Job Description

Position
The position is open to candidates of all nationalities.
All nationals demonstrating 10 years of international work experience in at least 5 countries across 2 UN geographic regions (from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and Oceania) would be considered for international positions (international hire).
Objective of the position:
CDRI seeks experienced professionals to lead the formulation and implementation of technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives in critical infrastructure systems. The person recruited for this position (Telecommunication Sector Resilience Expert) will be instrumental in developing activities aimed at strengthening the resilience of telecom infrastructure systems across multiple countries in accordance with CDRI's mandate.
Key Roles and Responsibilities: * Technical Assistance:
Develop technical assistance initiatives in coordination with sectoral departments/agencies in member countries, knowledge institutions, technical experts, and others to support strengthening the resilience of telecommunication infrastructure systems. These initiatives could include:

• Mobilizing relevant experts from coalition members and partners to address specific technical assistance needs in member countries.
• Designing, executing, and managing technical studies.
• Facilitating risk assessments related to the design of telecommunication infrastructure systems to identify physical risks related to natural hazards and climate change.
• Supporting the incorporation of innovative technologies and approaches in the financing, planning, design, and implementation of telecommunication infrastructure.
• Addressing gaps in codes and standards.
• Supporting the development of programmes and projects to mobilize disaster and/or climate financing.
• Introduce a life-cycle approach within project planning and management, including but not limited to identifying opportunities to embed resilience in various stages of a project development, strategy formulation, planning and design, procurement, operations and utilization, and the end-of-life phase for telecommunication infrastructure.
• Coordinating closely with government agencies, development partners, the private sector, insurance companies and other relevant stakeholders concerning disaster-resilient telecommunication infrastructure and maintaining up-to-date information on their activities and programs.

2. Capacity Building:
Contribute to capacity-building initiatives in coordination with other experts within the Secretariat and partner organizations to deepen the understanding of resilience amongst telecommunication sector professionals in member countries and within the CDRI Secretariat. Initiatives could include:

• Preparing policy and advisory documents related to resilient infrastructure.
• Documenting case studies and best practices.
• Developing training materials, including delivery in workshops and other capacity-building modalities.
• Building partnerships with institutions engaged in capacity building and knowledge management in member countries.
• Building partnerships with global standard-setting organizations.

3. Management:
Contribute to the Secretariat's management functions, including:

• Programme and project management.
• Contributing to reporting to funding agencies.
• Representing CDRI in global dialogues related to resilient infrastructure.
• Presenting to CDRI governing bodies.
• Convening and conducting or attending and documenting meetings or consultations with external stakeholders, as required.

Skills

• Demonstrated expertise in the design and implementation of telecommunication infrastructure systems, such as telecom network planning and infrastructure resilience, including fiber-optic, microwave, mobile (4G/5G), satellite, and emergency communication systems to ensure connectivity during disasters.
• Demonstrated expertise in areas related to resilient infrastructure such as, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, risk analysis. Expertise in climate-resilient telecom infrastructure design, ensuring robustness against extreme weather events, power failures, and emergencies.
• Proven experience in ICT disaster recovery planning, including backup networks, redundant communication systems, and early warning system integration to maintain critical services.
• Strong collaboration experience with global telecom agencies, such as ITU, GSMA, ITSO, APT, ETC(WFP), ICT(OCHA), World Bank Digital Development, and regulatory bodies, ensuring compliance with national & international standards and best practices for telecom resilience.
• Expertise in deploying emergency and crisis communication systems, including satellite-based networks, IoT-enabled smart infrastructure, and resilient telecom grids for disaster-prone regions.
• Experience in network cybersecurity and data protection to enhance resilience against digital disruptions during climate-induced disasters.
• Knowledge of project management software (e.g. MS project, Primavera) and demonstrated skills in designing and implementing project monitoring systems.
• Proven ability to work effectively and innovatively in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural teams and with an entrepreneurial approach.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical and strategic planning skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Familiarity with international frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Paris Agreement.
• Experience working in an international organization and with a diverse number of partners comprising Governments, the UN, multi-lateral systems, industry, financial institutions, and knowledge and research institutions in multi-country locations.

Qualifications:

• Master's in telecommunications engineering, electrical engineering, ICT, network infrastructure, digital systems, or a closely related field. Equivalent related experience in telecommunications resilience, business continuity, or emergency communications may also be considered. Candidates with international education are desirable.

Experience:

• 10+ years, including at least 4 years in a leadership role at the national or international level, managing telecommunications and ICT infrastructure projects & advisories. The candidate must have worked on disaster risk reduction (DRR), infrastructure resilience, and climate adaptation with expertise in one or more of the following: Telecommunication Networks & Digital Infrastructure; Disaster-Resilient Communication Systems & Emergency Connectivity; Satellite Communications, 5G, and Fiber-Optic Network Resilience.

Reporting Line:

• The incumbent will report to the Director or the appropriate role per the approved organizational structure.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English, both oral and written.
• Knowledge of any of the UN's official languages will be an asset.