Head of Network Operations Center (NOC)

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive compensation package

Executive medical benefits

Pension fund

Extended vacation entitlement

Leadership development programs

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a visionary Head of Network Operations Center (NOC) to lead the Nelspruit team, ensuring constant availability, performance, and security of the network infrastructure. You will supervise engineers and supervisors, drive operational excellence, and manage critical incidents.

The role requires a strong leadership background, deep networking knowledge (TCP/IP, BGP, MPLS), and experience in large-scale telecom networks. Hybrid work with on-site presence in Nelspruit is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field.
• Master's degree is advantageous.
• Minimum of 10 years in network operations, with at least 5 years in leadership within a NOC environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee 24/7 NOC operations to ensure availability and support.
• Develop strategic initiatives to improve network performance and efficiency.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the NOC team including hiring and performance reviews.
• Establish and enforce SLAs and incident response processes.
• Manage incident resolution and coordination across engineering and support.
• Oversee monitoring tools deployment and utilization.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Prepare performance reports for senior management.
• Drive continuous improvement in NOC operations.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and security best practices.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Team management

Networking know-how

Incident response

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Engineering/IT

Master's degree (advantageous)

Tools

Network monitoring tools

Ticketing systems

Incident management platforms

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent telecommunications service provider, is searching for an accomplished and visionary Head of Network Operations Center (NOC) to lead their operations team in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. This executive leadership role is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of the NOC, ensuring the constant availability, performance, and security of the company's extensive network infrastructure. You will lead a team of skilled NOC engineers and supervisors, driving operational excellence, implementing best practices, and managing critical incident responses. This is a key leadership position with significant impact on customer experience and service reliability. The ideal candidate possesses strong leadership capabilities and a deep understanding of network operations and management.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily operations of the Network Operations Center (NOC), ensuring 24/7 monitoring and support.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to improve network performance, availability, and efficiency.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the NOC team, including hiring, training, and performance management.
• Establish and enforce operational policies, procedures, and service level agreements (SLAs).
• Manage incident management processes, ensuring rapid and effective resolution of network outages and performance issues.
• Oversee the implementation and utilization of network monitoring tools and technologies.
• Collaborate with other departments (e.g., Engineering, Customer Support) to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Prepare regular performance reports and analyses for senior management.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the NOC operations.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and security best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field. A Master's degree is advantageous.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in network operations, with at least 5 years in a leadership or management role within a NOC environment.
• Proven experience managing large-scale, complex telecommunications networks.
• In-depth knowledge of network monitoring tools, ticketing systems, and incident management platforms.
• Strong understanding of networking protocols, architectures, and technologies (TCP/IP, BGP, MPLS, etc.).
• Experience with cloud-based infrastructure and services is a plus.
• Exceptional leadership, team management, and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a strategic mindset.
• Demonstrated ability to manage high-pressure situations and critical incidents effectively.

Benefits

• Our client offers a top-tier executive compensation package, including a substantial base salary, significant annual bonus, and long-term equity options.
• Comprehensive executive medical benefits, a generous pension fund, and extensive vacation entitlement are provided.
• This role offers a hybrid work arrangement, allowing for flexibility while requiring regular presence at our key operational hub in Nelspruit.
• We are committed to employee growth, offering leadership development programs, advanced training opportunities, and support for relevant certifications.
• Lead a critical function within a dynamic and expanding telecommunications company.