What we’re looking for;
In keeping with our current business needs, we are looking for a person who meets the criteria indicated below
Reporting to the Mobile Wholesale Lead, the role purpose is as highlighted below;
To lead the growth and transformation of Safaricom's International Wholesale Voice portfolio through strategic partnerships, commercial innovation, network economics optimization, and automation-led operations.
The role is accountable for maximizing voice revenue, network value realization, and traffic integrity through carrier ecosystem management, commercial negotiations, routing optimization, cost efficiency initiatives, LCR governance, revenue protection, and strategic partnership development across carrier, transit, enterprise, OTT, application, and emerging communications ecosystems.
The role drives sustainable business performance through data-driven decision-making, AI-enabled insights, agile execution, and continuous optimization while delivering an Always-On service experience and strengthening Safaricom's position as a preferred regional and global voice interconnect partner.
The role also leads the commercialization of future voice growth opportunities including international transit, international enterprise voice services: ITFS, DID, CPaaS, cloud communications, Voice Quality-on-Demand (QoD), Voice Biometrics etc., application-driven communications, and other next-generation voice services.
Through ecosystem partnerships, automation-first operations, and innovative business models, the role supports the evolution of the voice business towards digital communications ecosystems, network monetization, and future connectivity services.
Responsibilities
Health & Safety
• Uphold the company code of conduct, policies and procedures, ensuring integrity and accountability in every aspect of your work.
• All employees have a responsibility to adhere to safety, health, and wellbeing policies, guidelines and procedures in all actions and decisions.
Revenue Growth, Commercialization & Network Economics
•Own revenue growth, and value realization.
•Drive inbound voice traffic growth, and network utilization.
•Optimize pricing, routing economics, and commercial performance through analytics, automation, and AI-driven insights.
•Provide commercial inputs into routing, LCR, and traffic optimization initiatives.
•Drive continuous optimization through data-driven performance management and agile execution.
Strategic Partnerships, Carrier Ecosystem & Commercial Management
•Own strategic relationships with carriers, application/OTT providers, MNOs, Firewall & Detection System providers.
•Lead commercial negotiations, carrier agreements, renewals, and strategic partnerships.
•Expand Safaricom's voice footprint through direct interconnects, traffic agreements, and ecosystem collaborations.
•Secure sustainable traffic, revenue growth, and long-term commercial commitments.
•Develop joint business plans and growth initiatives with key partners.
•Drive digitization and automation of partner onboarding, governance, reporting, and lifecycle management.
•Drive partner performance through analytics, automation, AI-enabled insights, and agile execution.
Voice Innovation, Traffic Monetization & Future Services
•Identify and commercialize new voice monetization opportunities including international transit, SIP interconnect, enterprise voice, and next-generation communication services viz., Voice QoD, Voice BioMetrics, Applications etc.
•Develop innovative traffic growth models and commercial propositions to strengthen competitiveness.
•Monitor industry trends, regulatory developments, and evolving communication ecosystems.
•Leverage automation, AI, and analytics to enhance commercial performance and operational efficiency.
•Align portfolio growth with future communication services, network transformation, and emerging digital ecosystems.
Governance, Risk, Settlements & Financial Management
•Govern contracts, settlements, billing integrity, reconciliations, and financial controls.
•Drive financial reporting accuracy and audit readiness through collaboration with Finance Reporting Team and Commercial Excellence.
•Manage partner disputes, credit exposure, commercial risks, fraud risks, and business continuity.
•Ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual, and industry obligations, including performance and report sharing.
•Drive revenue protection through collaboration with Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management teams.
•Improve settlement accuracy, governance, and risk management through automation, analytics, and AI-enabled controls.
Service Performance, Automation & Always-On Experience
•Govern and drive service availability, resilience, QoS, SLA and operational excellence through agile and automation-first operations.
•Champion predictive monitoring, self-healing capabilities, and AI-enabled service management.
•Lead issue resolution, continuous improvement, and service optimization initiatives.
•Accelerate touchless operations and straight-through processing across onboarding, routing, settlements, and reporting.
•Deliver an Always-On partner experience through proactive performance management and data-driven decision-making.
Industry Leadership, Market Intelligence & Future Readiness
•Represent Safaricom in voice industry forums, carrier communities, and strategic ecosystem engagements.
•Monitor market trends, competitive developments, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies impacting international voice services.
•Translate market intelligence into actionable commercial, operational, and strategic initiatives.
•Identify new partnerships, traffic opportunities, and monetization models arising from industry developments.
•Contribute to Safaricom's future-fit wholesale mobility and network monetization agenda
Qualifications
•Bachelor's Degree in Telecommunications, Engineering, IT, Business, Economics, Finance, Marketing, or related field.
•MBA or Master's Degree is an added advantage.
•GSMA, Interconnect, IPX, Carrier Relations, Product Management, Data Analytics, AI, or Digital Transformation certifications are desirable.
•12+ years in telecommunications with at least 5 years in International Voice, Wholesale, Interconnect, Carrier Relations, or International Business.
•Proven track record in revenue growth, carrier negotiations, traffic monetization, and network economics.
•Strong experience in voice routing, settlements, interconnect, and international carrier ecosystems.
•Demonstrated experience leveraging analytics, automation, and AI to improve commercial and operational performance.
•Experience leading cross-functional initiatives, strategic partnerships, and transformation programs.
How to apply If you feel that you are up to the challenge and possess the necessary qualification and experience, kindly click on the apply button. Remember to attach your resume
About UsSafaricom is the leading technology company in East Africa. Our purpose is to transform lives by connecting people to people, people to opportunities and people to information. We keep over 60 million customers connected across Kenya and Ethiopia, and play a critical role in the society, supporting over 1.13 million jobs both directly and indirectly while our total economic value was estimated at KES 1.1 trillion ($ 8.5 billion) for the 12 months through March 2025.
Listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange and with annual revenues of close to KES 388 billion as at March 2025, Safaricom provides connectivity through wide range of technology. Our 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G network in aggregate covers over 99% of Kenya’s population.
We run the world’s largest mobile payment system and Africa’s largest Fintech, M-PESA, the world’s first mobile money transfer system. By empowering millions of customers to transact, save or borrow money through their mobile phone, M-PESA has driven financial inclusion in Kenya to 84.8% of the adult population in 2024, from a low of 26.7% in 2006, and generated over KES 161 billion in revenue as at FY25.
Our subsidiary, Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia, has deployed world class network and services to contribute to Ethiopia’s digital transformation.
Safaricom is an equal opportunity employer, actively recruiting staff from different backgrounds reflecting the communities that we serve. We are committed to equal gender representation at all levels.
As part of our ongoing commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we continue to work towards improving energy and resource efficiency in our network and facilities to reduce carbon emissions and our fuel consumption. We remain committed to becoming a Net Zero carbon-emitting company by 2050.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Engineering, IT, Business, Economics, Finance, Marketing, or a related field.
- 12+ years of experience in telecommunications, including at least 5 years in international voice, wholesale, interconnect, carrier relations, or international business.
- Proven track record in revenue growth, carrier negotiations, traffic monetization, and network economics.
- Strong experience in voice routing, settlements, interconnect, and international carrier ecosystems.
- Demonstrated experience using analytics, automation, and AI to improve commercial and operational performance.
- Experience leading cross-functional initiatives, strategic partnerships, and transformation programs.
- MBA or master’s degree.
- GSMA, interconnect, IPX, carrier relations, product management, data analytics, AI, or digital transformation certification.
What We Do
Safaricom is the leading provider of converged communication solutions in Kenya. In addition to providing a broad range of first-class products and services for Telephony, Broadband Internet and Financial services, Safaricom seeks to uplift the welfare of Kenyans through value-added services and support for community projects. With over 29 Million subscribers and an estimated market share of 67%, the Company has the widest modern mobile network coverage in Kenya and prides in its experienced shareholders, attractive tariffs, a nationwide network of effective dealers, high caliber staff and management enabling it to maintain its position as the region’s mobile market leader. M-PESA has over 23 million subscribers, supported by a nationwide agent network of over 156,000 outlets. M-PESA is the world's most developed biggest mobile payment system. Facts about Safaricom • Employs over 5,500 staff directly and over 500,000 indirectly • Has approximately 4,945 network sites across the country • 50% of employees and 32% of senior management working at Safaricom are women. • Has the largest call center in Sub-Saharan Africa Our people are our most valuable asset and are key to the achievement of our vision of transforming lives. This is reflected in our commitment to creating a working environment that supports our staff. We offer employees a wellness programme, crèche facilities, access to subsidized gym facilities, leisure amenities, regular social events, competitive salaries and career opportunities. We give back to the society through the Safaricom Foundation. Since inception, the foundation has disbursed 2 billion shillings in different initiatives that provide sustainable community-based solutions, contributing towards Kenya’s development agenda, and the Millennium Development Goals. Safaricom is a key member and supporter of the B Team and the B Team – Africa, alliances of business leaders who are committed to responsible and sustainable business practices.
