Principal Specialist: Commercial Enablement

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Role Purpose/Business Unit:

Support the Commercial Enablement function by coordinating the day-to-day commercial analysis, governance support, reporting and execution activities linked to acquisition and retention investment, partner incentives, deal letters, CTD support, channel targets and partner economics.

Define and apply commercial frameworks, guardrails and evaluation methodologies that balance customer growth, revenue, margin, retention, channel sustainability and partner economics. Independently determine appropriate commercial interventions within delegated thresholds and escalate only material exceptions, strategic trade-offs or decisions outside the role’s authority to the EHOD.

The role works closely with Segment Management, Sales Channels, Trade Marketing, Pricing & Analytics, Finance, Legal, Terminals, OEMs, Partnerships, Network and Technology to ensure that commercial execution is supported by clear analysis, accurate reporting and appropriate governance discipline.

Your responsibilities will include:

• A&R investment ownership: Own the commercial governance and optimisation of assigned acquisition and retention investment portfolios. Determine investment priorities, assess trade-offs and approve, reject or redirect proposals within delegated authority. Accountable for investment efficiency, commercial returns and adherence to approved financial and quality-growth guardrails.

• Incentive framework ownership: Design, own and continuously improve channel and partner incentive frameworks for assigned portfolios. Determine incentive mechanics, qualifying criteria, performance measures and commercial safeguards; approve routine structures within mandate and recommend material or exceptional structures to the relevant approval forum.

• Partner economics and CTD support: Support CTD tracking, reconciliation and partner funding analysis, including inputs required for OEM and partner discussions.

• Channel and regional performance analysis: Prepare analysis of channel, regional and partner performance to support target setting, funding decisions and performance reviews.

• Commercial frameworks and modelling: Define the commercial evaluation methodologies, assumptions, thresholds and scenario models used for assigned investment decisions. Exercise independent judgement in selecting appropriate approaches and ensure consistent application across commercial proposals.

• Quality growth monitoring: Monitor gross adds, upgrades, retentions, ARPU, margin, churn, bad debt indicators and incentive cost to identify risks and improvement opportunities.

• Executive commercial advice: Provide authoritative advice to the EHOD and management forums on investment choices, commercial trade-offs, partner economics and corrective interventions. Present and defend independent recommendations and challenge proposals where value or governance requirements are at risk.

• Commercial approval and challenge: Act as the designated commercial challenge and sign-off authority for assigned funding, incentive, CTD and partner-economics proposals before governance submission. Confirm the integrity of ROI, margin, payback, customer-value and risk assumptions, and return proposals that do not meet required standards.

• Cross-functional commercial leadership: Lead complex workstreams and resolve competing stakeholder positions across Pricing & Analytics, Trade Marketing, Segment Management, Sales, Finance, Legal, Risk, Terminals, OEMs and Partnerships. Influence senior stakeholders to align investment and execution decisions with approved commercial outcomes.

• Commercial risk and control ownership: Own the commercial control environment for assigned portfolios. Set control requirements, decide the treatment of routine exceptions, ensure remediation of control weaknesses and escalate material breaches or exposures. Accountable for the completeness and auditability of commercial decisions within mandate.

• Network and Technology commercial authority: Own the commercial evaluation and value-tracking inputs for relevant Network and Technology decisions, including demand, uptake, channel readiness, investment economics and benefits realisation. Challenge business cases and recommend reprioritisation where value thresholds are not met.

• Functional leadership and capability: Provide functional leadership to direct reports, specialists, analysts and project resources. Set analytical and commercial standards, assure the quality of material decisions and build capability across the Commercial Enablement discipline.

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

• 3-year degree in Commerce, Finance, Economics, Business, Marketing, Engineering, Analytics or related field.
• Post-graduate qualification such as MBA, finance, commercial management or leadership qualification advantageous.
• Relevant experience in telecoms, consumer commercial management, sales/channel economics, financial modelling or partner management strongly advantageous.

Core competencies, knowledge and experience:

• Minimum 5-8 years relevant experience in commercial management, pricing, finance, sales operations, channel economics, partner management, analytics or telecoms commercial roles.
• Experience coordinating work across multiple stakeholders, functions or delivery teams.
• Good understanding of A&R, gross adds, quality gross adds, retentions, churn, ARPU, margin, CTD, device economics and channel performance.
• Strong analytical, reporting and financial modelling capability.
• Working knowledge of telecoms distribution channels, partner incentives, OEM support mechanisms and partner economics.
• Good governance discipline, with the ability to maintain documentation, controls and approval evidence.
• Ability to interpret data and translate performance trends into clear commercial recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management and written communication skills.
• Ability to support techno-commercial discussions with Network and Technology teams using demand, uptake, ROI and channel readiness insights.

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.