Principal Specialist: Data Management

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Role Purpose/Business Unit:

• Join the Data Enablement team to lead the Data Management function within IT. This is a fantastic opportunity to advance your career in analytics and be part of the exciting cloud transformation. In this role, you will be responsible for all new data and data governance delivery that supports business intelligence, analytics, and data-driven decision-making. You will work closely with the Data & Analytics (D&A) team, data engineering, and data governance teams to ensure accurate, consistent, relevant, and timely data delivery through various models to meet the diverse business needs.
• You will lead data management within the Data Enablement domain, collaborating closely with the Cloud Engineering & Analytics & Data Asset Build teams, as well as the Data & Analytics team within Finance, on both on-premise and cloud technologies to support the implementation of data solutions for Vodacom SA and Vodafone. The role also involves providing support to the business with ad-hoc data analysis where data is not available in central data environments. You will be required to lead a team in Data Enablement in VSA, setting direction for data management to ensure standards are implemented, skills are advanced, and best practices are shared.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Data Governance: 
  
  • Implementing & ensuring compliance to the data governance policies and procedures, including quality, security and compliance of data assets.
  • Managing technical, business and logical assets with business and technical lineage.
  • Metadata Management: managing metadata from various sources, including technical and business metadata.

• Data Lineage: Providing end to end data lineage and impact analysis
• Data Architecture: Designing and implementing Data Management capabilities & infrastructure 
• Data Modelling & Design: Develop data models and designing data structures, while optimising the efficiency and quality of data collection.
• Data Security: Protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access and breaches.
• Data Solutions: Partner with solution architects to design and build data models to support transformational analytical solutions 
• Transformation: Lead change management process for all data modelling into cloud, align with Vodafone standards.
• Agile delivery: Engage wider Data & Analytics team and ensure rapid & accurate execution, working in partnership to deliver customer requirements
• Data Quality & Reference Data Management & Anomalies: Design and implement DQ framework to detect variance and anomalies in data also between different reports and analytical solutions & permanently remediate these anomalies. 
• AI into BI: Incorporate new technologies such as machine learning to increase process efficiencies and enhance data solutions
• Actionable insights: Deliver daily and monthly insights from data models to support commercial action and financial steering

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

• At least 10 years’ experience in data management, working with large complex datasets
• 3 year Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Technology, Engineering or related field essential 
• Masters in Computer Science, Technology, Engineering or related field (preferred)
• Experience in managing large data teams across multiple projects
• Experience working with Ab Initio data management software, including the Metadata Hub (essential)
• Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP preferred)
• Excellent knowledge of SQL and working with relational databases
• Experience of working on Cloud technologies with ability to easily scale skills in cloud
• Comfortable working with Agile as part of a high-performance diverse team across three geographies

Core competencies, knowledge, experience:

• Proven track record of building clear strategy and driving business transformation programmes
• Advanced knowledge of Business Intelligence infrastructure and tooling
• Proven people leadership and strong negotiation and influencing skill
• Ability to balance multiple concurrent projects across multiple geographies. 
• A self-motivated analyst with experience in interpreting and analysing complex & huge volume of data
• Detailed understanding of the telecommunications industry
• Outstanding analytical skills and problem-solving ability
• Experience of working on complex data modelling projects to support strategic, financial and/or regulatory mandates

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: 27 May 2025. 

The base location for this role is Century City. 

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.