Job Description

A. PROFILE

Role Title: Network Planning & Operation Director

Reporting to: Chief Technology and Information Officer

Division: Network Planning & Operations

Department / Section: Technology & Information

B. CONTEXT

Purpose

This role is responsible for managing the planning, design, optimization activities across all U9 radio access networks including LTE, 2G, 3G, Microwave, Tetra, WiMax, Paging and any future wireless access technologies to ensure optimum quality and network performance at all times ensuring customers receive the level of service determined by the organization.

Context:

Technology & Information is responsible for development and planning of the long/medium term technology network roadmap and architecture for both network and IT in line with corporate overall strategic requirements and technology strategy and to ensure that all network and it projects are aligned with the medium-term Network roadmap.

The Technology Unit within U9 is the backbone of the organization providing all technology services which enable U9 to deliver its services to its customers across all technology platforms, 24/7/365. The quality of the customer experience sits within this BU and therefore it plays a significant role in the delivery of revenue and satisfaction targets.

Radio Access Networks unit contributes to this through the effective management, operation and maintenance of all radio access networks ensuring U9 customers have full use of all services 24/7.

C. ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Directs and facilitates the development of an overall strategy for the Radio Access Networks department and drives its effective implementation
• Contribute to the Technology BU strategic roadmap and support business planning exercise of Technology BU.
• Ensure timely monitoring and management of KPIs in order to meet defined targets, and manage timely reporting of KPIs to the CTO and the 'Performance Management' department
• Formulate annual operational plans and budgets for own area and ensure its effective execution through the identification of clear priorities and the allocation of appropriate resources.
• Provides a single point of contact for all issues relating to Radio Access Networks for other BUs in U9.
• Directs the development of Radio access network Design, and optimization (LTE, 2G, 3G, WiMAX, TETRA, Microwave, Paging and future wireless access technologies)
• Drives the optimization of Radio access network for all wireless access network / technologies and performance including drive tests
• Prepare scope of work and manage rollout of all radio access networks
• Leads the development of short-term (12 months) radio access networks capacity forecasting
• Directs all Operation & Maintenance activities from planning through to execution and monitoring of Qtel wireless networks including equipment management and upgrade, Fault handling, Preventive maintenance such as indoor coverage enhancement, Level 3 customer support (Customer Services call center - Level 1 and NOC - Level 2)
• Drive the delivery of all field support activities for all wireless access networks including inventory of equipment, spare parts, Drive tests, LOS surveys etc.
• Assist the Demand & Program Management, wherever required, in prioritizing and in technical feasibility of projects / products / change requests w.r.t. wireless access networks
• Provide all the relevant inputs and support to Procurement BU and ensure that RAN equipment, drive-test kits and other such equipment / resources are procured for effective functioning of design, rollout, project and O&M activities in RAN
• Utilizes the measurement and benchmarking of network quality and availability against competitors, to take timely actions to bridge any critical gaps within Qtel operations.
• Ensure that all projects/ initiatives are managed effectively within time and budget constraints.
• Drive the delivery of planned activities that affect service (degradation /interruption) while ensuring that outages are performed in a smooth and organized way to minimize impact to the end user.
• Ensure that all network health reports or observations generated by NOC or Performance and Compliance are acted upon and cleared in the shortest time.
• Ensure provision of support for exceptional requirements for special events and optimization requests with regard to coverage and capacity.
• Ensures all third-party suppliers / sub-contractors execute their scope of work to time/budget and quality standards
• Support Demand & Program Management, in ensuring that all wireless access projects/ initiatives are managed effectively within time and budget
• Support Technology Strategy in identifying upgrade of radio access networks, and retirement of legacy radio access networks as per the network roadmap
• Support Technology Strategy team in definition and regular update of end-to-end Network architect
• Lead the correction of any system or network failures related to radio access networks, and act as contact point for major and complex problems.
• Ensures the analysis of current processes and propose enhancements for further improvement
• Leads, manages and drives own team ensuring they are performing to the highest standards at all times to deliver business results.

Business Impact

Direct impact on business results as this unit ensures that all radio access networks are planned, rolled out, managed and maintained to ensure all U9 products and services can be delivered to its customers – which will have a direct impact on customer satisfaction/retention and churn.

Costs & Profitability

This is a non-revenue generating position; therefore, the impact is indirect on profitability through the effective planning, operations and maintenance of the radio access networks enabling U9 product/services to be delivered to customers. These impact on acquisition/retention/loyalty and ultimately spend. Ensure new network elements and services are put in service on time, to achieve targeted service levels and expected revenue. Reduce outages and mean-time-to-repair (MTTR) to minimize revenue loss.

Problem Solving

• Problems are for the most part resolved independently as related to the day-to-day operations of the department and will center on ensuring the effective running of all radio access networks 24/7.
• Problems which have significant financial or strategic impact will in many cases be resolved with others across the BU / U9 to gain consensus.

Planning & Organizing

• Develops plans and procedures to implement activities to improve quality and efficiency of the department.
• Monitors department performance in line with BU score card.
• Develops and implements the annual operating plan and budget for the department
• Manages own time effectively and delegates to others in order to ensure work is executed on time
• Leads the delivery and management of all projects related to radio access networks
• Analyze frequently appeared faults and ensure issues and root causes are identified and rectified
• Team working, Coaching/Development & Leadership (Coaching & Leadership applicable to people managers)
• Lead, manage, coach and develop own team within the department to ensure the highest level of performance at all times
• Ensures all staff have annual performance meetings through which company and BU targets and plans are shared, progress is monitored and performance measured.
• Works as part of the senior management team within the Technology BU.
• Communicating, negotiating & influencing
• Establish and manage multiple cross-functional relationships, coordination and communication lines with all units in the business unit and across U9.
• Provide motivation and commitment through visible and effective leadership.
• Seeks to influence decisions, negotiate work-around/timescales/budgets etc with other departments within U9

D. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Achievement of radio network capacity and coverage as per Technology BU business plan
• Radio Network spend per subscriber
• Network availability / congestion/ utilization
• Number of Radio Access Network faults per subscriber
• Time for resolution of Level 3 customer support issues
• Achievement & Timely reporting of KPI's
• %variance of department budget (capex/opex)

E. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS & DECISION MAKING

Interacts with:

Internal: CXOs, Legal & Regulatory, Sourcing, Finance, CE, Commercial and Logistics
External: Local Subcon, OEM RAN and TX vendors, Managed Service Partners and Other Local Operators

Decision Making

• Full authority over all work carried out within the department
• Full cost center authority
• Input into major (technology wide) decisions on a day-to-day basis
• Resource allocation decisions within the department
• Operational decisions to improve methods and procedures.
• Technical authority to accept radio access network changes
• Technical authority to approve planned network outage time More strategic decisions or those with significant cross functional/budget or customer impact will be taken in conjunction with others across U9 and within the technology BU

F. EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience & Essential Knowledge

• 15 years of relevant experience in engineering, at least 4 of which should be in a managerial position in a similar size technology-based organization
• Significant and demonstrable experience in radio access networks and their associated technologies and operations
• Significant and proven expertise in Operation & Maintenance of Radio Access Networks
• Proven experience in Planning & Roll out of Radio Access Networks
• Proven expertise in translating business requirements into operating technologies

Minimum Entry Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• Master's degree (MBA or M.Eng.) is preferred, especially with a focus on Telecommunications Management, Strategic Planning, or Operations.