Digital Economy Connectivity & Infra Director

Expertise France; Metro Manila; On-site; PHP 2,400,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Expertise France is seeking a Technical Director to provide strategic technical leadership for the EU-PH Digital Economy Package in the Philippines. Reporting to the Project Leader and coordinating with the Head of Division Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the role focuses on infrastructure and telecom components for SO1 and SO2.

This senior technical authority will define strategy, supervise design and delivery, ensure quality and sustainability, and manage partnerships with PhilSA, DOST-ASTI,

Responsibilities

• Define the project's technical strategy and infrastructure/telecom architecture for SO1 (connectivity) and SO2 (Copernicus data access and dissemination), in line with the project's contractual framework and results framework.
• Set technical standards, norms and specifications for telecom network and data-infrastructure components (processing, storage and dissemination), ensuring interoperability, security, scalability and sustainability of the solutions deployed.
• Advise the Project Leader on the technical feasibility, risks and cost implications of strategic and operational choices.
• Keep the technical strategy under review in light of technological developments and evolving needs of PhilSA, DOST-ASTI, DICT and other beneficiaries.
• Lead the technical design, specification and supervision of activities and connectivity infrastructure deployment under SO1, from needs assessment and feasibility studies through to commissioning and handover.
• Lead the technical design and supervision of computing infrastructure, data center disaster risk management and Copernicus data processing and dissemination infrastructure under SO2.
• Draft or validate technical Terms of Reference, technical specifications and bills of quantities for infrastructure works, equipment procurement and technical assistance missions.
• Provide technical evaluation and quality assurance of tenders, technical proposals, deliverables and works submitted by contractors, suppliers and technical experts.
• Organise and supervise technical missions, testing and commissioning activities and ensure works and deliverables comply with technical specifications, EU procurement rules and industry standards.
• Identify, recruit and directly supervise the technical experts and consultants mobilised for the infrastructure and telecom components (short-term technical assistance, technical assignments), ensuring the quality and timeliness of their work, in coordination with the Project Leader for planning and contractual aspects.
• Ensure sound execution of the budget allocated to the infrastructure and telecom components (works, equipment, technical assistance), guiding the Project Leader's financial decisions on these technical lines, within the project's overall budget under the Project Leader's financial responsibility and sign-off.
• Monitor the technical performance, quality and progress of infrastructure and telecom works against the workplan and provide guidance on potential technical risks, delays or non-conformities.
• Contribute to the project logframe by providing technical indicator data, supporting evidence and analysis, in close coordination with the MEAL Officer and Project Leader.
• Establish and maintain technical monitoring tools (performance assessment, technical KPIs, commissioning reports, maintenance and sustainability plans) to feed into the project's overall MEAL and reporting system.
• Contribute with technical inputs for technical and financial reports submitted to the European Commission, under the overall responsibility of the Project Leader for report consolidation and submission.
• Ensure technical solutions are designed for long-term operational sustainability and effective handover to national counterparts.
• Serve as the project's principal technical interlocutor with PhilSA, DOST-ASTI, DICT, PREGINET and other technical counterparts on infrastructure and telecom matters.
• Liaise with international and regional technical partners (IRD, ESA, GÉANT, ASEAN technical bodies, EU telecom operators, research and education networks and other relevant digital ecosystem actors) to align technical approaches, standards and opportunities for cooperation.
• Represent the project on technical matters, notably within the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and other technical committees and working groups, in coordination with the Project Leader.
• Support capacity-building and knowledge-transfer activities for partner institutions on infrastructure, connectivity and related technical systems.
• Support the Project Leader in stakeholder engagement and donor dialogue whenever technical explanation or advice is required.
• Work in close and continuous coordination with the Project Leader to ensure full coherence between the technical strategy and the project's overall strategic, operational and financial management.
• As Deputy Project Leader, the Technical Director may act on behalf of the Project Leader when required, including during periods of absence, assuming delegated coordination and management responsibilities and representing the project in meetings with donors, partners and other stakeholders.
• Provide the Project Leader with timely, clear technical information to support planning, budgeting, reporting and risk-management decisions.
• Flag any technical matter with strategic, contractual or staffing implications, or with budgetary implications beyond the technical lines under his/her responsibility, to the Project Leader for arbitration and decision.
• Liaise closely with the project's support functions (administrative, financial, procurement/contracts, MEAL, communication) to ensure smooth processing of technical procurement, contracts and financial and technical follow-up of infrastructure and telecom activities.
• Coordinate regularly with EF's Digital Advisor on digital economy and cross-cutting digital policy matters relevant to the infrastructure and telecom components, ensuring consistency between technical solutions and the project's broader digital economy objectives.
• Contribute technical content to the project's visibility and communication activities, in line with EU and Global Gateway guidelines, under the Project Leader's overall coordination.

Job description

Expertise France is seeking a Technical Director to provide strategic technical leadership for the EU-PH Digital Economy Package in the Philippines. Reporting to the Project Leader and coordinating with the Head of Division Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the role focuses on infrastructure and telecom components for SO1 and SO2.

This senior technical authority will define strategy, supervise design and delivery, ensure quality and sustainability, and manage partnerships with PhilSA, DOST-ASTI,