Project Manager
Motorola Solutions
مجموع سنوات الخبرة :36 years, 10 أشهر
Rolled out 3000 SAM2 hybrid/site monitoring systems on sites on the entire Zain/Airtel mobile network in Nigeria
•Installed new turnkey 3G BTS sites and microwave backbone in Congo Brazza for Airtel whilst working as PM for Nokia Siemens Networks, and upgrading the existing Ericsson core network
•As Project Director for with Huawei installed a new 3G network in Sri Lanka as well as re-deployment of 2G to rural areas
•Expanded the 2G network in Congo DRC for Airtel using Ericsson equipment
•Undertook surveys and installed Congo Brazzaville transmission backbone for Celtel
•Whilst Sales and Marketing Director at Pace Communications I drove the sales to ensure we became the largest and most successful independent BT dealer in the South.
(Enterprise) - Tanzania (High speed data)
•Hired on a short term contract by Ceragon Networks on the express wishes of Ceragon Africa President to put processes in place to streamline the rollout of Enterprise Microwave Links for Airtel for high speed data delivery to banks etc. on a project that was previously hindered by bureaucracy and complicated installation and acceptance procedures
•Re- wrote the financial processes using a price menu structure agreed by all stakeholders so that the need for quotations from active subcontractors each time a link was installed, was eliminated.
•Ensured pricing with subcontractors was agreed in advance and negotiated with both Airtel and subcons to ensure Ceragon profited in all areas of the pricing structure.
•Close liaison with subcontractors to identify blocking points in installation and site acceptance processes to ensure a smooth and trouble free rollout.
•Re-wrote (with agreement from Airtel) their “request to start work” forms to ensure that all criteria was met in advance such as access permissions to the site, all technical information was provided and PAC/FAC could be done at the time of installation and so multiple visits to site became unnecessary.
•Oversaw handover from installation to a managed services environment providing maintenance and repair services.
In charge of full turnkey rollout representing Airtel in the acquisition and build of new greenfield 2G sites acting as Project Manager for Airtel, controlling the Project Managers of Technical Services Providers such as Ericsson, Leadcom etc who reported directly to me.
•Extensive customer facing experience
•Most communications (especially with engineers) were in French Language
•Controlling IWS engineering and auditing teams ensuring Technical Service Providers (TSP's) undertake site surveys, site acquisition, civil works and active equipment (base stations, transmission etc) installation safely, to specification, on time and on budget.
•Rollouts undertaken were rollouts/network build whilst representing the Client (Airtel) during Site Acquisition, Civil Works, Telecoms Installations, Power Installations, Commissioning, etc. and also during upgrade projects, specifically dealing with quality issues, scheduling, reporting, cost control, escalations, etc.
•I ensured the framework was enforced, setting the project standards and governance/quality thresholds for the teams. A key responsibility was to ensure that the client's specifications, safety and quality standards were upheld and maintained in the field.
•Undertook coaching/training for local IWS engineers and Junior Project Managers in customer relations and effective Project Management procedures and processes.
Started multiple projects from scratch and in overall charge of several concurrent network build projects including 2G BTS upgrades to 3G, microwave links installation and upgrades, 6 new BSC's imcluding Gemini and Netact, new hybrid installation on sites and new 3G rollout with node B's RNC's etc. for Airtel Congo
•Undertook all processes including ordering, cost baseline monitoring, rental of office/accommodation, sourcing and managing suitable contractors/local labour and managing NSN personnel in country.
•Close customer facing during liaison with Airtel CTO, Airtel Global Managers, Ericsson PMC and technical managers to ensure core and sites were on target with the correct quality/health and safety processes in place and within budget.
•Produced project plans, forecasts, rollout strategies and budgets
in charge of new greenfield site rollouts of BTS sites. Included both civil works, BTS and microwave links
•Close liaison customer facing with MTN to ensure rollout went to plan, on time, at the right quality and at the right cost.
•Included project planning, managing contractors and visiting sites to ensure quality and safety standards were met.
•Produced project plans, forecasts, rollout strategies and budgets.
Special Projects
•In charge of rollout and implementation of 3000 Inala hybrid SAM2 (remote alarm monitoring and site control) in 3000 GSM sites (NSN, Ericsson and Huawei BTS, switch & hub sites) with numerous multi-cultural teams of employees deploying throughout Nigeria.
•Close liaison with all other departments within Zain, (formerly Celtel) particularly with NOC and operations and fault management departments.
•Specifying equipment and implementing other solutions for other BTS sites for evaluation purposes.
•Define and implement service delivery strategy including quality specifications relating to the project
•Managing project and contractors activities, visiting sites regularly ensuring all aspects of rollout are of the acceptable quality, at the right price and on time.
•Target setting and management of teams performances for KPI's and business management
•Produce project plans, forecasts, rollout strategies and budgets.
•Negotiating costings for additional equipment and monitoring deliveries to ensure equipment arrives on time.
•Managing Zain acceptance teams ensuring all sites are correctly reporting end to end back to NOC
In charge of rollout and implementation of new BTS sites throughout Sierra Leone (both Civils and RF) with network infrastructure building and an additional BSC away from the main switch. Rollout finished on time.
•Close customer facing liaison with all other departments within Celtel, particularly with CTO, technical, planning and operations depts. to ensure we are purchasing the correct items for the BSC and BTS sites.
•Implementation of INALA (Site Access Management) and obsolete hybrid swapouts
•Visit sites during the survey to ensure the project department agrees with planning department and marketing on the location of sites. The sites are very remote often in jungle locations and difficult to access.
•Reporting activities to Celtel's CTO and head office, using Microsoft Project and Excel.
•Managing project and acquisition team as well as contractors activities, visiting sites regularly ensuring all aspects of rollout are of the acceptable quality, at the right price and on time.
•Produce project plans, forecasts, rollout strategies and budgets.
Headed up Alan Dick's operations in Gabon overseeing rollouts in greenfield GSM and transmission sites (usually in forest/jungle locations) from establishing an in-country presence, employing contractors, providing civil works, installation and systems integration right
Set up company to originally to sell telecom equipment, but more later working as a contract PM for GSM rollouts and band upgrades in EMEA and French speaking Africa (mainly Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Gabon) for the local network operators.
•Provided hands-on site surveys, project management, planning, installation and commissioning of microwave links in Congo B, DRC (backbone for Celtel (Airtel)) and Gabon for Celtel (local operator).
•Installed and commissioned Motorola repeater systems in Gabon oil fields.
•Operated in Gabon as Project Manager, customer facing in overall charge of new rollouts and upgrading of Celtel's existing GSM network in Libreville and Port Gentil . Job involved budget management, multiple team management (French speaking personnel) and change management as well as civil works for new sites and in-country sourcing and purchasing, all to very tight schedules and deadlines. I ensured each site met Celtel's standards so they could be signed off successfully at end of project. English is my first language but I am also French speaking.
Managed UK office and staff (as well as P&L etc.) for UK office.
•Won a substantial portable wireless data order for the UK Royal Navy
•Won large order for King of Morocco for digital 2Mb links.
•Experience in working in Russia
•Strong customer facing experience with network build and design
•Started French speaking Africa reseller network.
•Initiated and maintained E & W European & W. Asia reseller
network, and in charge of business development for the area.
Provided technical support for dealers from UK office
•Set up and maintained a demo room for our digital link equipment at our new office in Antwerp for visiting customers.
•Suggested new phonelink products that increased earnings by 12%.
•Negotiated multi-million orders successfully on many occasions up to government ministerial level.
•I.T. manager for UK office. Set up UK office computer network.
•Designed and launched Telemobile's first web pages.
•Guest speaker on numerous occasions at International telecommunications conferences.
•Assist in annual United States Telecom Training Institute courses at Telemobile offices in Los Angeles.
•Travelled extensively worldwide. French Speaking
Started company from scratch with other directors to become the largest independent radio telecoms company in the south
•Undertook UK type approval control for mobile/handhelds.
•Negotiated BT dealership - first to sell mobile phones in the South.
•Imported 2-way radio equipment from Japan.
•Instigated UK manufacturing of handheld radio data terminals/EPOS equipment
•Initiated and maintained UK reseller network for imported Japanese equipment.
•Implemented training courses for new recruits and customers/dealers.
•Ran sales teams for local business and national reseller network
Responsible for maintaining and operating ALL radio/electronic equipment on board large container vessels from crew video machine to data logger HF, VHF and radar & satellite navigation systems.
• Responsible for all electronic safety equipment and procedures on board.
• Trained Junior Radio Officers
• Maintained ships accounts
• Heavily involved with GMDSS trials with UK Ministry of Defence.
• Undertook product-specific technical training when in UK (about 1-2 months per year) usually computer-assisted radar equipment. (Raytheon, Marconi,
Decca) and TX/RX HF equipment
•Worked on ships bridge as a key member of the bridge officer team operating ferries out of Dover/Boulogne, over and above the regular Radio Officer role.
•Travelled extensively worldwide
Attained whilst with Marconi (6 month course) •Numerous other equipment related courses (Radar, HF, MF &VHF transmitters/receivers Sat Nav, echosounders etc) Prior to that