Job Description

Global Influences:





The global economy is undergoing rapid digital transformation, with AI and machine learning emerging as core differentiators for competitive advantage. Enterprises are embedding predictive intelligence into their operations, products, and customer experiences to enhance efficiency, agility, and revenue growth. Meanwhile, cloud-native analytics platforms, federated learning, and MLOps frameworks are standardising how AI is scaled across complex, multi-market organisations.


Heightened focus on data ethics, fairness, and regulatory compliance is also shaping the design of AI systems. As governments tighten rules around data privacy, bias mitigation, and model explainability, organisations must ensure that AI is not only effective but also responsible and trustworthy.





Industry Drivers:


In the telecommunications sector, predictive analytics has become central to driving value from large-scale, real-time data generated by mobile networks, customer usage, and behavioral patterns. Use cases such as churn prediction, next-best-offer recommendations, network anomaly detection, and location-based targeting are no longer aspirational , they are expected. As telcos evolve into techcos and platform businesses, the ability to productise and monetise AI capabilities across industries such as FMCG, Retail, finance, and public services becomes a critical growth lever.


Additionally, as data monetisation becomes mainstream, clients are not just asking for raw data but for intelligent insights, predictive signals, and decision-ready outputs all of which require robust data science capacity.





Organisational Mandate:





MTN DataCo is positioned at the forefront of MTN Group's transformation into a data-powered, AI-native enterprise. The organisation is building a multi-OpCo data ecosystem capable of scaling advanced analytics across internal functions (e.g., marketing, sales, finance, networks) and external markets. This includes delivering reusable AI models, creating monetisable analytics solutions, and integrating intelligence into products and consulting services.





The Senior Manager: Data Scientist plays a mission-critical role in this vision. By designing and deploying scalable, ethical, and production-grade machine learning models, the role helps embed intelligence into MTN's operational DNA. The role also supports the consulting and monetisation agendas by co-creating sector-relevant AI solutions for enterprise clients, enabling MTN to lead in Africa's growing $2B+ data economy.


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.