Product Development Manager - Solutions (Enterprise Business) at Airtel Nigeria

Airtel Nigeria (Airtel Networks Limited), a leading mobile telecommunication services provider in Nigeria and a member of Airtel Africa Group, is committed to providing innovative, exciting, affordable and quality mobile services to Nigerians, giving them the freedom to communicate, rise above their daily challenges and drive economic and social development. The company made history on August 5, 2001 by becoming the first telecoms operator to launch commercial GSM services in Nigeria and has scored a series of many "firsts" in the highly competitive Nigerian telecommunications market including the first to introduce toll-free 24-hour customer care; first to launch service in all the six geo-political zones in the country; first to introduce affordable recharge denominations; first to introduce monthly free SMS and first to introduce monthly airtime bonus.

A truly innovative company, Airtel has showed resilience, charting new paths in meeting the demands and needs of its esteemed stakeholders and enhancing distribution as well as providing affordable services to empower more nigerians.

In Nigeria, Airtel is working tirelessly to live up to an ambitious vision of being the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians as it offers a superior brand experience and a portfolio of innovative products & services ranging from exciting voice solutions to inventive data packages and mobile broadband.

Airtel Nigeria is recruiting for the position of:

Job Title: Product Development Manager - Solutions (Enterprise Business)

Job Description
New Product/ Service Delivery

• Commercial lead for the development of Airtel Business products and proposition from concept to launch, taking responsibility for conceptualization , scoping, implementation and operationalization
• Develop new products and services within the distinct Airtel Business brand and ensure effective hand-over to the segment management team and relevant in-life product managers
• Scoping of the technical and operational feasibility of bringing product proposition to market. Documentation of detailed business, process and functional requirements for product concepts to support product and proposition launches
• Work with the IT and network teams to develop a working understanding of the technical deliverables required to meet the business needs and ensuring that any the proposed solution will be fit for purpose and commercially viable.
• Manage the trade-off between speed to market, cost and quality throughout the lifecycle of the project engaging stakeholders as required
• Manage and maintain project budget, controlling and analyzing impacts of changes as the project proceeds through it life cycle.
• Working with appropriate Segment team and marketing communication teams to ensure appropriate ‘go to market plans’ are in place for all new product/proposition initiatives
• Develop the standard for ensuring companywide operational readiness and go /no go decision gates for all product launches
• Documentation of detailed business, process and functional requirements for product concepts to support product and proposition launches
• Full integration of quality management processes and their effective deployment on a day-to-day basis.
• Use relevant metrics and measures to routinely monitor progress against targets and take appropriate managerial action to ensure targets are met or exceeded
• Ensure that all product launches are supported by end to end definition of the customer journey from lead to cash to trouble resolution, in order to deliver optimal customer experience and first time right in all product launches

Commercial Viability assessments:
Work with Segment teams and all stake holders to develop financial appraisal model as a decision gate prior to product development kick off

Market and Customer insight
Use market gap analysis and segmentation data on the Nigerian enterprise solutions market to identify opportunities for additional products and services.
Present compelling business cases for new products, demonstrating return on investment.

Cross Functional Engagement and Support
Work with all relevant stakeholder in the definition, impact assessments and development of new products. Stake holders
include but are not limited to IT, Networks, Legal and Regulatory, Marketing, Customer service, Supply chain, External vendors, HR, and Regional sales teams

Trade and Sales team information dissemination and Training

• Carry out training needs analysis and deliver appropriate training to support every product launch
• Effective interpretation and cascade of all new enterprise value propositions to the regional Enterprise sales team

Effective Competitor analysis and Intelligence

• Effectively liaise with all relevant stakeholders in analyzing competitor’s activities as well as relevant market development and proposing pre-emptive counter measures which may be in the form of new product initiatives

Desired Skills and Experience

• A first degree or its equivalent in Computer science, Business Administration, Sales and Marketing or Business related discipline
• 8+ years of varied experience in Sales & Marketing with at least 4 years at middle management level handling independent businesses.
• An in-depth knowledge of enterprise systems is highly desirable
• Relevant experience in Telecom industry is desirable
• Product Management, Business Analysis and Planning, Product Development, Strategic Sales Management, Channel management, Key account management, Presentation, Business Case Development.
• Product Development
• Business Process Engineering an re-engineering
• Ability to use market research gap analysis to develop profitable products and services.
• Knowledge of the Nigerian enterprise solutions market.
• Ability to exercise "thought leadership" throughout Airtel and customer organizations.
• Analytical thinker who can plan/execute action to exploit business opportunities.
• Ability to present compelling business cases for investment in new products and services development.

Application Closing Date
2nd April, 2014

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online