Location: Baghdad
Job Type:
Permanent
Sectors:
Management
Closing Date:
2025-12-06
About vacancy
mselect is looking to hire an Operations Manager for a telecommunications company in Baghdad, Iraq. Candidates must have a minimum of 10 years of progressively senior experience in telecom, ICT, or related industries, with at least 3–5 years at a leadership/management level. Fluency in English and Arabic is a must.
Job Purpose
The Operations Manager supports the Country Manager in overseeing all operations of the Iraqi branch. This role acts as second-in-command, ensuring smooth execution of strategy, operations, business development, compliance, and stakeholder relations. In the absence of the Country Manager, the operations steps in and maintains full accountability for country performance.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic & Business Development:
Requirements
Essential Qualifications:
*Only applicants meeting the strict criteria outlined above will be contacted as part of the shortlisting process.
Job Purpose
The Operations Manager supports the Country Manager in overseeing all operations of the Iraqi branch. This role acts as second-in-command, ensuring smooth execution of strategy, operations, business development, compliance, and stakeholder relations. In the absence of the Country Manager, the operations steps in and maintains full accountability for country performance.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic & Business Development:
- Contribute to setting the country’s strategic plan, growth targets, and roadmap aligned with corporate objectives
- Identify new business opportunities, market segments, partnerships, and alliances in the telecom/ICT space
- Monitor market trends, regulatory changes, competition, and technology shifts to adjust strategy proactively
- Support commercial negotiations with operators, vendors, government agencies, and large customers
- Oversee day-to-day operations across functional units (sales, network deployment, service delivery, customer support)
- Ensure targets (revenue, profitability, cost control, KPIs) are met or exceeded
- Drive process improvements, quality assurance, operational efficiencies, and service excellence
- Ensure proper project management disciplines: scheduling, resource allocation, risk management, and reporting
- Assist with the preparation and management of the annual budget, forecasts, and P&L for the Iraq entity
- Monitor cost control, CAPEX/OPEX, cash flow, and ensure financial discipline
- Implement internal controls, audits, compliance, and financial reporting standards
- Review major capital investments, vendor contracts, and procurement decisions
- Support recruitment, training, performance management, and development of the country team
- Foster a high-performance, accountable, and collaborative culture
- Mentor and coach functional heads (sales, operations, finance, etc)
- Lead succession planning and talent retention initiatives
- Collaborate with regulatory bodies (e.g. Communications & Media Commission, Ministry of Communication) to ensure licensing, compliance, permits, and regulatory affairs
- Represent the company in industry forums, trade associations, and public/private stakeholders
- Manage relationships with key clients (operators, service providers, enterprises) and vendors
- Oversee contract negotiation, compliance, and enforcement
- Produce regular reports (monthly, quarterly) to headquarters/regional leadership: financials, operational metrics, strategic progress, risks & mitigations
- Ensure governance, compliance, legal, health & safety, and corporate policy adherence
- In the absence of the Country Manager, make executive decisions to maintain continuity
- Identify, monitor, and mitigate operational, legal, market, and security risks
- Ensure business continuity planning (BCP), especially in volatile or unstable environments
- Oversee security protocols for staff, assets, and sensitive infrastructure
Requirements
Essential Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Telecommunications, Engineering, or related field
- 10+ years of progressively senior experience in telecom, ICT, or related industries, with at least 3–5 years at the leadership/management level
- Strong financial, commercial, and operational acumen
- Proven track record of business development, P&L responsibility, and delivery of growth targets
- Experience dealing with government/regulatory bodies and complex stakeholder environments
- Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills
- Fluency in English and Arabic
- Willingness to travel frequently and operate under challenging/uncertain environments
- MBA or advanced degree
- Experience in Iraq or the Middle East region
- Experience in infrastructure, network rollout, managed services, or wholesale telecom domains
- Familiarity with international standards (e.g. ITIL, ISO, telecom regulatory frameworks)
- Strategic thinking & commercial orientation
- Analytical skills, data-driven decision making
- Leadership, team building, influence & motivation
- Negotiation, stakeholder management
- Change management, adaptability, resilience
- Project management & execution discipline
- Integrity, ethics, and accountability
*Only applicants meeting the strict criteria outlined above will be contacted as part of the shortlisting process.
