Description :

Grade: L3

Location: Islamabad

Last date to apply: 5 September 2025

What is Manager Packet Core Planning & Operations?

The Manager Packet Core Planning & Operations leads the end-to-end strategy, architecture, planning, deployment, operations, optimization, and fault resolution of the Packet Core domain (EPC/5G), leveraging deep expertise in EPC, 5G Core, NFVI, and cloud-native platforms along with strong leadership to manage cross-functional teams, while ensuring high network availability, scalability, reliability, security, service quality, regulatory compliance, and customer experience, driving network evolution, operational excellence, and cost-efficient, scalable solutions in close coordination with vendors, stakeholders, and leadership to support innovation and business growth.

This role will directly manage a team of 12+ professionals across Packet Core and NFVI domains, covering end-to-end activities including network design, capacity planning, procurement lifecycle management (BOQ/PR/PO), deployment, Level 2 (Back-Office operation support) and performance optimization. The position ensures high network availability, resilience, and security while overseeing regulatory equipment compliance. Additionally, it encompasses the governance of network assets in line with internal audit standards thereby enabling scalable, reliable, and compliant service delivery.

The role reports directly to the Head of Core Network, who drives the overall Core Network strategy and leads the complete Core domain portfolio covering Voice (2G, VoLTE, VoWiFi), Data, and VAS (Value-Added Services), encompassing Planning, Operations, Optimization, and Project Delivery, supported by an extended team of 40+ professionals.

What does Manager Packet Core Planning & Operations do?

• Network Architecture & Strategy: Define long-term Packet Core and NFVI architectures, technology evolution roadmaps, and future-ready designs aligned with business and regulatory objectives.
• Capacity & Performance Planning: Forecast traffic growth and subscriber demand while ensuring scalable, resilient, and KPI-compliant Packet Core and NFVI infrastructure.
• NFVI & Cloud Infrastructure: Plan cloud-native NFVI platforms (compute, storage, networking) with orchestration and automation capabilities to host CNFs/VNFs efficiently.
• Service & Feature Enablement: Translate commercial requirements into core network designs enabling 4G/LTE, VoWiFi, 5G slicing, IoT, private networks, and enterprise solutions.
• Technology Evaluation & Innovation: Lead PoCs, pilots, and vendor evaluations to adopt emerging technologies (5G NSA, 5G SA, MEC).
• Security, Compliance & Regulatory: Ensure Packet Core and NFVI designs comply with lawful interception, data retention, cybersecurity, and local/international regulations.
• Capex/Opex Planning: Develops capex requirements for Packet Core and NFVI infrastructure of complete voice and data through collaboration with transport, wireless and commercial teams. Should have a good understanding of business and financial terms required for Business Case preparation and getting it approved by the investment committee.
• RFP / Tender & Vendor Management: Drive RFP/RFQ/RFI processes, define technical specifications, evaluate vendors, and negotiate contracts for cost-effective, future-proof solutions. You should have hands-on experience of leading tender, RFP and RFQ’s processes from tender mandate till contract finalization.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Align with IT, Transport, Security, and Commercial teams to ensure seamless E2E service planning, delivery, support new service launches and operational readiness.
• Leadership & People Development: Lead and Mentor planning & operations teams, build domain expertise, and foster a culture of innovation, accountability, technical excellence and customer-centric operations culture.
• Network Operations & Stability: Ensure 24/7 availability, stability, and reliability of Packet Core and NFVI domains through proactive monitoring, fault management, and incident resolution.
• Performance & Optimization: Continuously monitor KPIs/SLA compliance and optimize network configurations to enhance capacity, efficiency, and customer experience.
• Service Assurance & Quality: Lead troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and service restoration processes to ensure minimal downtime and seamless service delivery.
• Change & Release Management: Govern software upgrades, patches, and configuration changes with strict adherence to change management policies and minimal service impact.
• Automation & Tools Management: Deploy, operate, and enhance network management systems, analytics platforms, and automation frameworks for zero-touch operations.
• Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity: Implement robust backup, redundancy, and disaster recovery mechanisms to guarantee uninterrupted services during failures.
• Vendor & Partner Coordination: Manage vendor SLAs, escalate critical issues, and coordinate multi-vendor environments for efficient fault resolution and support.
• Financial & Resource Management: Optimize operational costs, manage software licenses, and ensure efficient utilization of NFVI and Packet Core resources.
• Governance, Processes & Standards: Establish and enforce operational policies, SOPs, documentation, and audit compliance frameworks for quality and accountability.

Jazz is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate, support, and thrive on diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Requirements

What are we looking for and what does it require to be Manager Packet Core Planning & Operations?

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).

Experience & Expertise

• 12 - 15 years of progressive experience in Packet Core, with deep technical knowledge of NFVI and Cloud-native architecture. Preferred to have both supplier and operator experience.
• 6+ years of proven expertise in product and solution design, including leadership in network architecture and large-scale deployments.
• 6+ years of proven expertise in network Backoffice (Level 2) operations where expectation is to resolve all non-product issues in-house, including end-to-end service assurance, incident management, performance optimization, and leading large-scale network deployments.
• Strong background in EPC and 5G Core solution architecture, network modeling, and topology design.
• Hands-on experience in planning, design, and configuration for Huawei Cloud NFVI and Packet Core service nodes.
• In-depth understanding of 2G/3G/4G/5G network architectures, signaling flows, NFVI, OpenStack, and Cloud Data Center design.
• Proven knowledge of NFVI orchestration layers (VNFM, NFVO, VIM) for planning, design, and deployment.
• Expertise in Core Network Optimization, parameter standardization, and performance tuning.
• Strong foundation in Service Awareness, Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), and traffic engineering.

Leadership & Collaboration

• At least 5 years of managerial/leadership experience, successfully leading cross-functional teams, developing talent, and driving operational excellence in high-pressure telecom environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor cross-functional design teams, driving innovation and operational excellence.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and vendor engagement skills, with experience in managing complex integration and expansion projects.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate technical strategies to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Recognized as a collaborative leader and team player, fostering alignment across business, technology, and operations teams.

Certifications & Professional Training (Preferred)

• Cloud Technologies: Certifications in VMWare, OpenStack, Kubernetes, Docker, RedHat open-shift or equivalent cloud-native platforms.
• Packet Core / PS Core: Industry and vendor certifications in EPC, 5G Core, PCRF and PS Core platforms.
• Service Awareness & QoS: Certifications in service modeling, QoS/QoE, and end-to-end service assurance frameworks.
• Deep Packet Inspection (DPI): Certifications covering traffic management, lawful intercept, and advanced packet inspection solutions.
• FCAPS Framework: Professional training or certifications in telecom management aligned with Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, and Security domains.
• Team management or Leadership Training: Professional or certified training on team management, conflict resolution, change orchestration, building high performance teams, digital transformation

Additional Competencies

• Strategic mindset with the ability to align network evolution with business growth.
• Proven project leadership in multi-vendor, multi-technology environments.
• Results-oriented with a focus on scalability, resilience, and customer experience.

Benefits

As one of the leading employers in the country, Jazz epitomizes the philosophy that each Jazz employee is passionately living a better every day inspired and enabled by visionary leadership, a unique professional culture, a flourishing lifestyle, and continuous learning and development.

Our core values include qualities essential for a positive organizational culture - truthfully guiding entrepreneurial and innovative mindsets, harnessing professional and interpersonal collaboration, and fostering across-the-board customer-obsession.

As one of the largest private sector organizations in Pakistan, our objective is to continue to change the lives of our 75 million customers for the better. This is an opportunity for someone who wants to be part of something transformative, someone who can play a critical role in driving our success. Together, we can empower millions more with the tools necessary to progress in an increasingly digital economy.