Senior Manager, Platforms & Delivery – Enterprise

About the Role

Axian Telecom seeks an experienced and delivery-oriented Senior Manager to oversee the entire lifecycle and continuous enhancement of enterprise-grade platforms supporting the Group and its pan-African operating companies (OpCos). Reporting to the Director of Digital Platforms & Delivery, this role is responsible for managing the Enterprise platform portfolio, focusing chiefly on ERP, Human Capital Management (HCM), HR applications, and Group Core Components such as shared services, finance, procurement, and operations systems.

This position requires hands-on leadership to transform approved architecture and business needs into dependable, high-quality platform solutions. The ideal candidate must bring extensive experience in enterprise software delivery (SAP, Oracle, or equivalents), a solid grasp of HCM and HR technology ecosystems, and expertise in leading agile delivery teams across complex, multi-entity environments. Although some interaction with commercial platforms like billing and CRM will occur at integrations, the primary responsibility lies within the Group’s internal enterprise platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the complete delivery lifecycle for the ERP platform across all entities, including releases, enhancements, configurations, incident handling, and version control.
• Translate business needs from Finance, Procurement, and Shared Services into structured ERP delivery workflows, overseeing sprint planning, backlog prioritization, and executions.
• Maintain ERP customizations within architectural guidelines to minimize technical debt and ensure upgrade readiness.
• Handle ERP release processes encompassing testing phases, user acceptance testing with business leads, change advisory, and post-deployment evaluation.
• Monitor ERP system health, including performance, data integrity, integrations, and capacity requirements for multiple OpCos.
• Lead delivery and ongoing improvements for the Group’s HCM platform and suite of HR applications covering various modules such as Core HR, Payroll, Talent, Performance, Learning, and Workforce Planning.
• Collaborate with Group and OpCo HR teams to develop delivery roadmaps that support HR transformation initiatives.
• Coordinate HCM configurations, localization per OpCo jurisdiction, and data migration for onboarding new entities.
• Ensure robust integrations of HCM/HR applications with ERP and Identity Access Management (IAM) systems are maintained and stable.
• Manage the roadmap and operational status of Group Core Components including IAM, Document Management, Workflow & Approval engines, reporting layers, and collaboration tools.
• Oversee rollout of core components to new OpCos, covering onboarding, integration, configuration, and post-deployment support.
• Maintain comprehensive oversight of usage, capacity, and service level agreements (SLAs) across core components, escalating issues proactively.
• Drive rationalization efforts to consolidate redundant or legacy tools across OpCos with Group Core Components.
• Lead agile delivery teams responsible for platform releases by organizing sprint ceremonies, backlog grooming, and demo-driven deliveries.
• Track delivery performance metrics including release velocity, sprint throughput, defect rates, change success, and mean time to recovery.
• Ensure transparency through detailed sprint reports, milestone tracking, risk management, and prompt escalation to leadership.
• Manage release governance with change advisory boards, deployment scheduling, rollback planning, and post-release stabilization.
• Coordinate cross-functional testing and user acceptance with Finance, HR, Procurement, and OpCo teams before launches.
• Continuously identify ways to enhance platform functionalities, user experience, and inter-platform integration quality.
• Establish feedback mechanisms with business and IT teams to refine backlog priorities and delivery outputs.
• Enforce enterprise SLAs to guarantee availability, performance, and responsive incident handling.
• Lead post-release reviews and apply lessons to improve delivery practices, configuration standards, and testing procedures.
• Assess platform maturity and propose investment justifications for upgrades, consolidations, or new capabilities.
• Identify and implement AI and automation solutions within the platform ecosystem to optimize payroll exception handling, financial reconciliations, HR workflows, and reporting.
• Work closely with the Group Data & AI team integrating analytics and machine learning into ERP and HCM initiatives.
• Automate repetitive delivery and operational activities to increase efficiency and reduce manual tasks.
• Ensure AI and automation projects observe governance, security, and explainability standards.
• Act as the primary operational liaison for Enterprise platform delivery with Group Finance, HR, Procurement, and Shared Services leaders.
• Coordinate with Enterprise Architecture to align delivery pipelines with approved architecture and demand.
• Partner with Infrastructure and Cybersecurity teams to ensure platforms are secure, monitored, and resilient.
• Collaborate with OpCo IT teams on local deployments and adoption efforts.
• Provide structured, proactive updates to the Director highlighting risks, dependencies, and recommendations.
• Manage vendor and system integrator relationships, overseeing delivery quality, SLAs, knowledge transfer, and resource capacity.
• Support contract reviews by contributing delivery performance and compliance data.
• Lead and develop a team comprising Platform Delivery Leads, Release Managers, and Technical Analysts fostering accountability, continuous learning, and collaboration.
• Coach team members through formal feedback, certification support, and challenging assignments.
• Balance team resources across concurrent platform workstreams aligned with business priorities.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Technology, Finance & Technology, or related disciplines.
• Strong preference for Agile/Scrum certification (CSM, PSM, SAFe Agilist). ITIL Foundation certification is advantageous.
• Minimum of eight years’ experience in IT or digital delivery, with at least three years managing teams responsible for ERP, HCM, or enterprise application platforms.
• Proven expertise delivering platforms such as SAP (S/4HANA, SuccessFactors), Oracle (ERP Cloud, HCM Cloud), and Workday across multi-entity or multi-country environments.
• Solid track record handling full delivery lifecycles including requirements gathering, configuration, testing, user acceptance, cutover, and post-live support.
• Experienced in running agile delivery squads with structured sprint cycles, backlog management, and governance.
• Valuable experience coordinating HCM localization for payroll, leave policies, and compliance across jurisdictions.
• Telecom, financial services, or multi-OpCo group technology experience is preferred.
• Certifications in SAP, Oracle HCM/ERP Cloud, Agile/Scrum methodologies, and ITIL v4 Foundation or higher are highly desirable.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Fluent English communication skills; French language proficiency is an asset due to pan-African operations.

Technical Expertise

• Deep understanding of ERP systems encompassing Finance, Procurement, Fixed Assets, Accounts Payable/Receivable, General Ledger, and Budgeting modules.
• Extensive knowledge of HCM and HR applications including Core HR, Payroll, Talent Management, Performance, Learning, and Workforce Planning.
• Familiar with Group Core Components like IAM, Document Management, Workflow engines, Reporting layers, and Collaboration platforms.