CEC Career Opportunity: Manager – Digital Innovations (01)

Grade: CEC5 | Contract Type: Permanent | Location: Kitwe

This role is responsible for driving digital innovation through automation, digitalisation, and software development. It serves as a bridge between business requirements and technology solutions, collaborate with various departments to create digital transformation strategies, design data analytics tools, evaluate emerging technologies, procure specialised software applications, and cultivate an innovation-oriented culture. Additionally, the role oversees the realisation of the Smart Grid agenda for CEC, contributing to the company’s technological advancements in the energy sector. The job holder will be reporting to the Head – Telecoms and Information Systems.

Key Accountabilities

• Identify, champion, and implement innovative initiatives, leveraging automation, digitalisation, and software development to enhance operational efficiency and elevate the customer experience. This includes researching and staying abreast of industry best practices and emerging trends.
• Act as the linchpin, effectively translating complex business requirements into actionable functional directives for development teams.
• Collaborate closely with business stakeholders to ensure that technology solutions align with and address their strategic needs.
• Lead cross-functional teams in crafting and executing comprehensive digital transformation strategies. This involves fostering collaboration among various departments, aligning objectives, and ensuring the successful execution of digital initiatives that support the company’s overall goals.
• Spearhead the design, development, and implementation of advanced data analytics tools and systems, enabling data-driven decision-making. This involves defining data models, ensuring data quality, and leveraging data for business insights.
• Continuously evaluate emerging technologies, tools, and platforms to determine their potential impact on the organisation.
• Provide insights and recommendations on the adoption of new technologies and ensure their successful integration.
• Lead the internal development of software applications, ensuring they align with business needs and are built to high standards of quality and functionality.
• Identify and procure specialized software applications that align with the organisation’s evolving needs and strategic goals. This includes development of business and functional specifications, technical evaluation, and project management of software implementation.
• Assume a leadership role in overseeing and executing the realization of the Smart-Grid agenda for CEC, encompassing project management, stakeholder coordination, and ensuring that the agenda is aligned with the company’s commitment to technological advancement in the energy sector.
• Cultivate and nurture an innovation-centric culture at all organizational levels. This involves encouraging creative thinking, promoting knowledge sharing, and fostering a climate where calculated risk-taking is embraced.

To be considered for this role, you will be required to have:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or equivalent from a reputable learning institution.
• At least six (06) years’ experience in a Software development environment, including leading software development teams.
• Registered Member of the Engineering Institution of Zambia or Information Communication Technology Society of Zambia.
• Proven experience in driving digital innovation within a corporate environment, including managing internal development of business software applications.
• Proficiency in evaluating and adopting emerging technologies and software applications.
• A demonstrated commitment to fostering an innovation-focused culture and staying at the forefront of technological advancements.
• Highly developed communication and negotiating skills with the ability to engage with a wide range of audiences.

Specific Competencies

• Proficiency in various programming languages and development methodologies
• Knowledge of data analysis and visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Python libraries for data analysis.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies and tools (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Jira) to oversee the development and execution of digital initiatives.
• Understanding of cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and experience with cloud-based services, including serverless computing and storage solutions.
• Familiarity with UX design principles to create user-friendly and intuitive software applications.
• Understanding of DevOps practices, including continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD), to streamline development and deployment processes.
• Ability to integrate software applications with external APIs and services for data exchange and interoperability.
• Proficiency in software testing methodologies and tools to ensure the quality and reliability of developed applications.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) for code management and collaboration.
• The ability to create scalable and maintainable architecture and design for software applications.
• A deep knowledge of emerging technologies, such as AI, machine learning, IoT, and blockchain, and their potential applications within the industry.
• Expertise in database management systems (e.g., SQL, NoSQL) and data modeling for building data-centric applications.

Applications

If you have the relevant experience and skills as indicated above, please click on this link https://forms.office.com/r/wAM9kpb8DB and complete the online job application form. Hard-copy applications will not be accepted at this stage. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 8th December 2023.

CEC is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in its staff. Suitably qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Applicants are requested to provide daytime contact numbers and accessible email addresses. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.