Area Operations Manager

Job Overview

True North Uganda is recruiting an Area Operations Manager to lead field operations across multiple telecommunications tower sites. The successful candidate will safeguard uptime, safety, and cost efficiency in line with strict service level agreements.

Reporting to the Country O&M Head, this role blends hands-on field leadership with strategic stakeholder engagement. It is ideal for an operations professional ready to take ownership of a regional portfolio.

Based in Uganda, the position requires regular site visits and close coordination with partners, technicians, customers, and government authorities. The role carries significant accountability for site reliability and community relations.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and reinforce a strong safety culture across every assigned tower site.
• Monitor compliance with all ESH guidelines, escalating gaps and driving corrective actions.
• Identify safety training needs and ensure teams meet regulatory compliance requirements.
• Manage external environmental risks by assessing area-specific challenges and mitigation plans.
• Engage community members, landowners, and local administrators to secure site support.
• Track partner performance against service level agreements and resolve delivery gaps.
• Review Tower Operating Centre reports and conduct root-cause analysis on outages.
• Coordinate with internal teams on requisitions, work orders, and timely site support.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or related technical field.
• Minimum five years managing telecommunications tower operations at regional level.
• Proven track record of meeting uptime and SLA targets across multiple sites.
• Strong knowledge of Ugandan safety, health, and environmental compliance frameworks.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills with landlords, authorities, and community leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead field engineers, technicians, and partner teams.

Desirable

• Experience with major tower operators such as IHS, Helios, or ATC Uganda.
• Working knowledge of energy management systems and hybrid power solutions.
• Familiarity with capex and opex planning processes for site stability projects.
• Project management certification such as PMP or PRINCE2 Practitioner.
• Prior responsibility for capex deployment and budget control across a multi-site region.

What the Role Offers

• Competitive gross salary benchmarked against leading tower operators in Uganda.
• Comprehensive medical insurance covering the employee and immediate dependents.
• Company vehicle, fuel allowance, and airtime for regular site travel duties.
• Performance bonus linked to uptime, safety, and cost optimisation KPIs.
• Clear career pathway into senior country operations and regional leadership roles.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit an updated CV, a cover letter, and copies of academic and professional certificates. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Please apply now by clicking the link below.

About True North Uganda

True North Uganda is part of a leading independent telecommunications infrastructure provider operating thousands of tower sites across Africa. The company delivers shared passive infrastructure, energy solutions, and managed services to mobile network operators, broadcasters, and internet service providers.

In Uganda, True North partners with major MNOs and enterprise customers to keep critical connectivity running. The organisation is recognised for its operational discipline, safety standards, and commitment to local communities.

True North invests heavily in employee development, safety culture, and sustainable energy practices. Its teams enjoy exposure to large infrastructure portfolios, structured processes, and meaningful career progression across the continent.

Why This Role Is a Strong Career Move

The Area Operations Manager position sits at the intersection of technical operations, commercial performance, and community engagement. For an experienced operations leader, it offers genuine ownership of regional outcomes rather than purely functional responsibilities.

Tower operations in Uganda continue to grow as mobile penetration deepens and 4G coverage expands into secondary towns. Demand for reliable uptime, hybrid power efficiency, and disciplined field maintenance has never been higher.

Candidates joining True North gain exposure to enterprise-grade processes, structured safety frameworks, and a senior leadership team focused on operational excellence. This combination accelerates professional growth.

Key Competencies We Are Looking For

Beyond qualifications, True North Uganda values leaders who demonstrate sound judgement, accountability, and the ability to remain calm under operational pressure. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for engaging with senior stakeholders.

The ideal candidate balances analytical thinking with practical field execution. They are comfortable interpreting uptime dashboards, conducting incident reviews, and translating findings into action plans.

Commercial awareness is also critical, as the role is expected to optimise opex spend without compromising service quality. The successful applicant will partner closely with finance and procurement colleagues.

Working Conditions and Field Expectations

The role involves regular travel to tower sites across the assigned area, often on unpaved terrain and in varied environments. Applicants should be physically fit and comfortable working at heights when required.

Standard working hours apply, but the role demands flexibility during outages, incidents, and major maintenance windows. Occasional weekend or after-hours response may be necessary.

True North provides appropriate PPE, safety training, and equipment to support safe field operations. The company expects strict adherence to all internal safety procedures at every visit.

Application Timeline and Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the deadline of 11 September 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted within two weeks of submission for an initial screening interview.

The full selection process includes technical interviews, a stakeholder scenario exercise, and final discussions with the Country O&M Head. Reference checks will be completed before any offer is extended.

True North Uganda is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from suitably qualified female and male candidates across the country. All applications are treated with strict confidentiality.

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