Wireless Program Manager as Industry Influencer

The Wireless Program Manager position is unique as well as the company itself.  The role provides you with the opportunity to influence the wireless ecosystem, in particular the components in the Radio Access Network, mobile backhaul, handsets and emerging mobile devices by organizing and leading Working Groups to address those topics which need cross-industry collaboration to reach specific goals and conclusions. The Wireless Program Manager is a key part of the Working Groups, which are proposed by consortium members and are sponsored primarily by mobile operators, mobile handset OEMs and potentially automakers.

The Wireless Program Manager will perform research into the product and technology issues related to RF components, mobile operator requirements, cellular handsets/terminals and cellular network subsystems.  In gathering research of the industry and conversations with the membership, you will lead the working group projects and ensure these projects stay on topic and within the timelines.

The Role in a Nutshell
The Wireless Program Manager will plan and project manage existing and future Working Group projects such as next generation Mobile Device RF Front End Control Interface, 2.3–2.7 GHz Global Roaming Band Project – Exploring RF Innovation and Architectures, NGMN Multi-Band/Multi-Mode Devices, Handset Power Management, Tower Top Electronics Reliability, and beyond 4G Millimeter Wave Nanocells.

The Wireless Program Manager will assimilate into the culture and quickly assess the Consortium membership services proposition in order to provide input into creating more efficient processes, leverage workgroup/workshop synergies and potentially propose new services that IWPC can offer.

The Company

The International Wireless Consortium (IWPC) has retained NextGen Global Executive Search for the Wireless Program Manager role.  Our team has worked with IWPC prior.  The IWPC has organized more than 160 workshops in North America, Europe, and Asia on ALL things wireless, with more than 9000 individuals participating at these workshops.  The membership is worldwide consisting of Tier 1 mobile operators, network infrastructure vendors, mobile chipset manufacturers, RF components vendors, and handset/smartphone vendors.

The Wireless Program Manager will converse and develop  relationships with members who are  include product managers, R&D, strategy and capacity planning, systems engineering, hardware, software, and manufacturing engineers ranging from CTO and VP to senior RF engineers.

What You Will be Doing

• Identification of Working Group topics and goals which are achievable within the membership
• The Wireless Program Manager will identify and recruit key Working Group contributors
• Project manage group to create a Statement Of Work and agreed outcomes, such as a white paper, best practices documents, related workshop and workshop presentation, where appropriate)
• As Wireless Program Manager, manage all Working Group communications
• Create group conference calls among Working Group participants, provide web based tools for documentation collaborations, updating the CRM, and provide project materials.
• Ensure the working groups remain “on topic” and deliver an outcome within the agreed timeframe
• Wireless Program Manager will ensure linkage between Working Group activities and workshops
• Manage Working Group contributions to the workshops
• Research wireless sectors in order to assist with annual workshop topic planning and member surveys

Wireless Program Manager Performance Objectives

•  Working Group Project Management   Respond to communications within the working group, provide tools (setup conference calls, emails, and documentation needed) in order for the Working Group to achieve outcomes.  The Wireless Program Manager role  is the project management of Working Groups requiring diplomacy, excellent listening skills, and the ability to be consultative in your discussions, as the groups may consist of industry competitors who are working together towards a shared outcome that benefits their companies and the wireless ecosystem on the whole. The Wireless Program Manager is able to mediate in discussions in order to ensure satisfactory outputs which achieve the working group goals, while retaining support from individuals who may have differing opinion

• Policies and Procedures   Be able to take ownership of tasks by taking direction and running with it to completion.  Learn the procedures and policies that IWPC utilizes to make the Workshops and Working Groups successful.

• Relationships and Communications  The Wireless Program Manager should be comfortable with oral and written communications, and conversing one-on-one with different engineers, technologists and product owners in social gatherings as well.  Show that you can listen and ask questions – not give your opinion as it’s all about the customer/member companies and THEIR OPINIONS.  Probe deeper for contacts at a member company.  Show the ability to see the “big picture” rather than the parts and to be consultative based in your approach.  Demonstrate you can handle rejections and possess the intuition to not just build, but develop relationships.

•  Adjust to Ever Changing Priorities, Schedules, and Timelines Prioritize and be flexible within a small team environment where scheduling of tasks and timelines has changing priorities and deadlines.   The Wireless Program Manager will deliver all working group project management tasks as assigned.

•  Organizational Development and Resource Management  The Wireless Program Manager will conduct research of online resources, trade journals, social networks, and discussion groups to anticipate and identify trends and issues in the wireless ecosystem in order to suggest potential workshop topics and agendas.  Be able to motivate members to attend workshops, have a solutions-based approach to convince potential Working Group members and Featured Speakers to participate.

•  Delivery of Outcomes Making sure that Working Groups deliver outcomes including workshop presentations and white papers; wireless program manager also performs workshop topics research and forming agendas.

Ideal Candidate Profile of the Wireless Program Manager

The Wireless Program Manager will have most of the following traits including:

• 5-8 years of experience in the wireless industry with half of that being within a start-up or small company environment.
• Worked for an RF components vendor (base stations, receivers, mobile chipsets, or terminals).
• Have a solid understanding of the mobile eco-system (network infrastructure, radio access, handsets, mobile backhaul, etc.).
• At least two years working in a customer facing role.
• Leadership qualities that demonstrate a natural orientation towards team goals and functional social skills.
• Diplomatic and tactful yet persuasive. with a passion for customer appeal and customer satisfaction.
• In addition, the Wireless Program Manager has experience using a cloud based or SaaS based project management collaboration tool such as Project Place, Binfire, HyperOffice, etc. is essential.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for the Wireless Program Manager is commensurate with a wireless engineer with 5-8 years of experience with a base salary at 100k to 110K and

• Performance Bonuses paid quarterly according to meeting your performance objectives
• Benefits include PPO medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs, and life insurance.
• 401k plan with end of year profit sharing
• Full relocation package, if required, to include transportation of household goods, vehicle, and startup housing expenses.
• Subject to the inherent skills of the candidate and the ability and willingness to grow, in 2-3 years can move into part of the Management Team.