Executive: Planning & Engineering at Liquid Intelligent Technologies

ROLE PURPOSE

• Accountable for the design, architecture and strategy of the Liquid IP, Voice, Transmission and Wireless networks.  Drive the vision and provide strategic support to the CTO in planning the Liquid network and associated customer solutions. Develop and maintain quality network design standards and methodologies to ensure a high availability service network. 
• Drive development and adoption of best practice policies and standards within the network planning team.
• Implement technology and network strategy - responsible for implementation of large infrastructure projects, maintaining integrity and quality assurance of network assets and related systems.
• The Executive will work together with all technology functions to ensure customer service level agreements (SLA) and delivery commitments for delivery and operations are achieved.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

NETWORK STRATEGY AND PLANNING

• Drive network growth by creating strategic network plans and projects. Ensure alignment of network capability with the strategic and operational products and services of the business.  
• Provide network growth strategy to guide dimensioning and expansion of network nodes in line with annual operating plan.
• Proactively manage strategic partnerships for IP transit and peering including specification of best peering points.
• Recommend innovative network solutions that result in improved network service resilience, lower cost of ownership and improved customer satisfaction.  
• Take ownership of, and lead capacity planning on international connectivity.
• Use intelligence from solutions teams to identify business needs to steer network strategy for POP locations and capacity growth.  Identify potential network growth areas and align network development strategy appropriately.
• Negotiate procurement, upgrades, and contract renewal for the network.  Participate in Committees and working groups for Liquid network planning and vendor strategy.

POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

• Formulate network standards and policies for IP connectivity, active equipment configuration, naming, and classification conventions.  Set best practice guidelines for core network configurations of active equipment.  Formulate policies and guidelines for equipment procurement to conform to set standards and architecture.
• Take ownership of formulation and review of technical standards on IP networks and protocols.  Attend group technical standards committee meetings involving protocols, naming, and configuration of technical details.  Approve technical standard documents for the networks for CTO signoff.  Mandate the rollout of technical standards across the network group and proactively ensure adherence to network standards.

RISK MANAGEMENT

• Manage business continuity in network architecture and detailed designs across all network and service layers. Identification and management of key network risks to business relating to capacity, access, customer integrity, fair usage policies and initiate related projects and resource allocation to mitigate the risks.
• Manage network control frameworks to provide a secure network environment and prevent unauthorized access to key network elements.  Responsible for managing audit findings within area of responsibility.
• Effectively manage vendors and contractors to comply and align with various customer SLAs.
• Manage programmes and processes to support various ISO accreditation.

BU MANAGEMENT

• Business management of the department, internal and external stakeholders to meet company strategic goals and objectives.
• Develop business plans in line with the business unit goals and objectives to assist in achieving the overall organizational objectives.
• Recognizes areas for internal improvement and develop plans for implementation.
• Ensure that the business unit objectives are met through effective performance management and measurement.
• Operational delivery of strategic objectives by ensuring resources aligned to support accordingly.
• Strategic Management of relationships between line of business and the various business partners internally and externally to deliver superior service.  
• Lead interactions with internal and external auditors.  Manage Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental programmes within area of responsibility.  Oversee Service Level Agreement compliance, ensure contract close-out, extension or renewal and monitor transaction compliance.

NETWORK COST MANAGEMENT AND BUDGETS

• Plan and manage expenditure and costs against delivered and realized benefits.
• Ensure technical motivations, PR/PO approvals and GRN completions are completed timeously.
• Prepare and manage Annual Operational and Capital Budgets to meet strategic objectives of the department. 
• Ensure costs for area of accountability are managed appropriately and contained within agreed budget, variances accounted for and justified.

Requirements
Qualifications

• A degree in a technical or engineering field is mandatory.
• Technology certifications to a professional level or equivale (e.g., CCIE, JNCIE) advantageous

Experience

• 10+ years post qualification experience in Service provider or network operator and ICT/Telecoms Network Management, planning and design with
• 5 years' experience in Telecommunications planning in a senior leadership role.
• Experience in planning, network design, and internet protocols and related technologies and sound working knowledge of IP networking, Telecoms, and DWDM design principles.