Director - Industry Services

Department: Sub-Saharan Africa region

Location: Sub-Saharan Africa region

Position type: Contract

About the Team

The GSMA Sub-Saharan Africa team works to drive digital transformation as a key enabler of social and economic developments in the region. We work with other teams within the GSMA and members to develop various positions to support mobile industry developments in a reactive and proactive manner in the region. Our engagements are anchored on addressing the high usage gap and ensuring nobody is left behind in this digital movement.

We work with Policymakers, Regulators, MNOs and other stakeholders in ensuring policy decisions follow industry best practices to provide an enabling environment for the industry to thrive

About the Role

Industry Services is about solving current challenges for businesses in connectivity.

It encompasses data, resources and tools that improve and support global connectivity by underpinning important interoperable backend functions and addressing the problems GSMA Working Groups have identified.

Industry services today link back to 3 key themes in global connectivity:

• IoT - Includes enabling operators to identify specific IoT devices on their networks and IoT trials in new areas within B2B IoT. Supporting industry services include GSMA device attribute data and GSMA eSim discovery.
• Circular economy - From checking a device’s status and trade-in value before recycling it, to reusing and refurbishing network equipment. Supporting industry services include GSMA Device check, Device compatibility, Equipment Marketplace
• Fraud prevention - Preventing specific fraud issues within the connectivity ecosystem, such as International Revenue Share Fraud (IRSF) and the sale of fraudulent devices. Supporting industry services include GSMA Device Registry, Call Check, IRSF Prevention.

Our industry evolves by adapting to and adopting the latest technologies in the most effective way. The role is fundamental to helping the industry to maximise the potential of new, existing and emerging technologies, through collaboration, regulation and interoperability, to benefit businesses, consumers and the wider ecosystem.

We work with our members to make technologies accessible to all, through interoperability on a global scale, support with rollouts and pre-commercial trials.

The Industry Technologies currently supported by the GSMA include:

GSMA Open Gateway, 5G and Networks, eSim, Mobile Identity, IoT, Security, Artificial intelligence, amongst others.

Connected Industries is another fundamental role in the sector. By harnessing the power of mobile technologies and unlocking new connectivity capabilities, GSMA Connected Industries are at the forefront of driving digital transformation within every sector. Together with mobile network operators, enterprises, and the broader ecosystem, the role supports shaping product and service solutions that address key challenges – from coverage and accessibility to seamless implementation and widespread adoption.

Supporting industries include Connected Fintech and mobile Commerce, Connected Manufacturing and Production, Smart Mobility, Sports & Entertainment, Connected communities, GSMA Fusion.

Some of the responsibilities of the role include:

• Closely monitoring and promoting regional collaboration on industry positions for relevant new technology developments in the communications industry that will impact industry services for mobile services such as technology sunsets, RCS, VoLTE, eSIM, Digital Identity, etc.
• Working in collaboration with the industry services team to promote and advocate GSMA industry services opportunities in the region which are currently organised into these 5 key areas: Device Information Services, eSIM Services, Fraud & Security Services, Network & Interconnect Services and Blockchain and Roaming Services.
• Developing and implementing regional interest strategies that will improve both membership and stakeholder engagement scores in the region, for the greater good of the regional collaboration for digital transformation and acceleration.
• Collaborate with the regional policy team on building and cultivating relationships with regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders to influence digital transformation policies.
• Carrying out regional studies to advance insights for evidence-informed decision making in the adoption of industry services.
• Defining and driving high-impact digital initiatives across key industries such as digital healthcare and smart manufacturing, aligning with global and regional market trends.
• Leading high-level market research to identify growth opportunities, industry disruptions, and adoption barriers, and develop associated reports, whitepapers, and executive briefings
• Developing and execute a roadmap for industry-specific solutions, ensuring commercialization and revenue generation for GSMA members.
• Serving as a strategic advisor, guiding industry players on investment decisions and technology adoption that drive sector-wide digital acceleration.
• Overseeing the development of monetization strategies and scalable business models for industry-focused digital solutions.
• Driving strategic alliances and public-private collaborations to demonstrate opportunities for accelerating mobile-enabled digital adoption and innovation in key industries.
• Overseeing digital transformation projects, ensuring scalability, efficiency, and measurable outcomes.
• Representing GSMA at major global forums, advocating for mobile-enabled industry solutions and shaping policy dialogues.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Strategic Thinking: Proven ability to identify business opportunities, analyze market trends, and develop actionable strategies.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of revenue generation, go-to-market strategies, and business development within digital ecosystems.
• Industry Expertise: Experience in driving digital transformation across key verticals such as healthcare, agriculture, finance, and mining.
• Project Management: Demonstrated success in leading multi-stakeholder projects with measurable outcomes.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Excellent relationship-building skills with the ability to foster collaboration across diverse groups.
• Analytical Skills: Expertise in market analysis, data interpretation, and deriving actionable insights for strategic decision-making.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills to influence and engage stakeholders effectively.

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What We Offer

Working at the GSMA offers you unparalleled access to the mobile industry. We offer a chance to truly shape the direction of mobile, whatever your role. By joining the GSMA, you will be exposed to a fast-paced rapidly evolving environment, working on global solutions, genuinely fascinating and industry-changing projects and a stimulating and dynamic environment designed to enable you to flourish.

In addition to architect-designed offices and competitive compensation, our benefits include fantastic learning & development opportunities, generous holiday allowances, four additional days off for professional development and many others.

To learn more about the GSMA, visit our career site, our LinkedIn page and our Twitter page.

Being You at the GSMA

We care deeply about diversity, equity and inclusivity and aspire to be the best at it. Your well-being and work/life balance is important, so flexi-time and remote working is available to all staff. We're keen to ensure everyone is equal, represented and connected so we particularly encourage applications from all demographics. The sucess of the GSMA year on year will continue to be contributed by people from all walks of life.

GSMA Values

Our values not only drive our culture – they shape how we work and interact inside and outside our global organisation.

Passionately driven

We approach everything we do with unparalleled capability, tenacity and commitment, knowing that the challenging scale, pace and complexity of our work is what leads to its world-changing impact.

Insightful leaders

We continually develop and engage our expertise, insight and creativity so that we’re always ready to respond to the changing landscape with authority, agility and nuance.

Stronger together

We lean on each other so the industry can lean on us, embracing our diversity by actively seeking out perspectives and skill sets beyond our own, fuelling each other’s successes and constantly asking how we can help.

Underpinning our values is our collective mindset to show up purposefully as good human beings every day, in every situation. When we’re at our best – we are collaborative, considerate and compassionate to others, and we create a safe space for one another to thrive, assuming positive intent in our colleagues. And if we aren’t at our best and the pressure is on – we feel free to be ourselves but still remain curious, lean into the tough stuff and we are always respectful to others and accountable for the part we play.