Ric Govender

· Manage Budgets and enforce cost containment

· Manage Human Resources

· Mentor and motivate

· Manage Suppliers and Vendors and encourage consolidation where possible

· Manage Products and Services

· Manage Capacity

· Manage SOX and Security compliance

· Manage audits (internal and external)

· Manage Hardware Systems evolutions

· Manage OpCos and hosting services

· Manage Business Continuity

· Manage Testing, integration, implementation and support

· Define processes and best practices

· Influence and decide on supplier choices

· Manage RFIs, RFPs etc

· Manage and decide on incentives, bonus and retention

· Capacity planning and rollout of all SIEMENS & TANDEM IN services, systems and the associated support systems and relevant infrastructure including-

· CCS#7 Network

· Data Network

· Provide relevant input for the compilation of budget requirements-

· OPEX

· CAPEX

· Provide relevant input for new services into Vodacom’s existing IN infrastructure.

· VPN

· IR5.2

· PPS5V

· Friends & Family

· IR5.2 SP2 (Service Pack 2)

· IR6.2

· SMAP

· PPS6V

· Generate Engineering User Requirement Specifications (URS) according to the requirements and specifications received from concerned parties e.g. NPD, VAS and external.

· Give technical input for specifications required to implement the Vodago service as well as service enhancements into Vodacom’s network, such as technical Functional Specifications drawn up by Vodacom.

· First line support to VHD, Customer Care, Community Services & NMC.

· Assist with the testing of the Vodago service.

· Responsible to ensure that stringent QOS targets are achieved with respect to system and service availability (following ISO900 Quality Assurance Procedures) –

· Rechargeavailability

· Serviceavailability

· Manage a team of Engineers, technical specialists and assistants and whose functions are to carry out high-level technical functions regarding the IN and support systems and all related services. This includes the following functions and systems:

· Acceptance and commissioning of new IN. hardware.

(The team has been personally responsible for the implementation of live IN platforms plus one DRP IN platform and associated interfaces to the various entities which constitute the complete VODAGO infrastructure – this has seen the VODAGO capacity increase to 6.1 million realising +/- 2.5 million active users currently)

· Preparation of technical fault reports describing the error behaviour of the IN equipment and listing the results of all-relevant measurements, observations and analysis made during testing.

· Carry out Operationand Maintenance procedures on all IN and supporting systems.

· Testing, Implementation and acceptance of SSP functionality.

· IN database implementation and acceptance.

· Testing new operating system software (SINIX).

· Testing, implementation and acceptance new application features and services.

· Test and acceptance of IN network infrastructure.

· Defining of Operation and Maintenance procedures.

· Trace analysis during fault localisation using external test equipment.

• Set aggressive targets for employees to drive company success and strengthen motivation.
• Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
• Facilitated successful cross-functional collaborations for the completion of key projects, fostering strong working relationships among team members.
• Onboarded new employees with training and new hire documentation.

· Give technical input for specifications required to implement the Vodago service as well as service enhancements into Vodacom’s network, such as technical Functional Specifications drawn up by Vodacom for –

· Tandem

· VRUs

· CS150 (BTM)

· Siemens IN Platform

· Siemens IN Services

· Assist with the development and testing of the Vodago service. This IN service extended Vodacom’s cellular service to additional market segments besides the already well established GSM network. Vodacom were allocated world-renowned awards for this achievement.

· Configuration of the external file interface on the IN system to allow transfer of recharge and configuration data into the IN system.

· Write UNIX scripts for implementation into various entities of the existing IN infrastructure. These scripts are required to enhance and automate existing processes and interfaces, as well as to overcome shortcomings within these entities.

· Carry out high-level technical functions regarding the IN and support systems and all related services. This includes the following functions:

· Acceptance and commissioning of new IN. hardware.

· Testing and Implementationof SSP functionality.

· IN database implementation.

· Testing new operating system software (SINIX).

· Testing new applicationfeatures and services.

· Upgrading of operating system and application software.

· Implementation of IN network infrastructure.

· Defining of Operationand Maintenance procedures.

· Database implementations.

· Providing high level support.

· Trace analysis during fault localisation using external test equipment.

· Preparation of technical fault reports describing the error behaviour of the IN equipment and listing the results of all relevant measurements, observations and analysis made during testing.

· Carry out Operation and Maintenance procedures on all IN and supporting systems.

• Developed and implemented systems to track customer feedback and satisfaction.
• Devised and implemented processes and procedures to streamline operations.

· Supervise and perform daily technical administrative functions on network based on Siemens RM600 system and RM200 series computers.

· UNIX based system holds the database of the Universal Access Network (UAN) and Virtual Private Network (VPN).

· Manage a team of four technicians working as a team in 12-hour shifts maintaining the Intelligent Network Platform.

· Responsible for planning and co-ordinating staff related and managerial issues.

· Responsible for the appraisal of the four technicians on the performance management system.

· Frequent meetings and negotiations with the contractor (SIEMENS) to ensure the efficient running of the Platform.

· Vast experience in UNIX is a fundamental key in performing my administrative duties.

· Knowledge in UNIX scriptingis also a tremendous benefit in maintaining the Platform.

· Perform daily high level administrative functions on network based on HP 9000/800 and 9000/700series computers.

· UNIX system collects 1 Gb. of itemised billing data for the greater Johannesburgtelephone network.

· I worked with a team of three technicians working in 12-hour shifts.

· I am self-taught in the fundamental of HP-UNIX systems.

· Wrote UNIX script to detect high meter usage thus saving the Company revenue from fraudulent users.

· Also written numerous other UNIX scripts to make our workload a little easier.

· Enjoyed my work and find reward in sharing whatever experience I possess with my working colleagues, thus enabling us to enhance in our performance as a team.

· Led the programming team, at Detail Billing, where we write UNIX based programs for the benefit of Telkom.

· My latest program is currently used nation wide and is beneficial in identifying MECAM, “Electro-Mechanical Billing”, problems.

· Delegation of authority

· Perform daily high level administrative functions on network based on HP 9000/800 and 9000/700series computers.

· Responsible for the maintenance of Quality of Service of Service Measuring Equipment (Q.S.M.E), Traffic Equipment (AUTRAX) and Telephone Billing Analysis Equipment (TBAX)

· Provided on job training and technical assistance to working colleagues and switching staff.

· Installation and acceptance of new Q.S.M.E. at exchanges.

· Module repairs up to component level.

· Designed test equipment to help diagnose module faults thereby increasing productivity.

· Gained a great deal of experience in working under pressure in order to meet the high demand of module deadlines.

· As a leader at the workshop I ensured that safety was adhered to at all times and headed Project Technical to increase productivity.

· Delegation of authority.

· I left this job because my Manager, Mr. Fritz De Beer who recognised my potential, to work at ITEMISED BILLING, approached me.

· I worked in the Q.S.M.E. operations center as an administrator.

· Q.S.M.E. was just being introduced to the Department and I had to learn by trial and error.

· It was a challenge that I tackled head on and the end result was a tremendous success.

· I was involved in the configuration of Q.S.M.E. when we cut over from just 50 switches to some 150 exchanges.

· My main function was to run stop on faults and use my technical background to assist the exchange staff in localising faults.

· It was an incredible success as faults that were causing the department to lose revenue were localised and repaired.

· I had the task of ensuring that the National Test Run operated as incident free as possible.

· It was after this exercise that I decided which switches did the stop on fault run.

· I also worked with TBAX and analysed Traffic reports identifying congested routs from the results of the National Test Run and the stop on faults.

· Promoted to Senior Technician in 1989.

· I was put in charge of a group of 4 staff members.

· I left this section to better myself on the flip side of Q.S.M.E., viz maintenance e.g. working on the electronic aspect of Q.S.M.E.

· I began my career as a pupil technician in 1985.

· I worked in a local telephone switch and underwent further intensive training for the next three years.

· During my apprenticeship I worked at the Beach 37 Exchange and was exposed to the various types of jobs e.g. routiners, fault localizing, adjusting, battery reading, etc.

· I gained enormous experience in fault localization in local Siemens exchanges and found I had a flair for troubleshooting.

· I studied the A, B and C telecommunicationcourses and moved to further my career by studying for my national technical diploma.