Chief Technology Officer (СТО) – Fiber Infrastructure & Network Operations

Job Overview

The Chief Technology Officer will lead Zuku Fiber’s technical strategy in Uganda, directing the planning, deployment, and operation of a nationwide fiber-optic network that delivers high-speed broadband to both residential homes and enterprise customers across urban and rural areas.

Reporting to the Country Managing Director, the CTO will align network investments with corporate objectives, oversee large-scale capital projects, ensure service reliability and quality of service, and drive technological innovation to maintain a competitive edge in Uganda’s broadband market.

The role demands a visionary leader who can translate commercial aspirations into tangible infrastructure outcomes, balancing rapid rollout with rigorous quality assurance, and fostering partnerships with government agencies, local communities, and technology providers to achieve sustainable network expansion across the country in the coming years.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the end-to-end technical strategy for Uganda’s fiber network, ensuring alignment with group objectives, long-term expansion goals, and emerging broadband technology trends.
• Direct all FTTx rollout initiatives, including route survey, civil works planning, OSP/ISP engineering, optical distribution network design, and connectivity for B2C and B2B subscriber segments.
• Manage large-scale network construction projects from initiation to close-out, enforcing strict adherence to schedules, quality standards, safety regulations, and budgetary controls through disciplined project governance.
• Oversee vendor and contractor relationships, negotiating SLAs, monitoring performance, conducting quality audits, and ensuring timely delivery of fiber installation, equipment supplies, and effective service activation.
• Lead the Network Operations Center and incident response team, establishing proactive monitoring, rapid fault resolution, root-cause analysis, and improvement of QoS metrics across the network.
• Drive technology innovation initiatives, evaluating new optical transport platforms, software-defined networking solutions, and automation tools to enhance network efficiency, reduce expenses, and improve service reliability.
• Ensure compliance with national telecommunications regulations, licensing requirements, and industry standards, coordinating with regulators, governmental bodies, and internal legal teams to maintain lawful network operations.
• Mentor and develop technical staff, fostering a culture of excellence, safety awareness, and continuous learning while building succession plans for critical engineering and operations roles.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related engineering discipline; a master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred for career advancement.
• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in fiber-optic network planning, deployment, and operations, with at least five years in a senior leadership or director-level position.
• Proven success managing multi-million dollar CAPEX programs, overseeing EPC contractors, and successfully delivering complex civil works and fiber plant projects on schedule and within budget.
• Deep expertise in FTTH/FTTB architectures, OSP/ISP standards, optical distribution network design, wavelength division multiplexing, and QoS mechanisms for carrier-grade broadband services and network security protocols.
• Strong background in vendor management, contract negotiation, and performance monitoring across multi-vendor environments, ensuring adherence to SLAs, quality benchmarks, and improvement initiatives across the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, drive organizational change, and implement best practices in network reliability, safety, continuous improvement initiatives, and service quality for customers.

Desirable

• Experience working with multinational telecom operators or regional fiber rollout consortia, understanding cross-border regulatory frameworks, international procurement practices, and compliance with global safety standards required.
• Proficiency in network automation, SDN controllers, API-driven orchestration, and cloud-based OSS/BSS platforms that accelerate service provisioning, reduce OPEX, and improve network agility for the business.
• Certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, ITIL, or vendor-specific credentials (e.g., Cisco, Juniper, Nokia, Huawei) are considered advantageous and valued by leaders for this senior role.
• Track record of building and mentoring high-performing engineering teams, promoting talent development, succession planning, and a culture of innovation, safety, and continuous learning for employees.
• Experience with financing structures for infrastructure projects, including debt, equity, and public-private partnership models that support large-scale fiber rollout and facilitate efficient successful project execution.
• Familiarity with emerging technologies such as XGS-PON, NG-PON2, and distributed access architecture, enabling future-proof network upgrades, service differentiation, and improved customer experience for end-users today.

What the Role Offers

• Attractive remuneration package comprising a competitive base salary, performance-linked bonuses, and annual increments aligned with individual and company performance metrics, and regular salary reviews.
• Nationwide comprehensive medical insurance covering inpatient, outpatient, dental, maternity, and vision care for the employee, spouse, and up to three dependent children, and wellness programs.
• Generous housing allowance, transport stipend, and daily lunch subsidy designed to ease relocation costs, support daily commuting within Uganda’s urban centers, and improve employee wellbeing.
• Opportunity to lead technology initiatives, shape the future of broadband connectivity in Uganda, and work with cutting-edge fiber optic solutions and a diverse, multicultural team.
• Access to continuous professional development, including sponsored training, industry conferences, and certification programs that enhance technical expertise, career growth, and leadership skills for future roles.

How to Apply

Please submit your updated curriculum vitae, certified copies of academic degrees and professional certifications, and a concise cover letter that highlights your experience in fiber-optic network leadership, strategic planning, and stakeholder management. Please apply now by clicking the link below.

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