Head of Planning & Deployment at Airtel

About the Role:

The Head of Planning & Deployment will be responsible for enabling sales field teams to deploy human and physical resources effectively across Negative/Infra Gap sites. The role provides critical data to support and build distribution infrastructure, drives infra mapping, and ensures site profitability and support overall business objectives.  

Airtel Africa is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and remain fully committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Responsibilities

Market Sizing

• Define and implement market demarcations for each SMF partner.
• Leverage analytical tools and S&D frameworks to develop accurate and viable market sizes for internal teams and field partners (FPs).
• Ensure the availability and accuracy of Site Master Files to support target setting and performance tracking.

Site Profitability

• Provide accurate National Site Performance tracking, including analysis by town category.
• Support S&D field teams in developing required infrastructure across identified negative/infra‑gap sites.
• Drive site‑level initiatives to improve productivity and profitability.

New Site Deployment and Launch

• Ensure continuous coordination between Network, Marketing, and Distribution teams throughout the new site deployment process up to launch.
• Support S&D field teams to drive effective and timely site launches.
• Ensure newly launched sites are equipped with the required infrastructure within the first six months of operation.

Human Resources Deployment and Management 

• Plan and allocate the right level of infrastructure/resources for Sales & Distribution (S&D) support staff.

• Ensure effective deployment of S&D resources to support business growth.
• Drive productivity management across deployed S&D resources.

Infra Extraction

• Bridge distribution gaps by optimizing SSO coverage across all sites.
• Define and implement Site/SSO norms based on population and market potential.
• Address AM agent gaps at site level and drive reduction of low‑revenue (LR) sites.

Trade Activations using the coupon project

• Drive customer acquisition initiatives at the site level.
• Coordinate and execute BTL and promoter‑led marketing activities to support customer acquisition across sites.
• Grow customer activity within the Airtel Money ecosystem through targeted education and training initiatives across markets, including effective management of third‑party partners.

Educational Qualifications  

• A bachelor’s degree preferably with a major in Business administration, or other related course
• A Masters degree is preferred

Relevant & Functional / Technical Skills

• 10-15 Years of experience in sales, channel management in reputable organizations preferably in the telecoms, or FMCG industry
• Minimum of 5 years in a senior sales management role
• Ability to operate strategically and tactically in a fast-paced environment an added advantage
• Proficiency in mapping software (MapInfo, Land scan and Google earth).
• Business awareness
• Good product knowledge
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent communications skills, both orally and in writing 
• Sets high personal standards and is goal oriented