Senior Specialist: Commercial & Channel Operations

## When it comes to putting people first, we're number 1. The number 1 Top Employer in South Africa. Certified by the Top Employer Institute 2026. ## Role Purpose/Business Unit: Provide senior specialist accountability for the controlled operational execution, validation and continuous optimisation of commercial deals across Consumer channels. The role converts approved commercial and channel priorities into accurate, compliant and timeous deal outcomes, with specific accountability for SLA-driven Deal Match requests, deal-loading assurance, in support of the sales and saves environment. The role independently validates and scores competitor offers, benchmarks potential Vodacom responses within approved commercial guardrails, coordinates cross-functional implementation dependencies and identifies operational, customer and control risks. It also leads the deal, process, data and systems workstream for programmes such as DDE/DOPA and Deal Maker related commercial initiatives. The role contributes specialist recommendations and implementation insight into channel automation strategy, approve material budgets, understand and provide input into technical architecture or hold authority for investment decisions. ## Your responsibilities will include: Deal Match assessment and execution * Own the specialist operational workflow for Deal Match requests received from multiple channels, including request validation, competitor-offer scoring, benchmarking, response analysis and progression through prescribed governance and SLA controls. * Maintain complete evidence of assumptions, approvals, evaluation outcomes and final deal decisions. Retention and saves enablement * Provide dedicated deal support to the retention and saves environment, including assessment of competitive save offers, validation of commercial and customer-eligibility rules, and coordination of approved deal configurations. * Identify recurring save drivers and recommend improvements to deal rules, processes and targeting within approved parameters. Cross-channel deal-loading governance and assurance * Coordinate the readiness and timeous loading of approved deals across relevant channels and systems, including validation of deal instructions, product and pricing attributes, effective dates, channel applicability and approval evidence. * Perform pre- and post-load quality assurance, track delivery and coordinate correction of defects before they affect customers, channels, revenue or compliance. * Provide the central specialist control point for deal readiness, loading assurance and exception management. Channel Specialists retain channel engagement and negotiation accountability. Commercial programme delivery * Lead the deal and channel-operations workstream for assigned cross-business programmes, including but not limited to cross channel programmes like Device Trade-in, Personalised Deals and similar initiatives. * Translate approved programme requirements into deal, process, data, control and channel-readiness requirements; assess downstream impacts; coordinate dependencies; support testing and implementation; and monitor post-launch stabilisation. ## Automation and process optimisation * Act as the business subject-matter expert for deal automation and personalisation capabilities used in acquisition, retention and saves. * Define business requirements and acceptance criteria within approved strategy, support prioritisation, participate in user acceptance testing, validate outputs and recommend continuous improvements. * Maintain ongoing oversight as deal rules, competitor responses, propositions, customer treatments, controls and channels continue to evolve after initial automation implementation. Governance, risk and controls * Apply prescribed controls across deal creation and loading; identify pricing, configuration, data, margin, customer-treatment and execution risks; resolve routine exceptions within mandate; and escalate material deviations to the authorised owner or forum. * Maintain auditable documentation and support internal or external assurance reviews. Performance insight and continuous improvement * Monitor Deal Match volumes, SLA performance, defect trends, rework, time to market, channel issues and post-implementation outcomes. * Perform root-cause analysis and recommend practical process, control, data or automation improvements supported by concise management information. Cross-functional coordination and specialist guidance * Coordinate defined workstreams across Channel Specialists, Retentions/Saves, Segment Management, Pricing and Analytics, Product, Finance, Technology, Digital, Customer Operations, Legal and delivery partners. * Provide technical guidance, quality review and knowledge transfer to deal, analyst and project resources without assuming line-management accountability. ## Decision rights and boundaries * May independently validate requests, apply approved scoring and benchmarking methods, manage SLA workflows, conduct quality checks and resolve routine loading exceptions. * Recommends deal response options, process improvements, automation priorities and programme-readiness actions. * Does not define channel strategy, approve propositions, allocate budgets, approve material pricing or margin exceptions, own enterprise technology architecture or accept material risk. These decisions remain with the EHOD or relevant approval authority. * Does not own the full business deal lifecycle. It owns the Deal Match workflow and the operational governance, readiness and loading-assurance components assigned to Commercial and Channel Operations. ## The ideal candidate for this role will have: * 3-year degree or National Diploma in Commerce, Marketing, Business, Finance, Information Systems, Analytics or a related field. * Relevant post-graduate qualification or certification in commercial management, project delivery, business analysis, process improvement or analytics is advantageous. * Relevant telecommunications, channel, retention, deal-management or commercial-systems experience is strongly advantageous. ## Core competencies, knowledge and experience: * Minimum 5 to 7 years relevant experience in trade marketing, commercial operations, channel operations, deal management, retention, pricing operations, product operations or telecommunications commercial enablement. * Deep working knowledge of telecommunications channels, acquisition and retention propositions, competitor benchmarking, deal structures, pricing mechanics and customer-eligibility rules. * Experience independently delivering complex cross-functional operational or commercial workstreams with short SLAs and competing priorities. * Practical experience translating business requirements into system, process, data, control and channel-readiness requirements. * Experience with deal engines, campaign or offer-management platforms, workflow automation, user acceptance testing and post-implementation assurance. * Strong analytical judgement, governance discipline, attention to detail and ability to identify commercial, customer and control impacts across interdependent processes. * Ability to influence senior stakeholders through evidence-based recommendations while operating within defined decision rights. ## We make an impact by offering: * Enticing incentive programs and competitive benefit packages * Retirement funds, risk benefits, and medical aid benefits * Cell phone and data benefits, advantages fibre connection discounts, and exclusive staff discounts offered in collaboration with partner companies Closing date for Applications: 19 November 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.