Overview** **

OV is an innovative Mobile Network Operator specializing in IoT services, dedicated to providing seamless connectivity solutions for millions of active SIMs worldwide. With network primarily built in-house, we empower our Partners to deliver reliable and innovative IoT solutions across a range of industries worldwide.

We are seeking a skilled Head of Networks to lead the build, design and operation of the Mobile Core Network and infrastructure at OV, ideally you’ll have many years of experience designing and operating an production mobile core network.

In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for overseeing the design, build and maintenance of our cloud and self-hosted network infrastructure, ensuring that it operates efficiently and effectively to support our innovative IoT connectivity solutions. Along with leading and mentoring a small dedicated team of Telecom and infrastructure engineers.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead the design, deployment, configuration, and maintenance of our Mobile Core (HLR/HSS, STP/DRA, PGW, IMS), underling Infrastructure (Switching, Routing, DC, Servers) and connectivity management platform (Radius, OCS, BSS).
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of telecom and infrastructure engineers, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Troubleshoot and resolve network-related issues, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams and vendors/suppliers to ensure seamless operations, and acting as a point of escalation.
• Oversee the planning and execution of network infrastructure projects, including upgrades, expansions, and new deployments to support our IoT services.
• Working closely with cross-functional teams through the pre-sales and onboarding to seamlessly integrate new Partners and Suppliers to the OV Core, and with the development teams on the continued evolution of OV network and services.
• Ensure compliance with security policies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards relevant to mobile network operations.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation for all network systems and processes, ensuring clarity and accessibility for team members.

Willingness to be on-call to support the continued operations of our infrastructure.

Ideal Candidate Characteristics

• Job Functional Knowledge – level of understanding of processes, procedures, systems, concepts and principles within own discipline and wider disciplines required.
• **Business Expertise **– depth of understanding of how own area integrates within the organisation sub-function and commercial awareness.
• Leadership - extent to which the role allocates/coordinates work within the team/project and/or contributes to technical/professional direction for a discipline.
• Problem Solving – extent to which the role requires good analytical skills as well as evaluative judgement based on the analysis of factual and qualitative information.
• Nature of Impact – the level of impact the role has to influence decisions through advice, counsel or facilitating services to others in area of specialisation.
• Area of Impact – the level of impact the role has on a work area such that the work and performance of own team / closely related teams / wider teams are directly affected by the performance of the job and which may/will eventually impact the overall performance and effectiveness of the organisation sub-function.
• Interpersonal Skills – level of communication and diplomacy skills required to guide, influence and convince others, in particular colleagues in other areas/departments and external customers/agencies.

Experience Requirements

• Proven experience leading a network team in a production and mission critical network environment, ideally with the mobile or telecommunications domain.
• Deep understanding of telecom protocols in use within mobile networks, such as SS7, GTP, Diameter, MAP, CAMEL, AAA, SMPP, SIP, VoLTE etc.
• Advanced knowledge of mobile network elements, from design and integration to their operation and management, such as HLR/HSS, PGW/GGSN, STP/DRA, IMS, SMSC etc.
• Strong understanding of Core network protocols (IPv4, BGP, OSPF, MPLS), ideally using vendors such as Cisco, Nexus, Fortinet.
• Proficient with Linux (Ubuntu, HAProxy) and Microsoft (IIS, MS-SQL) server administration
• Knowledge of cloud providers would be beneficial, particularly Azure, Terraform and Kubernetes.
• Knowledge of any scripting Powershell/Bash or coding C#/.Net would be beneficial
• Experience with security technologies such as firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and VPNs.
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills