About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced Senior Consultant to lead the end-to-end design and deployment of a nationwide mobile communications network dedicated to blue light services (emergency services including police, ambulance, and fire) across an African nation. This role requires strategic leadership, technical depth, and the ability to operate in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.

You will be responsible for advising government bodies, vendors, and engineering teams on network design, spectrum planning, deployment strategy, operational readiness, and secure communications protocols for mission-critical public safety communications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Programme Leadership: Advise and support national and regional authorities on the planning and execution of a secure and resilient mobile network for emergency services.

• Network Design & Architecture: Develop the high-level and detailed architecture of the mobile network (eg, LTE/5G, satellite integration, secure core network).

• Technical Advisory: Provide expert input into RFPs, vendor evaluations, technology selection, and contract negotiations.

• Regulatory & Spectrum Coordination: Guide government stakeholders on licensing, spectrum allocation, and compliance with national and international telecommunications regulations.

• Operational Planning: Support planning for network rollout, maintenance strategies, network operations centres (NOCs), and incident response protocols.

• Security & Resilience: Ensure the network design meets mission-critical standards including redundancy, encryption, cyber resilience, and disaster recovery.

• Stakeholder Management: Liaise with ministries of interior, defence, ICT, telecom operators, equipment providers, and international development partners.

• Capacity Building: Help establish local capabilities through knowledge transfer, training programmes, and documentation.

Required Experience & Qualifications:

• Proven track record (10+ years) in designing, deploying, and managing mobile or public safety communications networks, preferably in emerging markets or complex geographies.

• Deep understanding of LTE/4G/5G networks, secure communications, mission-critical services (eg, MCPTT, MCData, MCVideo), and infrastructure integration (satellite, fibre, microwave).

• Prior experience with emergency communications networks such as TETRA, FirstNet, SafeNet, or equivalent.

• Strong knowledge of spectrum management, telecom regulation, and PPP (Public-Private Partnership) frameworks.

• Experience engaging with government stakeholders, development agencies, and telecoms vendors in an advisory or consultancy capacity.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-cultural collaboration skills.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field; relevant certifications a plus (eg, PMP, TOGAF, CISSP).

Desirable:

• Experience working in Africa or in post-conflict/post-disaster contexts.

• Fluency in French or a local language (depending on country).

• Familiarity with donor-funded programmes (eg, World Bank, UNDP, USAID).

Some travel to Africa will be required