Head, Operations and Technology Department job at Uganda Communications Commission

A. DESCRIPTION OF THE POST

Reporting directly to the Secretary General, the Head, Operations and Technology is responsible for the general supervision of the Operations and Technology Department that is mandated with coordinating with Designated Operators of Union Member States, International and sub-regional organizations/stakeholders that include the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the African Union Commission (AUC), Southern Africa Postal Operators Association (SAPOA), West Africa Postal Community (WAPCO), East African Economic Community (EACO,) COPTAC, and other postal partners for the development and modernization of postal operations and products & services, in Africa.

The Head, Operations & Technology coordinates the continental wide implementation of postal programmes and projects to ensure compliance with international Postal Conventions, Decisions, Resolutions and agreements; and attainment of quality and operational standards in order to enhance the digital transformation agenda of the postal sector in Africa.

The Head, Operations & Technology leads the Department in the setting of the African Postal Strategy and priorities for consideration in the World Postal Strategy and champions the implementation of the elements of the Union’s Strategy that relate to postal operations i.e., digitalization, innovation, e-commerce, financial inclusion and customer care.

B. PRINCIPAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Management of Operations and Technology Department

• Oversees administrative matters necessary for the smooth functioning of the Department, including:
  • Supervision of the preparation of the Department budget to ensure the optimum use of resources (financial and human resources);
  • Develops a highly motivated team of experts that seeks to deliver excellence in the specific field;
  • Assesses trends and forecasts Departmental resource needs and develops internal capacity to meet evolving work delivery requirements.
• Manages the Department in the attainment of the strategic goals & objectives of the Union relating to postal operations, partnerships and technology matters;
• Implements the PAPU Plenipotentiary Conference and Administrative Council directives, decisions, resolutions and recommendations relating to postal operations and technology;
• Proposes and updates an Operations Work Plan that best meets the needs of Member States and the Administrative Council, and recommends funding options;
• Ensures continuous postal operations watch on the Union's activities, while keeping abreast of national and international postal operations and technology developments.

2. Strategic Duties

• Holds membership to the General Secretariat internal Committees;
• Contributes to the development of general strategy, policy, operations, budget, resources, staff management in the General Secretariat;
• Supervises cross-departmental projects under his/her responsibilities;

3. Innovation and Digitalization of Postal Services in PAPU Member States

• Coordinates the development of a Model Digital Post Office for the African postal sector;
• Champions digital transformation of the African Post through digitalization of the diverse postal product and service portfolio;
• Initiates activities to enhance modernization and sustainable development of postal services in Africa, in line with the vision, mission and strategic objectives of the Union;
• Initiates introduction of ICT based products and services, promotes innovation and diversification of postal services in African Posts;
• Assists member states in introducing new technologies like Artificial intelligence, block chain, drone deliveries, crypto currencies etc.;
• Encourages and coordinates continent-developed home-grown digital solutions for deployment in the African Post.

4. Regional Projects Formulation and Implementation

• Identifies, formulates and coordinates regional programs & projects within Operations and Technology area in liaison with Member States and Partners to improve quality of service for cross border mail transmission and electronic payment services;
• Provides leadership, strategic guidance and authoritative technical advice on issues relating to the activities of the department;
• Supports infrastructure optimization by Union Member States on programmes for National Addressing and Postcode Systems, Connectivity, and Electrification, or any other relevant regional projects.

5. Digital Financial Services

• Promotes digital financial inclusion across the African Postal sector
• Encourages and supports development of partnership frameworks with Fintechs and Star-ups in the development of tech-based financial services;
• Identify and develop postal financial corridors in Africa;
• Monitors fulfilment of the global Financial Services agreements and multi-lateral arrangements.

6. Quality of Service Management

• Coordinates PAPU participation in partnerships meetings and joint activities (E.g. AUC, UPU, RECs, AFRAA) and enhance the partnerships for the benefit of stakeholders;
• Monitors global trends in innovation, product development and quality improvement and shares the same with Member States at the earliest opportunity;
• Coordinates Regional programmes to improve the integrity of the African postal network and the quality of postal service in key areas such as quality of service, security, standardization and certification, letter mail, parcels, postal payment services, customs, airmail, addressing, Express Mail Service (EMS) and technology;
• Coordinates studies and sharing of best practices and policies with regard to the provision of Universal Service Obligation and sensitizes Member States on the same;
• Coordinates postal training opportunities for the benefit of Member States.

7. Coordination with Designated Operators and other external Partners

• Manages the design and implementation of partnership frameworks in the physical, financial, and digital services portfolios with relevant stakeholders;
• Establishes contacts at the Designated Operators of Member States, Restricted Unions and other organizations with a view to promoting the postal agendas;
• Monitors enterprise reform activities at the level of the UPU and initiates reform programs for Africa;
• Liaises with sub-regional postal organizations and Regional Economic Communities in following up on postal development activities for Member States;
• Leads in organizing the African Postal CEOs’ Forum;
• Represents the Union at international conferences and meetings, in accordance with the guidance and approvals granted.

8. Program Management for the digitalization of postal services in PAPU Member States.

• Ensures implementation of product improvement and digitization in the following are

• Oversees administrative matters necessary for the smooth functioning of the Department, including:
• Supervision of the preparation of the Department budget to ensure the optimum use of resources (financial and human resources);
• Develops a highly motivated team of experts that seeks to deliver excellence in the specific field;
• Assesses trends and forecasts Departmental resource needs and develops internal capacity to meet evolving work delivery requirements.
• Manages the Department in the attainment of the strategic goals & objectives of the Union relating to postal operations, partnerships and technology matters;
• Implements the PAPU Plenipotentiary Conference and Administrative Council directives, decisions, resolutions and recommendations relating to postal operations and technology;
• Proposes and updates an Operations Work Plan that best meets the needs of Member States and the Administrative Council, and recommends funding options;
• Ensures continuous postal operations watch on the Union's activities, while keeping abreast of national and international postal operations and technology developments.
• Holds membership to the General Secretariat internal Committees;
• Contributes to the development of general strategy, policy, operations, budget, resources, staff management in the General Secretariat;
• Supervises cross-departmental projects under his/her responsibilities;
• Coordinates the development of a Model Digital Post Office for the African postal sector;
• Champions digital transformation of the African Post through digitalization of the diverse postal product and service portfolio;
• Initiates activities to enhance modernization and sustainable development of postal services in Africa, in line with the vision, mission and strategic objectives of the Union;
• Initiates introduction of ICT based products and services, promotes innovation and diversification of postal services in African Posts;
• Assists member states in introducing new technologies like Artificial intelligence, block chain, drone deliveries, crypto currencies etc.;
• Encourages and coordinates continent-developed home-grown digital solutions for deployment in the African Post.
• Identifies, formulates and coordinates regional programs & projects within Operations and Technology area in liaison with Member States and Partners to improve quality of service for cross border mail transmission and electronic payment services;
• Provides leadership, strategic guidance and authoritative technical advice on issues relating to the activities of the department;
• Supports infrastructure optimization by Union Member States on programmes for National Addressing and Postcode Systems, Connectivity, and Electrification, or any other relevant regional projects.
• Promotes digital financial inclusion across the African Postal sector
• Encourages and supports development of partnership frameworks with Fintechs and Star-ups in the development of tech-based financial services;
• Identify and develop postal financial corridors in Africa;
• Monitors fulfilment of the global Financial Services agreements and multi-lateral arrangements.
• Coordinates PAPU participation in partnerships meetings and joint activities (E.g. AUC, UPU, RECs, AFRAA) and enhance the partnerships for the benefit of stakeholders;
• Monitors global trends in innovation, product development and quality improvement and shares the same with Member States at the earliest opportunity;
• Coordinates Regional programmes to improve the integrity of the African postal network and the quality of postal service in key areas such as quality of service, security, standardization and certification, letter mail, parcels, postal payment services, customs, airmail, addressing, Express Mail Service (EMS) and technology;
• Coordinates studies and sharing of best practices and policies with regard to the provision of Universal Service Obligation and sensitizes Member States on the same;
• Coordinates postal training opportunities for the benefit of Member States.
• Manages the design and implementation of partnership frameworks in the physical, financial, and digital services portfolios with relevant stakeholders;
• Establishes contacts at the Designated Operators of Member States, Restricted Unions and other organizations with a view to promoting the postal agendas;
• Monitors enterprise reform activities at the level of the UPU and initiates reform programs for Africa;
• Liaises with sub-regional postal organizations and Regional Economic Communities in following up on postal development activities for Member States;
• Leads in organizing the African Postal CEOs’ Forum;
• Represents the Union at international conferences and meetings, in accordance with the guidance and approvals granted.
• Ensures implementation of product improvement and digitization in the following are

• Management
• Operations
• Technology
• Budgeting
• Team Leadership
• Strategic Planning
• Project Management
• Digital Transformation
• Innovation
• E-commerce
• Financial Inclusion
• Customer Care
• ICT
• Artificial Intelligence
• Blockchain
• Drone Deliveries
• Cryptocurrencies
• Digital Financial Services
• Partnership Development
• Quality Management
• Communication
• Negotiation
• Representation

• Experience in managing operations and technology departments.
• Proven ability to develop and lead a team.
• Strong understanding of postal operations, modernization, and digitalization.
• Knowledge of international postal conventions and agreements.
• Experience in strategic planning and implementation.
• Familiarity with emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and drone delivery.
• Experience in digital financial services and fintech partnerships.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and representation skills.