Digital VAS & Next Gen Innovation Lead Job Safaricom
Safaricom
Job description
IT Jobs. Safaricom Jobs. Digital VAS & Next Gen Innovation Lead. Driving VAS strategy, emerging tech innovations, and commercial digital product roadmaps, requiring a Tech/Business Degree, digital product skills, and 5+ years telecom/tech experience.
Job Overview
Reporting to the Tribe Lead – Digital Lifestyle Services, the role purpose is as highlighted below;
The Digital VAS & Next Gen Innovation Lead is responsible for identifying, developing, commercializing, and scaling new digital businesses and value-added services that drive revenue growth and customer engagement. The role will lead the identification & development of disruptive strategic growth areas including API Monetization, Ad-Tech, Digital Health, Caller identity, messaging add-ons and AI powered communication solutions e.g AI assistants, Video Messaging, VRBT, and other emerging digital services.
The role is accountable for building strategic partnerships, creating sustainable business models, delivering commercial success, and ensuring strong ROI across the digital innovation portfolio.
Responsibilities
- Drive New Digital Business Growth: Identify, incubate, and scale new digital revenue streams, with primary focus on API Monetization, Ad-Tech, and emerging digital platform opportunities.
- Own Digital VAS Portfolio Strategy: Define and execute the growth strategy for Digital VAS businesses including Digital Health, Video Messaging, Voice AI solutions e.g voice assistants and other next-generation digital offerings.
- Lead Commercialization & Monetization of Digital Innovations: Develop sustainable business models, pricing strategies, and collaborate with segment teams for go-to-market plans that maximize revenue, profitability, ROI and meet the mission targets.
- Establish Strategic Partnerships: Identify, negotiate, and manage relationships with technology providers, content partners, developers, enterprises, startups, agencies, and ecosystem players to drive innovation and commercial success.
- Build and Scale API Ecosystems: Develop and execute API monetization strategies leveraging the network capabilities and digital platform assets.
- Develop and Grow Ad-Tech Business: Create and scale data-driven advertising solutions leveraging telecom capabilities, partnerships, and customer insights to scale Ad-tech business. Drive partnerships with brands, SMEs, agencies, technology providers, and media platforms to grow mobile advertising revenues.
- Drive Innovation and Market Leadership: Continuously assess emerging technologies, monitor industry trends, customer trends, and market opportunities to build a pipeline of future digital businesses.
- Own Business Growth, Performance & ROI: Accountable for revenue growth, profitability, customer adoption, and overall commercial performance across the Digital VAS and innovation portfolio. Deliver revenue, profitability, and customer growth targets.
- Lead Cross-Functional Delivery: Collaborate with cross functional teams: Commercial, Technology, AI & Data Science, Finance, Regulatory, Legal, and CX teams to successfully launch and scale new services.
- Govern Product & Partner Lifecycle Management: Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of products/services and strategic partnerships, from business case development through performance management and renewal decisions.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Telecommunications, Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Marketing, Economics, or a related field.
- Master’s degree (MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification) will be an added advantage.
- Minimum 5–7 years’ experience in telecommunications, technology, digital services, fintech, content, media, or related industries.
- At least 4–5 years in a leadership or senior management role driving digital products, innovation, partnerships, or new business development.
- Demonstrated experience in:
- Digital business development and commercialization
- API ecosystem development and monetization
- Ad-Tech, MarTech, or digital advertising businesses
- Strategic partnership management and negotiations
- Innovation and emerging technology initiatives