Senior Manager - Marketing.DataCo

MTN Group; Roodepoort; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 000 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading telecommunications company in South Africa is seeking a Senior Manager in Marketing to spearhead the global marketing strategy for DataCo. This role is critical in driving MTN's data monetisation efforts, establishing its brand authority, and engaging with stakeholders across various sectors. Ideal candidates will have 5 to 8 years of B2B marketing experience in telco or technology fields, along with a strong understanding of data and AI trends. Join us to make an impact while promoting responsible data practices.

Qualifications

• 5 - 8 years of senior-level B2B marketing experience, preferably in telco or technology sectors.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field would be advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of data monetisation trends and AI ecosystems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement DataCo’s global marketing strategy.
• Design multi-channel campaigns to showcase DataCo capabilities.
• Build and protect DataCo’s brand identity across platforms.

Skills

B2B marketing experience

Geospatial intelligence

AI ecosystems

Data monetisation trends

Stakeholder engagement

Education

4 year degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Data Management

Master’s degree in Marketing, Business, or Data Management

Tools

Marketing automation platforms

Campaign analytics tools

Job description

Global Influences

• Rapid rise of AI-native organisations and the need for strong data foundations
• Emergence of data monetisation as a critical growth lever for telcos and platform companies
• Convergence around open data ecosystems, clean rooms, and trusted data marketplaces

Industry Drivers

• Telcos globally are building internal data businesses to diversify and scale new revenue streams
• CxOs demand ROI from data initiatives alongside regulatory trust and risk mitigation
• Geospatial and behavioural analytics are increasingly central to digital product innovation

Organisational Mandate : MTN aims to capture a significant share of Africa’s ~$2B external data monetisation market through DataCo, a Group-level capability. This role leads the stakeholder activation and monetisation engagement to make this vision a commercial reality, enabling MTN to unify, enrich, and productise its data assets while building trust, compliance, and sustainable revenue growth.

Organization Values

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. Our values dubbed, LIVE Y’ello, are the cornerstone of our culture.

The role operates at the intersection of AI acceleration, digital sovereignty, and trusted data ecosystems. As telcos and cloud players converge to form federated data marketplaces, MTN’s competitive advantage lies in its ability to combine governed data with predictive intelligence at scale. Within this context, the Senior Manager : Marketing ensures that MTN’s global narrative reflects Africa’s leadership in responsible data practices while driving commercial partnerships across industries such as fintech, retail, public sector, and smart cities. The marketing function therefore acts as both a commercial engine and a governance voice, promoting transparency, inclusion, and innovation across the digital economy.

Lead with Care

Can-do with Integrity

Collaborate with Agility

Serve with Respect

Act with Inclusion

Strategic Marketing Leadership

• Develop and implement DataCo’s global marketing strategy aligned with MTN’s data monetisation mandate.
• Translate complex technical capabilities into compelling, client-centric narratives for telcos, regulators, fintechs, enterprises, and platform companies.
• Conduct competitive analysis and market intelligence to anticipate trends and maintain strategic advantage.

Campaign Development & Demand Generation

• Design multi-channel campaigns showcasing how DataCo enables predictive analytics, efficiency, and new revenue models.
• Create sector-specific marketing playbooks to accelerate adoption across telecom, enterprise, fintech, and public sectors.
• Drive adoption and expansion by designing campaigns tailored for telcos, regulators, platform companies, and enterprise customers.

Brand & Thought Leadership

• Build and protect DataCo’s brand identity across digital, media, and industry ecosystems.
• Produce white papers, case studies, and executive communications that establish DataCo as an industry authority.
• Represent MTN at global forums, strengthening its influence in Africa’s digital economy.

Operational Excellence & Governance

• Partner with Sales, Product, Customer Success, and Group Marketing to align campaigns with commercial outcomes.
• Build trusted relationships with regulators, clients, industry associations, and media agencies.
• Lead trust-building campaigns highlighting governance, compliance, and responsible monetisation.

Marketing Analytics & Performance Optimisation

• Design and implement marketing analytics infrastructure (dashboards, measurement models, campaign reporting).
• Establish and track KPIs: brand equity, campaign ROI, adoption rates, and revenue impact.
• Drive continuous improvement through post-campaign analysis, in-flight optimisation, and predictive modelling.
• Standardise reporting practices across MTN OpCos, ensuring consistency and comparability.

Customer Advocacy & Ecosystem Development

• Build and maintain a regional ecosystem of advocates, partners, and enterprise clients who amplify the DataCo value proposition.
• Lead co-marketing initiatives with hyperscalers, analytics vendors, and strategic partners to extend market influence.
• Establish advocacy programmes, awards, and industry recognition that position MTN as a trusted authority in responsible data use.

Internal Alignment & Enablement

• Develop internal marketing enablement playbooks and toolkits for Product, Engineering, and Sales teams.
• Ensure consistent messaging and brand alignment across OpCos and functional areas.
• Drive internal adoption of DataCo narratives through workshops, executive briefings, and knowledge-sharing sessions.

AI-Enabled Marketing & Automation

• Deploy marketing automation and predictive analytics platforms to enhance lead scoring, campaign personalisation, and ROI tracking.
• Integrate data-driven insights to continuously optimise campaign performance.
• Use AI-powered sentiment and brand monitoring to inform strategic messaging.

Stakeholder Trust & Policy Communications

• Develop communications that strengthen DataCo’s reputation for transparency, privacy, and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate with Legal, Governance, and Regulatory Affairs to proactively manage public and policy engagement.
• Lead campaigns that promote MTN’s leadership in ethical and responsible data monetisation.

Education

• 4 year degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Data / Technology Management, or Digital Transformation
• Master’s degree in Marketing, Business, or Data / Technology Management (MBA preferred).
• Certifications in digital marketing, analytics, or data strategy advantageous.

Experience

• 5 - 8 years senior-level B2B marketing experience in telco, data, or technology sectors.
• Proven record in marketing leadership driving adoption, brand equity, and revenue growth
• Strong knowledge of geospatial intelligence, AI ecosystems, and data monetisation trends
• Experience influencing CxOs, regulators, and industry leaders in complex, regulated environments.
• Proven experience marketing data, AI, or SaaS platforms across regulated industries.
• Demonstrated ability to engage regulators, C-suite clients, and media on complex data and privacy topics.
• Working knowledge of data governance frameworks (POPIA, GDPR) and cloud ecosystems (GCP, Azure, AWS).