Telecom Network Operations Manager

Placements24; Vereeniging; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive salary and bonus structure

Health, life, and disability insurance

Retirement savings plan

Annual leave and holidays

Leadership training

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Telecom Network Operations Manager in Vereeniging, Gauteng. This role leads the Network Operations Center, ensuring uptime, performance, and security while managing on-site teams in a hybrid setup.

You will drive SLA/KPI adherence, incident response, and continuous improvement across Engineering, Planning and Customer Support, shaping operational excellence for a major telecommunications network.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field.
• 8+ years in telecommunications network operations with 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Strong understanding of network infrastructure, protocols (TCP/IP, MPLS, BGP) and technologies (fiber optics, wireless, VoIP).
• Experience leading technical teams and incident management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Network Operations Center (NOC) team with guidance, support and performance management.
• Oversee 24/7 monitoring, maintenance and troubleshooting of the network infrastructure.
• Ensure SLAs and KPIs are met and drive continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement operational policies and incident response processes.
• Coordinate maintenance, upgrades and outages with vendors and internal teams.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Planning and Customer Support to ensure seamless service delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field

Tools

NMS platforms

ITIL

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a major telecommunications company, is seeking an experienced and strategic Telecom Network Operations Manager to lead their operations team in Vereeniging, Gauteng. This leadership role is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the telecommunications network, ensuring its optimal performance, reliability, and security. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in managing network operations, leading technical teams, and implementing operational improvements. This hybrid role offers flexibility while requiring regular on-site engagement to manage teams and infrastructure effectively. You will play a critical role in maintaining service level agreements (SLAs), responding to network incidents, and driving continuous improvement initiatives within the operations department. This is a significant opportunity to shape the operational excellence of a vital telecommunications network.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and lead the Network Operations Center (NOC) team, providing guidance, support, and performance management.
• Oversee the monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting of the telecommunications network infrastructure 24/7.
• Ensure adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Develop and implement operational policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Manage incident response, including escalation, resolution, and post-incident analysis.
• Coordinate network maintenance activities, upgrades, and planned outages.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance network performance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
• Manage vendor relationships and performance related to network operations.
• Ensure network security policies and procedures are effectively implemented and maintained.
• Collaborate with other departments, such as Engineering, Planning, and Customer Support, to ensure seamless service delivery.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in telecommunications network operations, with at least 3 years in a management or supervisory role.
• Strong understanding of network infrastructure, protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, MPLS, BGP), and technologies (e.g., fiber optics, wireless, VoIP).
• Proven experience in managing and leading technical teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage network incidents and outages effectively.
• Experience with network monitoring tools and NMS platforms.
• Knowledge of ITIL best practices for service management.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Benefits

• Competitive executive salary and bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health, life, and disability insurance.
• Generous retirement savings plan.
• Significant annual leave and paid holidays.
• Professional development opportunities and leadership training.
• Hybrid work arrangement offering flexibility.
• Key role in ensuring critical network uptime.
• Performance-driven culture with opportunities for advancement.
• Access to state-of-the-art network management systems.
• Employee wellness programs.