Communications Software and Services Test Centre (CASST) Manager

Job description:

The CASST Manager will be responsible for leadership and business management of the TSSG's CASST initiative. This executive appointment will be responsible for business unit management, business planning including business service design, business development, and growing CASST from a technology initiate to an independent business that services the needs of telecommunications companies and Internet service companies in Ireland and Internationally. The role will require commercial excellence, proven business development experience, and proven experience in establishing, running and growing a major telecommunications business unit. The role will also involve managing the full CASST team of business analysts and quality assurance testers tasked with the planning, scoping and execution of the end-to-end software testing process involving communication systems, and in particular wireless mobility systems based on 3G and beyond. The manager must ensure high client satisfaction, by executing on best practice and consistency, while striving to be client focused, inclusive and minimalist.

Responsibilities:

The main focus of the role will require business unit management, business service design, business development (i.e. acquiring customers for the centre) and customer management for CASST. The effective management of these customers will include communicating relevant information on projects, providing updates, highlighting risks and issues, producing project plans and striving to ensure that all test executions are implemented within budget and on schedule.

The role will also include:

• Line manager for all staff in the centre providing regular
  feedback to all staff and conducting a 6-monthly performance appraisal.


• Defining the Centre business plan including service design
  and marketing strategy.


• Defining and regularly updating the business plan based on market
  analysis, benchmarking, technology needs and customer input.


• Hands on customer management.
• Driving the execution of the business plan with the centre staff to
  challenging objectives on timing, quality, cost, key drivers and performance,
  and customer service delivery.


• Monitoring business results and proactively initiating improvement
  actions.


• Actively seeking out new business opportunities.


• Contributing to the planning, management and execution of testing
  processes and environments.


• Providing the specification, operational support, and procurement
  of specialist test equipment, as required.


• Designing and introducing new business service initiatives for CASST
  customers.
• Developing marketing communication, training, customer support and
  other Centre business service launch materials.


• Managing the introduction and performance of business services.


• Developing SLA agreements with customers and delivering on them to
  the required standard.


• Monitoring market dynamics through regular customer interaction,
  active media research, industry networking, etc.


• Analyzing and documenting the market environment and competitors
  of Centre's services.
• Bringing in new Centre funding through Enterprise Ireland, European
  Commission and industry funding proposals.


• Working with TSSG R&D Competence Centre's to identify new
  service opportunities.

Requirements:

• The ideal candidate must be educated to degree level, Masters Degree
  in Information Systems preferred, augmented by relevant professional
  experience
• 10 years of professional experience in the telecommunications industry


• A minimum of 4 years experience leading and growing a telecommunications
  business unit.


• Experience designing and launching new business service initiatives.


• Excellent customer management skills.


• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to prioritise and schedule work based on priority and resource
  availability.


• Ability to manage capacity and technology plans.


• Ability to develop SLA agreements with customers and deliver on them
  to the required standard.


• Ability to analyse problems and identify solutions.


• A thorough knowledge of communications technologies (Bluetooth, WLAN,
  GSM/GPRS, UMTS (FDD/TDD), Ethernet, IPv6) and service platforms (Wireless
  IN, OSA/Parlay, Parlay X and 3GPP IMS). Good knowledge of relevant product
  certifications and standards. Keen interest in emerging communications
  technologies (WiMax).