GM-Principal Product Development

Vodafone Idea Limited; Mumbai; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 5,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Vodafone Idea Limited seeks a senior Principal Product Development Lead for Fixed Line and Network Services in Mumbai. You will own the product strategy, development, and lifecycle for ILL, MPLS, SD-WAN, NaaS, SASE, and managed services, guiding cross-functional teams to deliver market-ready solutions.

The role blends market demand insights with technical capability, aiming for a scalable, differentiating portfolio and superior customer experience from day one.

Qualifications

• Engineering graduate (BE/BTech or equivalent).
• Certifications/training in Agile, ITIL or cloud/network tech are a plus.
• 15–20 years of experience in telecom, ISPs or enterprise networking.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end product strategy, roadmap, and lifecycle for fixed-line and network services portfolio.
• Lead cross-functional teams across network planning, engineering, operations, regulatory, sales and partners.
• Drive MVP-based development, launches, and scaling with focus on speed-to-market and commercial success.
• Oversee post-launch stabilization, governance, and ongoing portfolio enhancements based on feedback.

Skills

Enterprise networking

Product leadership

MVP development

Cross-functional leadership

Network services

Education

BE/BTech in relevant field

Job description

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.

We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer. At VIL, we know that diversity makes us stronger. We are committed to a collaborative, inclusive environment that encourages authenticity and fosters a sense of belonging. We strive for everyone to feel valued, connected and empowered to reach their potential and contribute their best.

VIL's goal is to build and maintain a workforce that is diverse in experience and background but uniform in reflecting our Values of Passion, Boldness, Trust, Speed and Digital. Consequently, our recruiting efforts are directed towards attracting and retaining best and brightest talents. Our endeavour is to be First Choice for prospective employees.

VIL ensures equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment based on race, colour, religion, creed, age, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy, veteran or military service status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

VIL is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce.

Role

Principal Product Development Lead – Fixed Line & Network Services

Job Level/ Designation

M3

Function / Department

Enterprise / Connectivity and Business Comm

Location

Mumbai Corporate

Job Purpose

This role owns end-to-end product strategy, development, and lifecycle enhancements for the enterprise fixed-line and network services portfolio, including ILL, MPLS, SD-WAN, NaaS, SASE, and managed network services.

The role sits at the intersection of market demand, network capabilities, and commercial outcomes. The mandate is to build a future-ready, differentiated network product portfolio that is fast to market, scalable to deliver, and commercially viable — while delivering a superior customer experience from day one.

This is a senior individual contributor + team leadership role, responsible for defining product vision, translating it into executable roadmaps, and driving cross-functional execution across technology, operations, regulatory, sales, and partners to launch/enhance the products.

Key Result Areas/Accountabilities

1. 1. Product Strategy & Roadmap Participation
   • Participate in the product vision and multi-year roadmap for the fixed-line and network services portfolio.
   • Translate enterprise customer needs and market trends into clear product propositions and feature roadmaps.
   • Continuously evolve the portfolio to support shifts towards scalable software-defined, virtualized, and consumption-based network models.
2. 2. End-to-End Product Development & Launch
   • Lead end-to-end product development from concept, business case, and design through MVP, launch, and scale.
   • Ensure products are designed for speed to market, operational scalability, and commercial success.
   • Drive disciplined MVP thinking — balancing feature depth with time-to-market.
3. 3. Cross-Functional Execution Leadership
   • Lead and influence dispersed cross-functional teams across:
   • Network & technology planning
   • Engineering & delivery
   • Operations & service assurance
   • Regulatory, legal, and finance
   • Sales, solutions, and customer success
   • Act as the single-point owner for timelines, dependencies, and delivery outcomes.
4. 4. Post-Launch Stabilisation & Portfolio Governance
   • Personally oversee initial launches and early customer deployments to ensure product-market fit and delivery readiness.
   • Identify and fix process, tooling, or operational gaps exposed during launch.
   • Own ongoing product enhancements based on customer feedback, sales inputs, and operational learnings.

Success Measures (KPIs)

• Delivery of a future-fit network services roadmap aligned to enterprise growth priorities
• On-time, on-budget launch of new products and major enhancements (e.g., SD-WAN, NaaS, SASE, managed network services)
• Reduction in time-to-market for new offerings
• Product adoption, attach rates, and revenue contribution from new launches
• Successful introduction of new technologies, partners, or bundled solutions

Core Competencies, Knowledge, Experience

• 15–20 years of experience across product development, network engineering, or technology leadership roles in telecom, ISPs, or enterprise networking environments.
• Proven track record of launching and scaling enterprise network products.
• Strong understanding of:
  • Fixed-line connectivity (ILL, MPLS)
  • SD-WAN and virtualized network services
  • Cloud networking, security, and SASE architectures
  • SDN/NFV concepts and operational implications
• Ability to connect technology choices to customer value and commercial outcomes.

Must have technical/ professional qualifications

• Engineering graduate (BE/BTech or equivalent); postgraduate qualification preferred.
• Certifications or formal training in Agile, ITIL, or relevant network / cloud technologies is a plus.

Reporting & Team

• Reports to: Practice Head – Connectivity (Fixed Line Network Portfolio)
• Direct reports: 2 (with scope to scale as the portfolio grows)

Vodafone Idea Limited (formerly Idea Cellular Limited)
An Aditya Birla Group & Vodafone partnership