Program Manager

*Position: Program Manager – Wireless Telecom (RAN/Core Operations & Multi-Vendor Management)*

*No of years exp: 15+*

*Work Location : Philadelphia (No Remote)*

*Visa independent candidates only*

*Position Summary*

We are seeking an experienced Program Manager with strong expertise in Wireless Telecommunications, including RAN (Radio Access Network) and Core Network domains, to lead and govern a large-scale production and maintenance program. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience managing complex wireless ecosystems involving multiple network vendors, cross-functional teams, technology partners, and customer stakeholders.

This role will be responsible for driving operational excellence, vendor coordination, release governance, service assurance, issue resolution, and strategic roadmap execution across wireless network platforms and supporting IT systems.

*Key Responsibilities*

Program Leadership

Lead end-to-end program execution for wireless network operations, maintenance, and enhancement initiatives.

Manage program scope, schedules, budgets, risks, dependencies, and stakeholder communications.

Drive governance forums, executive reviews, and operational status reporting.

Ensure alignment between business objectives, technology roadmaps, and operational priorities.

Wireless Network Expertise

Act as primary liaison between business, network engineering, operations, vendors, and technology teams.

Understand and manage dependencies across:

RAN (4G LTE / 5G)

Core Network

IMS/VoLTE

OSS/BSS ecosystems

SIM and Subscriber Management Platforms

Coordinate activities involving network upgrades, feature rollouts, and maintenance releases.

Multi-Vendor Management

Manage relationships with multiple vendors and system integrators.

Drive vendor accountability against SLAs, deliverables, and operational commitments.

Coordinate troubleshooting and root cause analysis across vendor domains.

Facilitate resolution of critical production issues spanning multiple technology stacks.

Operations & Service Assurance

Oversee production support activities and service performance metrics.

Track incidents, problem management, escalations, and corrective actions.

Ensure compliance with change management and release management processes.

Lead post-incident reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.

Stakeholder Management

Collaborate with senior leadership, customer organizations, engineering teams, and operations groups.

Present program health, risks, mitigation plans, and strategic recommendations.

Drive alignment across distributed teams operating in multiple time zones.

Risk & Compliance

Identify and manage program risks, technical dependencies, and operational challenges.

Ensure adherence to telecom industry standards and regulatory requirements.

Support audit and compliance activities as required.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Science, or related field.

15+ years of experience in Wireless Telecommunications.

5+ years of Program Management experience leading large-scale telecom programs.

Strong understanding of:

4G LTE Architecture

5G Standalone (SA) and Non-Standalone (NSA)

RAN technologies

EPC / 5G Core

IMS / VoLTE

Subscriber Management Systems

Experience working with major telecom operators and network vendors.

Proven track record managing multi-million-dollar programs and cross-functional teams.

Strong knowledge of Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid delivery models.

*Preferred Qualifications*

Experience with major wireless vendors and Cloud such as:

Nokia

Samsung

AWS

Familiarity with TM Forum standards and Open APIs.

Experience with cloud-native telecom platforms.

Knowledge of network automation and orchestration frameworks.

PMP, PgMP, Agile, Scrum, or SAFe certifications preferred.

*Desired Skills*

Executive stakeholder management

Vendor governance

Wireless network architecture understanding

Program planning and execution

Production operations management

Risk management

Financial and budget management

Incident and escalation management

Strategic communication

Cross-functional leadership