The Nokia Client Chief Technology Officer (CTO) serves as a visionary and strategic leader, leading technical engagements with customer CxO’s and devising comprehensive cross-business group (BG) solution strategies for a large communications service provider (CSP) customer.
This position partners with the Nokia Account Executive as the principal technical advisor to ensure alignment with the customer’s technological, transformation and business objectives. The position is accountable for ensuring overall technical program and architecture alignment, fostering technology innovation and co-creation, and delivering strategic value across network domains.
The CTO/EA role requires a deep understanding of telecommunications domains and themes including RAN, transport, core, cloud-native architecture, hyperscaler ecosystems, OSS/BSS, security, AI, and automation. The CTO is also expected to provide feedback to the BG’s to help set technical direction for future products and current product evolution.
- Maintain a strategic outlook of the customer’s business and technology plans to serve as Nokia’s primary technical leader, partner and advisor for the customer.
- Support the customer’s transformation journey and guide internal stakeholders to align multi-domain architecture strategies with the customer’s business and technology objectives.
- Collaborate with Bell Labs, business group (BG) product and R&D, pre-sales, and delivery teams to align technological programs and innovation/co-creation initiatives with customer needs.
- Engage with customer CTOs, CIOs, CISOs, enterprise architects, engineering and network leaders to support customer transformation initiatives, and jointly drive strategic technology and use case adoption.
- Engage with Bell Labs business case analyst to create compelling value-based proposals that drive business outcomes for both network and enterprise clients within the CSP
- Lead the creation and governance of end-to-end solution architectures spanning network, cloud and IT domains.
- Provide leadership in designing and creating innovative cross-BG solutions with clear architectural recommendations and value propositions.
Maintain knowledge of industry trends, standards (e.g., TM Forum, 3GPP), best practices, competitive landscapes, and emerging technologies.
Key Deliverables
- Lead and oversee the overall technical account plan across domains and contribute to solution designs, executive briefings and executive review meetings.
- Define end-to-end solution architectures, models and blueprints.
- Create joint multi-year program solution technology roadmaps and transformation plans aligned with the CSP customer’s business and network evolution.
- Provide business case support, ROI/TCO models, and technology/innovation assessments.
- Provide regular updates to internal and external stakeholders on technology program progress, risks, and alignment.
Lead or support innovation workshops, CxO level presentations, and technical white papers.
Leadership Characteristics & Qualities
- Strategic thinker with a deep understanding of telecommunications technologies, enterprise architecture frameworks and CSP transformation and business challenges.
- The ability to develop and execute strategic plans, with a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction.
- Strong executive presence and the ability to influence decision-making at CxO level.
- Proven ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams in a matrix organization.
- Strong collaborator with experience in customer co-creation and joint innovation initiatives.
- Results-driven mindset with a focus on customer success, quality, and continuous improvement.
- 15+ years of experience in the telecommunications industry, with experience in a CTO, Chief Architect or equivalent role.
- Proven experience supporting Tier 1 telecom operators in strategic technical roles.
- Deep knowledge of telecom technologies (RAN, Transport, Core, OSS/BSS, digital services) and familiarity with key trends impacting service providers including AI, Automation, Advanced Connectivity (5G-A, 6G), Cloud Native Architecture, Cybersecurity, Edge Computing, IoT Connectivity, Monetization, Sustainability, etc.
- Strong communication, interpersonal and presentation skills with the ability to engage with customer CxO’s and industry analysts.
- Demonstrated ability to work across business and technology domains to influence and deliver strategic outcomes.
- Ability to drive strong collaboration among cross-functional teams in a matrix organization.
- Existing relationships within the CPS CxO level and relationships at the technical working level would be a significant asset
Success Criteria
- Financials and customer share of wallet (order intake) based on winning new business and displacing competition
- Technical account plan content that provides value to the CSP and drives new business
- Development and success of new large transformational and innovative initiatives.
- Thought leadership and contributions to Nokia cross-BG collaboration and customer initiatives.
- Customer and Internal stakeholder satisfaction including customer feedback.
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