Senior Director, Information and Communications Technology

Ooredoo Group; Kuwait City; On-site; KWD 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ooredoo Kuwait is seeking a Senior Director, Information and Communications Technology to lead ICT strategy and staff across IT, Core Network, IP Data Centre, and VAS. You will drive CAPEX/OPEX planning, vendor engagements, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver on business goals and technology roadmaps.

The role emphasizes end-to-end architecture, cost-effective solutions, and leadership in a multinational, fast-paced telecom environment.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree in Telecom or CS with professional registration.
• Experience in managing fixed and mobile telecom environments.
• Leadership of multi-national teams in FMC Telecom industry.

Responsibilities

• Manage ICT staff activities to align with business plans and strategies.
• Oversee core network, IP data centre, VAS, OSS/BSS, and related IT systems.
• Lead ICT planning, budgeting, and CAPEX/OPEX tracking.
• Drive network design, migration plans, and technology roadmaps.
• Lead bi-annual ICT roadmap workshops and cross-functional sessions.
• Ensure quality and performance KPIs with proper documentation.
• Coordinate with CTO and CXOs on planning, reports and insights.
• Promote Agile and DevOps adoption across ICT teams.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Strategic planning

Team management

Education

Engineering Degree in Telecom or Computer Science

Tools

MS Office

Job description

VAC9937 - Senior Director, Information and Communications Technology

• Field: Technology
• Contract type: Full Time - Permanent

Ooredoo is an organisation on the move. Thanks to our dedicated employees, we continue to move closer towards our vision to be among the top 20 telecommunications companies in the world.

We are a dynamic global telecommunications player operating in 17 countries across the Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and Asia. We cover a population of more than half a billion people and serve more than 68 million customers.

In Kuwait, we employ approximately 1,000 talented people, all of whom are driving Ooredoo to be the number one choice for world-class communications services in Kuwait. In the face of intensifying competition, increasingly sophisticated technology and rising customer expectations, nothing is more important to our success than our team - and it's a team that you can be part of.

Ooredoo's future is bright, and you can be part of our ongoing success.

The Role:

Manage activities of staff involved in the ICT function (IT, Core Network, IP Data centre & VAS), ensuring that they support business plan achievement and contribute to the development and refinement of Ooredoo Kuwait, FASTtelco and Phono business strategies. Responsible for the core network planning, design and engineering for all 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G and IMS network, IP networks planning & optimization, VAS & Mobile & Fixed broadband service, IN networks, ESS (Enterprise Support Systems), OSS (Operation Support Systems), BSS (business support systems) applications, systems, and Infrastructure. Responsible for the complete ICT technology business plan and budget design, maintenance and tracking of the complete CAPEX & OPEX approved by the Board.

Key Activities

• Play a critical role in ensuring design, implementation & roadmap of all ICT NE (network equipment) are in line with Ooredoo Kuwait & FASTtelco strategy & industry best practices.
• Ensure, plan and prepare the way forward for the migration to new technologies within very demanding and challenging timeframes.
• Play a vital role in Ooredoo Kuwait & FASTtelco integration through the development and design of the network and delivery.
• Play a key role in facilitating ICT network equipment, applications, and systems roadmaps and possible transition and enhancements
• Pivotal role in planning as all new technology and architecture must be catered and sourced.
• Plan, prioritise and manage activities of staff involved in the ICT function, ensuring that they support business plan achievement and contribute to the development and refinement of network & IT strategies.
• Conduct & lead bi-annually workshops that communicate cross functionally the ICT roadmap, migration paths & the correlations to the CAPEX needed & highlight impact on OPEX.
• Manages all aspects of ICT NE planning, development, optimisation, expansion plans and roll-out to ensure the Company has the technical backbone capability to meet current and future customer/traffic demands. Recommends the introduction and integration of new technologies and features that will provide cost effective solutions.
• Responsible for analysing statistical and performance data to determine best technical design and solution for optimisation of Core Network, IP Network, IT, VAS, BSS, OSS, ESS Application & systems.
• Manage the production of tender documentation, undertake commercial & technical evaluations of bids, and make recommendations for preferred suppliers and assists in negotiations and management of relations.
• Introduce and ensure compliance with international quality assurance programs that set standards, specifications and best practice procedures.
• Participate in national and international standardisation work, ensuring that Ooredoo Kuwait, FASTtelco, & phono position and views are given the appropriate level of consideration.
• Responsible for updating the CTO and CXOs with planning roadmap, producing reports and network insights that are needed by the business from Ooredoo Kuwait, FASTtelco & Phono strategy and business expansion planning perspective
• Insure the implementation of Agile & DevOps methodologies, Tools and adoption of ICT team to their best practices
• Set up reports and tracking of all commercial orders, ensuring that all implementation are in line and coordinated with PMO / TPMO
• Design, expand & integrate new elements to facilitate the introduction of new services.
• Leading in technical discussions in relation to any Technical matters.
• Prioritise projects, decide on outsourcing solutions and ensure quality of final products.
• Acts as backup to the CTO in meetings, events & when the Directors are away on leave.
• Meet quality and performance KPI with supporting documents.
• Ensure that upper management informed on all critical issues pertaining to the area responsible for.
• Responsible for developing cost analyses, design considerations & implementation time-lines.
• Provides input for the development of capital and operational budgets, ensuring adequate provision made for the funding of all planned activities.
• Monitors expenditure for effective cost control and justifies variances.
• Convenes regular meetings and provides professional and technical expertise and inspiration to engineering and planning teams to create synergies.
• Preparation of various weekly/ monthly reports relating to staff & achievement in the department.
• Plans, prioritises and manages activities of staff involved in the Technology functions, ensuring that they support business plan achievement and contribute to the development and refinement of network and IT related strategiesAligning any new project or implementation with Ooredoo group for the respective department strategy & Roadmap.
• Participating in Ooredoo group strategies and competency centers covering strategy drafting and knowledge sharing with Ooredoo OPCO’s
• Work closely with Ooredoo Group technology team sharing best practices, RFP results and technology roadmap. Proactively manage and motivate the team to be highly professional and results oriented.
• Work to improve employee performance through personal coaching and identifying training and development needs.
• Ensure Individual Development Plans (IDP) completed for all staff in accordance with Ooredoo Kuwait, FASTtelco policy.
• Recruit reporting staff as required.

  Conduct annual performance appraisals (Performance Management System) & ensure objectives set are monitored and achieved.

• Proactively take responsibility for self-improvement by staying well informed of developments, knowledge and innovations in relevant field of expertise.
• Other duties as directed by supervisor or other superiors.
• Works with offshore & other service lines teams
• Handle Telecom Domain with End to end Deployment and System Architecture

Qualifications

Engineering Degree In Telecom or Engineering Degree in Computer Science or related discipline and appropriate registration with a recognized professional institute

Other Information

• relevant Mobile & Fixed experience in Telecom operator environment
• experience as Department Manager in a major Fixed Mobile Conversion (FMC) Telecom Company of similar or larger size
• International experience in both operator and vendor environment with experience of managing multiple discipline teams in FMC Telecom industry
• Excellent knowledge of Telecom Technologies, practices and procedures
• Familiar with working in & taking a leadership role in a multi-cultural, multi-national environment
• Must have strong exposure to operator s Products & Services business and have good understanding of challenges / opportunities
• Excellent Technical Pre-sales experience
• Should have excellent understanding of Telco s competitive landscape, their challenges and strategies
• Should have handled end to end architectures for bids as large as KD 30 million per annum or more
• The Candidate must show perseverant and customer oriented approach.
• Mature Commercial and business acumen.
• Effective Solution selling skills & communication and interpersonal skills.
• Market knowledge of local Products & Services industry and trends.
• The candidate should be a self-starter and highly motivated to take up challenging task of penetrating new accounts and markets, & a good understanding /appreciation of Onsite-Offshore model would be an added advantage.
• Strong Analytical skills
• Strong Project Management skills
• Strong Management skills
• Strong Technical skills
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Good knowledge of MS Office applications like Excel, Word etc.
• Excellent command of both written and verbal English, Arabic would be an advantage