Innovation Manager

Vodafone Group; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading telecommunications company located in Midrand is seeking an experienced innovation manager to lead their innovation initiatives, encompassing project management of innovation challenges and hackathons. The ideal candidate should possess strong project management skills and a Bachelor's degree. This role offers competitive benefits, including retirement funds and exclusive staff discounts.

Benefits

Enticing incentive programs

Competitive benefit packages

Retirement funds

Medical aid benefits

Cell phone and data benefits

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent is required.
• Post-graduate qualification in a related field is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop the vision and strategy for Vodacom South Africa Innovation.
• Implement and manage the operating model for Innovation.
• Facilitate and execute Ideation services such as Challenges, Hackathons.
• Support the Office of the CEO with execution of strategic imperatives.

Skills

Project management

Communication skills

Idea generation facilitation

Networking skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Post-graduate qualification

Job description

When it comes to putting people first, we're number 1.

The number 1 Top Employer in South Africa.
Certified by the Top Employer Institute 2024.

Role Purpose/Business Unit:

Lead Vodacom South Africa’s innovation initiatives through project management of innovation challenges and hackathons, including problem formulation, scoring, and stakeholder engagement. Drive innovation culture by integrating Spirit programme, executing communication plans, and promoting innovation across business events. Manage voluntary innovation teams, budget sourcing, tracking, and Exco reporting. Oversee idea implementation monitoring, maintain stakeholder maps, and foster an active Innovation Champions community. Ensure alignment of innovation activities with business objectives while building strong internal and external relationships.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Develop the vision and strategy for Vodacom South Africa Innovation
• Implement and manage the operating model for Innovation
• Develop best practices, processes, and innovative procedures to improve the quality of idea implementation across the business
• Facilitate and execute Ideation services such as Challenges, Hackathons, Innovation Days to the various BUs in Vodacom South Africa
• Engaging and supporting of key stakeholders for Innovation across Vodacom South Africa (i.e. Voluntary support team, Innovation Champions, Idea Originators, SME etc.)
• Innovation evangelisation, training, and communications
• Executing Ideation and innovation initiatives
• Support Office of the CEO with:
  • Execution of strategic imperatives related to the Office of the CEO
  • Developing and maintaining key reports and insight to enable key strategic decisions within The Office
• Provide the necessary support services to enable effective decision making in the Office of the CEO

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent is a requirement
• Post-graduate qualification, in a related field, is advantageous.

Core competencies, knowledge, and experience:

• Strong project management and coordination skills
• Strong administrative and reporting skills with the ability to work well with others and individually
• Idea generation and ability to facilitate idea generation in others
• Communications skills including interpersonal skills, presentation skills, negotiation skills, relationship building ability, etcetera.
• Good networking and engagement skills

Advantageous:

• Knowledge of Vodacom structures and organisation.
• Telecoms/Techcoms/Technology Industry Experience.
• Work ethic and diligence
• Innovative mindset

We make an impact by offering:

• Enticing incentive programs and competitive benefit packages
• Retirement funds, risk benefits, and medical aid benefits
• Cell phone and data benefits, advantages fibre connection discounts, and exclusive staff discounts offered in collaboration with partner companies

Closing date for Applications: 12 December 2025

The base location for this role is Midrand, Vodacom Campus

The company's approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply. Vodacom is committed to an organisational culture that recognises, appreciates, and values diversity & inclusion.