Specialist: Research & Development at Vodafone Midrand, Johannesburg

Shape Tomorrow’s Tech: Become Our Senior Specialist in R&D

Innovate with the Nation’s Leader: We’re South Africa’s Top Employer

The future of connectivity doesn’t just happen—it’s built by visionaries. At Vodafone Group Technology, we are actively looking beyond the horizon to identify the next wave of innovation. We’re proud to be the #1 Top Employer in South Africa for 2025, a testament to our commitment to a culture where ambitious, competitive, and innovation-hungry individuals thrive.

We are seeking a high-calibre Senior Specialist: Research & Development to join our team based at the Vodafone Campus in Midrand, Johannesburg. This role is your chance to provide specialist expertise and hands-on support in investigating, evaluating, and implementing emerging technology trends that will define the future of our business and the ICT industry.

The Role: Scouting the Horizon and Proving the Value

This is not a theoretical position. You’ll be the crucial link between industry disruption and practical business application. Your work will directly influence Vodacom Group’s technology strategy and implementation roadmap.

Your Core Responsibilities Will Include:

• Technology Scouting & Evaluation: Lead the charge in identifying and assessing emerging technologies, innovation enablers, and disruptive trends across telecoms and adjacent industries.
• Proof of Concept (POC) Execution: Play a central role in the design, execution, and evaluation of proof-of-concept, trial, and proof-of-value initiatives. This requires strong project & program management skills to bring concepts to life.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Serve as a technical bridge, working closely with internal teams (strategy, networks, IT, commercial) and external partners (vendors, academia, startups) to ensure cohesive innovation delivery.
• External Ecosystem Engagement: Actively engage with academia, research institutions, startups, and partners to foster a robust external R&D ecosystem.
• Knowledge Sharing & Reporting: Track and meticulously document all R&D initiatives, translating complex technical findings into clear reports for stakeholders, from technical teams to the C-suite.

Are You the R&D Visionary We Need?

This demanding role requires a unique combination of deep technical knowledge, academic rigour, and sharp business acumen.

Key Requirements & Experience:

• Essential Education: A relevant 4-year Honours Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or Information Systems is essential.
• Advanced Education (Highly Desirable): A postgraduate qualification (Master’s/PhD) in a technology or innovation-related field is a significant advantage.
• Industry Experience: A minimum of 5 years in telecoms or ICT, with at least 2 years of focused experience in an R&D, innovation, systems design/architecture, operational, management consulting, or technology strategy function.
• Critical Thinking: You must possess strong analytical, critical, and lateral thinking skills to dissect complex problems and identify non-obvious opportunities.
• Communication: Excellent communication (written & verbal) and stakeholder management skills are necessary to navigate diverse audiences, from highly technical engineers to executive leadership.
• Self-Starter: You must be a self-starter with the ability to take initiative and drive projects independently, demonstrating excellent organisation and prioritisation skills.
• R&D Fluency: Familiarity with R&D processes, the innovation lifecycle, and technology evaluation methodologies.

Ignite Your Career with Impact

Your contribution to Vodacom’s innovation pipeline will be rewarded with a comprehensive package designed to support your personal and professional growth:

• Competitive Benefit Packages and enticing incentive programs.
• Full coverage including Retirement Funds, Risk Benefits, and Medical Aid.
• Exclusive perks like cell phone and data benefits, and advantageous fibre connection discounts.

If you’re ready to step into a Senior Specialist role where your insights shape multi-year technology roadmaps, we encourage you to apply.

Don’t miss out! The closing date for applications is 11 October 2025.

[Apply Now] and take the lead in pioneering the next generation of connectivity!