Field Team Leader – MBS
WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company)
Quick Take
Lead a regional 24/7 field engineering team managing WIOCC's Points of Presence, overseeing site infrastructure, incident resolution, and network maintenance across carrier-grade operations.
Proven field engineering or network operations leadership in telecoms/carrier environments, hands-on technical expertise, and experience managing 24/7 on-call teams.
Senior operational role with significant technical authority, managing critical pan-African infrastructure at a leading carrier, strong growth potential in a high-stakes, mission-critical environment.
Job Description
WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company) is a leading pan-African open-access wholesale carrier, providing high-capacity, reliable connectivity across Africa and beyond. With a growing network of Points of Presence (PoPs) across the continent, WIOCC delivers carrier-grade transport network services to telecoms operators, ISPs, and enterprises. The company is known for its commitment to operational excellence, innovation, and building world-class infrastructure across the African continent.
WIOCC is seeking an experienced and driven Field Team Leader to lead and manage its regional Field Engineering team. This is a senior operational role responsible for ensuring effective field support, timely resolution of escalated incidents, and the ongoing maintenance and stability of the WIOCC PoP network across the region. You will serve as the regional technical and operational authority, combining hands-on engineering expertise with strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
- Lead and manage a 24/7 regional field operations team, owning escalation processes and on-call rosters to ensure uninterrupted service delivery across carrier-grade transport networks.
- Oversee WIOCC Points of Presence (PoPs) and related site infrastructure, managing data centre and facility suppliers to meet availability, security, and access requirements.
- Plan and execute preventative and corrective maintenance programmes in strict compliance with HSE legislation, site safety rules, and permit-to-work processes.
- Drive rapid resolution of field incidents and chronic network faults, coordinating with the NOC and internal stakeholders to restore services within agreed SLAs.
- Manage regional spares and logistics, maintaining accurate inventory records and reconciling asset data in NetSuite to support audit readiness and operational continuity.
- Deliver end-to-end network implementation including installation, testing, commissioning, service integration, and handover into live operations with clean documentation.
- Own network quality and performance in-region, proactively identifying risks, monitoring trends, and implementing improvements to reduce repeat faults and improve uptime.
- Produce operational reports and translate field activity data into clear updates for management decision-making.
- Support cross-functional initiatives, lead regional projects, and provide structured status reporting, risk/issue management, and stakeholder communication throughout delivery.
- Champion effective use of NetSuite and data discipline across the team to ensure accurate, timely updates and reliable reporting.
- Uphold WIOCC policies and procedures, leading compliance activities and driving continuous improvement of operational standards.
- Proven experience in field engineering or network operations within a telecoms or carrier environment.
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing technical field teams, including 24/7 on-call operations.
- Strong understanding of carrier-grade transport networks and data centre/PoP infrastructure.
- Experience with HSE compliance, permit-to-work processes, and site safety management.
- Familiarity with network implementation lifecycles: installation, testing, commissioning, and handover.
- Experience using ERP/asset management tools such as NetSuite is an advantage.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate operational data into actionable management insights.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment.
Requirements Breakdown
Must Have
- Proven field engineering or network operations experience in telecoms or carrier environment
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing technical field teams
- Experience managing 24/7 on-call operations and escalation processes
- Knowledge of data centre operations, site infrastructure, and facility management
- Familiarity with NetSuite or similar asset/inventory management systems
Nice to Have
- Experience with Points of Presence (PoPs) or carrier-grade transport networks
- HSE compliance and permit-to-work process management experience
- Background in network implementation, commissioning, and service integration
- Project management and cross-functional stakeholder coordination skills
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Salary Context
Salary not specified; estimated competitive range for senior Field Team Leader role in Nairobi
Field Team Leader positions in Kenya's telecoms and carrier sector typically command 180,000–280,000 KES monthly, depending on team size, regional scope, and company scale. WIOCC's pan-African profile and carrier-grade mandate suggest this role sits toward the upper end. Missing salary is a modest concern for transparency.
About WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company)
WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company) is a pan-African open-access wholesale carrier providing high-capacity, reliable connectivity across Africa through a growing network of Points of Presence. The company operates mission-critical carrier-grade transport infrastructure serving telecoms operators, ISPs, and enterprises, making it a key player in African digital backbone development. Working at WIOCC offers exposure to continental-scale infrastructure challenges, operational excellence standards, and a leading role in connecting Africa's digital economy.
Likely Interview Questions
- 1
Describe your experience managing field teams in a 24/7 on-call environment. How have you structured escalation processes and on-call rosters to maintain service availability?
- 2
Tell us about a time you led a complex network incident or chronic fault to resolution. What was your approach, and how did you coordinate with NOC and other stakeholders to meet SLAs?
- 3
How have you managed regional spares inventory and asset data in previous roles? Walk us through your experience with systems like NetSuite or similar tools and audit readiness.
- 4
What experience do you have with Points of Presence (PoPs) or data centre operations? How have you managed relationships with facility suppliers and ensured compliance with HSE and security requirements?
- 5
Describe a regional infrastructure project you've owned end-to-end—from planning and installation through commissioning and handover. How did you ensure clean documentation and smooth transition to live operations?
Application Tips
Quantify your team leadership experience: specify team size, 24/7 coverage models you've implemented, and measurable improvements in SLA compliance or incident response times.
Highlight specific carrier or telecoms field engineering projects—mention PoPs, data centres, or critical infrastructure you've supported, and emphasize your hands-on technical credibility alongside leadership.
Showcase your asset and data discipline: provide concrete examples of NetSuite experience, inventory reconciliation achievements, or audit readiness work that demonstrates operational rigour and systems thinking.
Career Path
Roles that lead here
Where this leads
Skills & Keywords
Honest Assessment
Green Flags
- Clear, detailed role scope: the posting articulates a comprehensive, well-defined senior leadership role with specific deliverables (incident resolution, maintenance planning, asset management, reporting) and measurable accountability.
- Pan-African scale and impact: working for a leading carrier provides exposure to critical infrastructure, continental-scale problems, and significant operational influence across Africa.
- Strong company reputation: WIOCC is positioned as a market leader in African wholesale connectivity with a commitment to operational excellence and innovation.
- Career credibility and growth: this is a senior, hands-on technical leadership role that builds expertise in carrier-grade operations and positions candidates for director-level or C-suite progression.
Watch Out
- Salary not specified: given the seniority and scope of this role, the absence of salary transparency may deter strong candidates and suggests WIOCC may be flexible or uncertain on budget.
- Incomplete job description: the posting cuts off mid-sentence at 'Demonstrated leadership experience managing technical field teams, including 24/7 on-call operations'—likely missing preferred qualifications, benefits, or key details.
- No mention of relocation support or regional travel expectations: managing PoPs across a region may require frequent travel or relocation; clarity on mobility requirements and support would be expected.
A Day in the Life
Your week at WIOCC typically begins with a regional team standup reviewing 24/7 on-call handovers, pending incidents, and SLA status across all PoPs. You'll spend time triaging escalations from the NOC, coordinating with site engineers on preventative maintenance schedules, and liaising with data centre suppliers on capacity or security issues. Mid-week involves reviewing NetSuite asset data and logistics, preparing incident root-cause summaries for management, and potentially leading a site visit or implementation handover. You'll balance hands-on troubleshooting—stepping in on complex faults—with stakeholder meetings, project status updates, and compliance audits, ensuring the regional network remains stable and continuously improving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to be a Field Team Leader at WIOCC?
You need proven field engineering or network operations experience in telecoms/carrier environments, demonstrated leadership managing technical field teams (ideally in 24/7 on-call settings), and hands-on technical expertise. A background with data centre operations, asset management systems (like NetSuite), and HSE compliance is highly valued.
Is the Field Team Leader role at WIOCC remote or office-based?
This is a field operations and site leadership role based in Nairobi, involving regular on-site presence at PoPs and data centres across the region. Expect significant travel and on-site responsibility; remote work is unlikely given the 24/7 operational nature and need for hands-on site oversight.
How much does a Field Team Leader earn at WIOCC?
The posting does not specify a salary. Based on comparable Field Team Leader and regional operations roles in Kenya's telecoms sector, the estimated range is approximately 180,000–280,000 KES monthly, depending on team size, experience, and regional scope. Contact WIOCC directly for their specific offer.
What are the career growth opportunities from this role?
This senior field operations role is a strong platform for progression to Regional Operations Manager, Network Operations Director, or carrier infrastructure leadership positions. Success here builds credibility for broader P&L accountability and potential C-suite (COO, VP Operations) tracks within WIOCC or the wider telecoms sector.
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