Senior Manager - Firewall Management

Mission

The Senior Manager: Firewall Management will be responsible for managing all firewall administration tasks over different firewall technologies for tier one, two and three OpCos.

Context 

MTN is an emerging market mobile operator at the forefront of technological and digital changes. We deliver a bold, new digital world to our customers across Africa and the Middle East – one of the world’s fastest-growing regions for mobile telecommunications. We believe everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. 

With the changing global business landscape, cyber risks organisations face is on the rise. If these cyber risks are not correctly managed, new vulnerabilities could compromise customer data confidentiality, integrity and availability, ultimately affecting the performance of networks and information systems.

To proactively manage our cyber risk exposure, MTN Group has established a Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC). The mission of the CSOC is to improve the security posture of the Group against the threats it faces as a consequence of its business activity in the cyberspace by helping to prevent, detect, mitigate and respond to cyberattacks and by acting as the cyber-security information exchange and incident response coordination hub for all the OPCOs. MTN’s CSOC provides a holistic approach to manage both external and internal threats’ lifecycle. The MTN CSOC service catalogue includes the following activities:

• Firewall Management
• SIEM - Implementation and management 
• SIEM - Intelligence 
• 24/7 Monitoring and Triage 
• Cyber Threat Intelligence 
• Threat Hunting 
• Vulnerability Management 
• Cyber Incident Response 
• Forensic Analysis

Values

We at MTN are a purpose and value-led organization. At MTN, we believe that understanding our people’s needs and aspirations is key to creating experiences that delight you at work, everyday. 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,

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.

Live Y’ello

•            Lead with Care

•            Can-do with Integrity

•            Collaborate with Agility

•            Serve with Respect

•            Act with Inclusion

Key Performance Areas:

The Senior Manager Firewall management is responsible for the following key performance areas:

• Manage and monitor detailed business plans for Firewall Management in accordance with the frameworks, goals and targets agreed for the holistic Group Cyber Defence function.
• Manage the Firewall Management contribution to the delivery of the holistic cybersecurity mandate and commitment.
• Oversee and manage the strategic alignment of the Group Firewall Management operations and in-country Firewall Management services performed by OpCos.
• Manage and oversee the development, maintenance and implementation of required strategies and plans for Firewall Management in order to ensure efficient and effective Firewall Management contribution to the broader Group CSOC objectives.
• Summarise, consolidate and finalise the preparation of Firewall Management documents for MTN Information Security Leadership and MTN Group Leadership.
• Track, monitor and report on the Firewall Management expenditure.
• Ensure reporting requirements are complied with and accurate information is disseminated to support specific decisions or actions.
• Participate in the recruitment and selection of Firewall Management resources according to organisation structure, job requirements, EE targets and guidelines.
• Lead, mentor and empower employees and manage change within Firewall Management to ensure a positive work environment in which employees develop and perform optimally. 
• Develop performance contracts for Firewall Management resources and ensure all work is completed in compliance with the performance contract.
• Manage people development initiatives, succession planning and talent management to meet performance standards.
• Drive a high performance culture by taking accountability for an effective well-articulated performance management process. 
• Facilitate formal and informal mentoring and coaching for subordinates to drive continued improvement in competency and capability. 
• Address discipline and workplace conflict through the initiation and coordination of consultative processes and implementation of appropriate policies procedures.
• Create and maintain a conducive working environment, applying fair and consistent processes to manage employees and ensure employees are engaged and optimum performance is realised.
• Inform the appropriate stakeholders of internal and external status, progress or matters that affect MTN Group, its OpCos and its business environment.
• Communicate strategies, plans and policies to all relevant stakeholders.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders in order to ensure Firewall Management information, advice or opinions on relevant matters is made available and/ or communicated appropriately and timeously.
• Manage the relationship between Firewall Management resources at a Group and Opco level, as well as the processes that support this relationship, in order to maximise a collaborative working relationship between MTN Group and its OpCos. 
• Establish good external working relationships and collaborative arrangements with external service providers, cyber community of practices and/or other organisations to help achieve the goals of Firewall Management. 
• Represent the MTN Group CSOC at various forums and committees with a specific focus on Firewall Management.
• Empower all relevant stakeholders by ensuring information, advice or opinions on relevant Firewall Management matters are made available and clearly communicated through various channels and platforms.
• Ensure compliance to all MTN policies and procedures, as well as country specific regulation for the OpCos where Firewall Management delivers services. 
• Direct and ensure adherence to MTN compliance standards and risk management practices during the delivery of Firewall Management services.
• Maintain knowledge of and monitor changes in relevant legislation and the regulatory environment, review and approve the systems that ensure compliance of Firewall Management and reduce risk and oversee implementation thereof.
• Approve and manage Service Level Agreements or contracts within levels of authority for Firewall Management.
• Enable efficient and effective decision making within Firewall Management, risks are anticipated and mitigated to prevent a disaster or serious financial loss and compliance systems are in place and adhered to.
• Monitor active Firewall Management projects on a daily basis.
• Ensure that no notable deviations from the initial prevision are made, and fixing such deviations should this be necessary.
• Provide oversight on the planning of tasks and the setting of delivery dates.
• Analyse improvements and recommendations help increase efficiency of tasks performed by subordinates.
• Manage the correct management of MTN firewalls, oversee the change management process and remediation tasks for device unavailability or failure.
• Ensure Firewall Management activity is aligned to the defined procedure per environment or device.
• Ensure the efficient and effective delivery of Firewall Management services for MTN Group and its OpCos.

Collaboration

Responsibility towards: 

• Key external stakeholders: External contractors & partners 
• Key internal stakeholders:   
  • GM: Group CSOC 
  • Group Information Security Team 
  • OpCo Information Security LISO/ CIO/ CTO/ CTIO 
  • OpCo Information Security Team

Job Requirements

Education:

• Three year tertiary qualification in Computer Science or similar 
• CISSP certification;
• Other preferred certifications are: CISA, CISM, SANS Certification

Experience:

• 8 years of relevant work experience in Firewall Management.
• 2-3 years of experience at the Senior Management level in the telecom industry.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in technological solutions and security tools related to Firewall Management.
• Extensive knowledge and experience handling tools used during the execution of Firewall Management projects, ensuring their operation and update at all times.

Other

• Fluent in English 
• Multi-country operations oversight experience 
• Willing and flexible to travel within Africa 
• Understanding of general regulatory requirements in the telecom industry as it relates to Cyber Firewall Management
• Global mindset to service worldwide operations
• Telecommunications industry experience would be beneficial 
• Pan Africa multi-cultural experience would be beneficial

We are a purpose and value-led organization.

At MTN, we believe that understanding our people’s needs and aspirations is key to creating experiences that delight you at work, everyday. 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.

We are delighted that you are considering us as your career partner to make a mark in the world. We look forward to your application!