibility: Develops and manages budgets, forecasts, and financial settlements, ensuring operational and financial objectives are met in line with organizational goals.

Budgetary Responsibility : Responsible for the preparation and management of the roaming and international SMS budgets, including operational expenditures (e.g., GRX, LTE, IPX) .Oversees financial settlements with international roaming partners and ensures alignment with Zain’s financial policies

• Professional qualification (e.g., BSC in Business Administration, Economics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science) is preferred; MBA is a plus.

• Extensive experience in the wholesale telecommunications sector is required

• Proven leadership, negotiation, and analytical abilities

• Expertise in international roaming and carrier services is essential

• A strong track record of achieving commercial targets

• Multilingual skills are highly desirable

Key Behaviours for Success:

·  Demonstrates effective leadership and teamwork

·  Makes sound decisions promptly

·  Communicates effectively in both local language and business English

·  Exhibits strong business acumen and understanding of operational challenges

·  Quickly establishes rapport and builds strong working relationships

·  Self-motivated with a proactive approach to problem-solving

·  Maintains adherence to company policies and procedures while being sensitive to local cultural issues

·  Shows resilience, strategic and analytical thinking, and the ability to thrive in ambiguous situations

·  Results-oriented with a focus on continuous improvement

·  Strong emphasis on personal and team development.

Knowledge:

• Deep understanding of international roaming management, including industry standards, agreements, and settlement procedures

• Expertise in planning and executing section budgets and strategies

• Strong relationships with stakeholders and roaming partners

• In-depth knowledge of the Sudan market and Zain’s strategic goals

• High-level financial acumen and experience with IT systems (e.g., billing, revenue assurance, fraud management)

• Familiarity with best practices in change management.

Skills:

·  Advanced consultancy and advisory skills

·  Proven leadership and team-building capabilities

·  Excellent negotiation and presentation skills

·  Superior communication and reporting abilities (both verbal and written)

·  Strong organizational and planning skills

·  Ability to foster excellent relationships with internal departments and external partners.