Lead Specialist – Telecommunication Sector Resilience Expert

About CDRI

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a global partnership of national governments, UN agencies, multilateral development banks, private sector, and academic institutions. It aims to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems against climate and disaster risks to ensure sustainable development.

Strategic Context

CDRI’s Strategic Work Plan 2023–2026, CDRI focuses on:

• Building a strong coalition with global leadership.
• Advancing research and peer learning to promote risk-informed policies.
• Enhancing the capacity of governments, private enterprises and communities to implement resilient infrastructure and recovery programmes at scale.

The CDRI Secretariat, based in New Delhi, coordinates and implements the Coalition’s strategic priorities and activities.

Objective of the Position

The Lead Specialist – Telecommunication Sector Resilience Expert will guide the design and delivery of technical assistance and capacity-building efforts aimed at enhancing the resilience of telecommunication infrastructure in CDRI member countries. The position supports national and regional disaster-resilient infrastructure goals by integrating best practices, advanced technologies, and strategic partnerships in the telecom and ICT domains.

Reporting Line

Reports to the relevant Director per the approved organizational structure.

1. Technical Assistance

• Develop and manage technical assistance initiatives to support disaster and climate resilience in telecom infrastructure.
• Mobilize experts and partners for country-specific telecom resilience projects.
• Conduct risk and resilience assessments of telecom systems, including mobile, satellite, fiber-optic, and emergency networks.
• Address gaps in telecom codes, standards, and resilience protocols.
• Promote lifecycle resilience planning across all phases of telecom infrastructure—from strategy and design to operation and end-of-life.
• Facilitate integration of innovative technologies, such as IoT, 5G, and AI-based early warning systems.
• Support the development of resilience-focused financing mechanisms and projects.

2. Capacity Building

• Develop and deliver capacity-building programmes for stakeholders in the telecom sector.
• Prepare policy papers, technical guidance, and case studies.
• Engage with global and regional telecom bodies to share best practices and build coalitions.
• Forge partnerships with national telecom regulators, standard-setting organizations, and capacity-building institutions.

3. Programme Management & Representation

• Lead project management processes, including monitoring, reporting, and evaluation.
• Support the development of proposals and reports for funding partners.
• Represent CDRI at high-level international forums, conferences, and governing bodies.
• Facilitate internal and external meetings, ensuring documentation and follow-up.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in telecommunications engineering, ICT, electrical engineering, network infrastructure, or related fields.
• Equivalent related experience in telecom resilience, business continuity, or emergency communications will be considered.
• International education experience is an asset.

Experience

• At least 10 years of professional experience, including 4+ years in a leadership role at the national or international level.
• Proven experience in managing telecom/ICT infrastructure projects with a focus on resilience, disaster risk reduction, and climate adaptation.
• Exposure to domains such as 5G, fiber-optic networks, satellite communication, and emergency connectivity.
• International project experience across at least 5 countries and 2 UN geographic regions is required for international hire eligibility.

Key Skills and Competencies

• In-depth knowledge of telecom infrastructure resilience and climate risk.
• Experience with global telecom and disaster management stakeholders such as ITU, GSMA, OCHA-ICT, and World Bank Digital Development.
• Familiarity with ICT disaster recovery, cyber resilience, and backup systems.
• Competence in project management tools and monitoring systems.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and cross-cultural team collaboration skills.
• Knowledge of the SDGs, Sendai Framework, and Paris Agreement.
• Experience working in multi-lateral systems and in multi-country environments.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English (oral and written) is essential.
• Proficiency in any of the UN’s official languages is an asset.

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