Mission/ Core purpose of the Job
The Manager - SubSea Operations role is primarily responsible for the management of bayobab’s submarine cable consortium using best industry practice and frameworks. This involves strong participation within the consortium in activities related to the operation and maintenance of the cable systems which we are part of the consortium (2Africa, WACS, EASSY, ACE, EIG) for the best interest of Bayobab internal and external customers. This role includes fault, capacity, infrastructure, and consortium management.
Key Performance Areas: Core, essential responsibilities / outputs of the position (KPA's)
The Manager - SubSea Operations will be accountable to achieve the following objectives:
- Oversee and facilitate day to day operations to maximise the availability of the cable system, minimise the duration of repair operation and maintain full co-operation between the Maintenance Authorities.
- Provide clear definition of responsibilities for repair management, developing operations and maintenance service key performance indicators and ensuring timely communication of fault information, investigation reports and remedial action activities.
- Liaising with maintenance authorities of other submarine cable systems concerning the preparation of procedures for the provision, disposition, maintenance and replacement of any terminal “catastrophic” spares which may be agreed to be jointly provided by the parties to the submarine cable systems involved.
- Monitor NOC performance with respect to maintenance activities
- Make required recommendations for the provision of maintenance equipment and spares
- Adequate budgeting to ensure Bayobab owned stations do not fail (reinforcement of spares, good equipment room conditions (air conditioning, alarm systems, humidity levels, cabling, etc)). Ensure good working conditions for equipment at the stations.
- Manage capacity upgrades on cables which are part of the consortium (2Africa, WACS, EASSY, ACE, EIG) Advise timely upgrades are done and in the best interest of internal and external customers.
- Manage the procurement and deployment of terminal equipment that interfaces to the subsea cables when needed with close collaboration with contractors.
- Provide insightful data for right decision making related to repair costs, capacity management costs in the best interest of Bayobab’s internal and external customers.
- Participate in legal matters related to operations and maintenance within the consortium for the interest of Bayobab
- Prepare management reports on the various projects, their progress status, delivery timelines, risks and mitigations etc.- Ensure effective participation in the required regulatory process to ensure required permissions are obtained for implementation of infrastructure projects and platforms.
- Track, support and report on permitting, rights of ways approvals etc.
- Support commercial and technical activities related to existing Bayobab investments in submarine cables and other JV infrastructure, including managing and monitoring the recovery of international infrastructure investment costs.
- Support commercial and technical activities related to the investments in new subsea cable and joint venture initiatives, including building the investment and business cases and supporting the decision on prioritisation of investments.
- Manage cable and joint venture consortia partners and lobby within the cable consortia to ensure Bayobab’s interests are accounted for and that decisions taken are in line with Bayobab’s strategy.
- Ensure that the project plans for new subsea and infrastructure investments are tracking according to the plans to ensure the realization of the business case and Bayobab’s return on investment.
- Ensure processes and governance relating sub-sea cable and joint-venture operational activities are effective.
- Support planning, delivery, contracting and management of international capacity trading, including swaps of submarine cable, terrestrial and other capacity, and connectivity.
- Assist in financial aspect of recommendations towards implementing strategic changes to subsea cable assets plans to ensure cost aspects related to the operation on the cables (ex: spare parts, repairs) are optimal and in the best interest of Bayobab and the consortium
- Provide inputs to quarterly analysis of regional and Group-wide demand forecasts and trends with a view to managing any market and capacity availability risks.
- Provide ad hoc performance reports, performance scorecard targets and plans related to submarine cable and joint-venture projects, capacity, and business.
- Participate in subsea cable commercial sub-committees where appropriate.
Role Deliverables
- Management of existing and new subsea cable investments.
- Commercial management of the cable consortia to ensure Bayobab’s interests.
- Management of cable consortia and participation in commercial / technical sub-committees.
- Subsea investment recovery management.
Role Dependencies
- Sales, commercial management and planning
- Subsea technical management
- Technical operations
Job Requirements (Education, Experience and Competencies)
Education:
- Minimum 4-year Academic Degree (BBA, Engineering /Computer Science).
- Project Management certification (such as PMP or equivalent).
- Fluent in English and language of country is preferable.
Experience:
- 5+ years relevant project management experience in the deployment and implementation of fixed line international telecommunication industry preferably in enterprise/carrier business.
- Experience working in a medium to large organization.
Competencies:
- Able to work effectively with multiple stakeholders in a multi-cultural environment
- Strong analytical skills to adequately anticipate demand and make investment decisions
- A working knowledge of business practices
- Knowledge of risk management (a risk taker who carefully considers risk/reward) and business development
- Ability to identify key issues in a situation and to think creatively and strategically in facing internal and external challenges
- Strong computer literacy.
- Understanding the connectivity infrastructure wholesales landscape with a focus on emerging markets.
