Managing Executive: Infrastructure

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Role Purpose/Business Unit:

• To managed technology infrastructure and strategic partnerships, specifically focussing on fibre, data centre and digital infrastructure strategy across markets, operating as an executive infrastructure leader with accountability for shaping growth, investment, deployment and operating models across capital-intensive infrastructure platforms.
• To originate, structure and oversee fibre and data centre opportunities, including terrestrial and metro fibre, cross-border connectivity, subsea cable and landing strategy, wholesale/carrier models, hyperscaler and enterprise partnerships, co-builds and strategic investment opportunities.
• To provide executive leadership across commercial, operational, regulatory, technology and investment dimensions of infrastructure development, through build-versus-buy-versus-lease decisions, partner engagement and alignment to the broader technology roadmap.

Your responsibilities will include:

• To execute and drive the Group strategy for fibre, data centres and broader digital infrastructure platforms, aligned to Group technology, commercial, M&A and market growth priorities.
• Take end-to-end ownership of strategic infrastructure initiatives across technology, finance, legal and regulatory workstreams, ensuring integrated decision-making, accountable delivery and alignment from opportunity origination through execution, approvals and operational handover.
• Lead the evaluation, structuring and execution of fibre and data centre opportunities, including market prioritisation, feasibility assessment, investment cases, ownership models, partnerships and long-term operating models.
• Develop data centre strategy across edge, regional and hyperscale-adjacent opportunities, including interconnect strategy, colocation ecosystems, power and energy resilience, partner selection and commercial models.
• Own strategic partnerships with hyperscalers, carriers, operators, investors, infrastructure funds, data centre partners, fibre providers, vendors and development finance institutions to unlock high-impact infrastructure growth.
• Support wholesale and B2B commercial strategy, including long-term contracts, IRUs, dark fibre, wavelength, carrier and enterprise connectivity propositions, customer negotiations and pricing principles.
• Provide executive oversight of business plans, Board and EXCO submissions, governance forums, regulatory approvals, competition filings, licence considerations, term sheets and long-form commercial agreements.
• Drive large-scale infrastructure deployment and execution discipline across markets, ensuring capital allocation, delivery milestones, reliability, resilience, operational readiness and stakeholder commitments are actively managed.
• Represent the Group in executive, Board, partner, investor and external forums, articulating the strategic rationale, investment case and delivery roadmap for fibre, data centre and digital infrastructure platforms.

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Information Technology, Computer Science, Commerce or a related discipline (Essential).
• Postgraduate qualification such as an MBA, Master’s degree in Engineering / Technology, Finance, Strategy or Law (Highly advantageous).
• Relevant executive or professional training in programme delivery, infrastructure finance, commercial negotiation, governance or regulatory management will be advantageous.
• Track record of senior executive leadership in a complex telecoms, infrastructure or investment environment is essential.
• Typically 12–15+ years’ relevant experience in fibre infrastructure, data centres, subsea connectivity, wholesale telecoms, infrastructure investment, network strategy or digital infrastructure development, including substantial senior leadership exposure.

Core competencies, knowledge and experience:

• Deep knowledge of fibre and data centre infrastructure models, including terrestrial and metro fibre, backbone networks, cross-border connectivity, subsea capacity, landing strategy, colocation ecosystems, edge data centres and hyperscale-adjacent infrastructure.
• Capital-intensive infrastructure leadership experience, with a proven track record of running or materially shaping fibre, subsea, data centre or similar digital infrastructure platforms with strong capital allocation discipline.
• Wholesale commercial expertise, including B2B, carrier and hyperscaler sales, long-term customer contracts, IRU structures, dark fibre, wavelength, connectivity propositions and complex deal-making.
• Large-scale infrastructure deployment experience, including delivery and operation of resilient network infrastructure across geographies, with strong understanding of reliability, redundancy, service assurance and operational readiness.
• Multi-market and African market experience, with demonstrated ability to navigate regulatory complexity, government stakeholders, partner ecosystems and cross-border infrastructure dependencies.
• Strong technical-commercial understanding of fibre network architecture, route diversity, latency, resilience, sovereignty, data centre interconnect, power and energy resilience, and infrastructure technology roadmaps.
• Strategic partnership and ecosystem-building capability, including experience originating and closing partnerships with hyperscalers, operators, investors, infrastructure funds, fibre providers, data centre partners and vendors.
• Executive presence with the ability to influence Boards, EXCO, market CEOs, investors, infrastructure partners and external stakeholders through credible communication, commercial judgement and negotiation.
• Ability to balance strategy formulation with hands-on execution and influence through matrix teams, partner-led models, M&A interfaces, Group Networks and in-market leadership teams.

Closing date for Applications: 29 July 2026

The base location for this role is Midrand, Vodacom Campus.

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.