Senior infrastructure manager, UK & Ireland

This job is with Colt Technology Services, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Colt provides network, voice and data centre services to thousands of businesses around the world, allowing them to focus on delivering their business goals instead of the underlying infrastructure.

Why we need this role

Colt relies on third-party infrastructure to deliver and expand our network across the UK and Ireland. This includes fibre, colocation, leased infrastructure, subsea connectivity and other critical infrastructure supplied by external partners. Many of our infrastructure agreements are long-term commitments, with some spanning decades and now approaching renewal or expiry. We need someone who can take a strategic view of this estate, ensure we continue to secure the right infrastructure on the right commercial terms, and identify opportunities to optimise cost and value. This is a senior role for someone who understands both the technical realities of telecoms infrastructure and the commercial decisions behind it. The successful candidate will work with a high degree of autonomy, represent Infrastructure Management credibly with senior stakeholders and suppliers, and provide leadership cover for the Director when required.

What you will do

• Own the commercial lifecycle of third-party network infrastructure across the UK and Ireland, from sourcing and contracting through to renewal, optimisation and exit.
• Manage relationships, governance and negotiations with key infrastructure suppliers at senior and executive level.
• Review long-term agreements and develop strategies for renewal, renegotiation, migration, replacement or exit.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs, avoid future spend and improve commercial value across the infrastructure estate.
• Work across dark fibre, duct, colocation, leased backbone, subsea connectivity and related network infrastructure.
• Lead commercial negotiations, supplier selections, RFIs, RFPs, supplier onboarding and contracting activities.
• Build business cases and assess infrastructure options using TCO, cash flow, payback, NPV, indexation, revenue risk and other commercial measures.
• Lead through influence across Network Strategy, Engineering, Finance, Procurement, Legal and Operations, bringing stakeholders together around clear commercial outcomes and resolving competing priorities.
• Bring structure to complex programmes and initiatives, ensuring milestones, actions, risks, dependencies, ownership and decisions are followed through to completion.
• Act as a senior representative of Infrastructure Management, providing leadership cover for the Director when required and maintaining continuity of priorities, decisions and stakeholder engagement.

What we're looking for

• Around 8 to 12+ years of relevant experience within telecoms infrastructure, carrier relations, commercial network management, infrastructure procurement or a closely related area.
• Strong knowledge of telecom network infrastructure, ideally including dark fibre, duct, leased backbone, colocation or subsea infrastructure.
• Strong commercial background in telecommunications network procurement, with demonstrable experience leading complex sourcing, supplier negotiations, contract renewals and cost optimisation.
• Enough technical knowledge to work confidently with engineering and network stakeholders and understand the commercial implications of technical decisions.
• Experience managing complex suppliers and negotiating significant or long-term infrastructure agreements, including MSAs, framework agreements or major order forms.
• A strong analytical mindset, with experience developing commercial business cases and evaluating infrastructure investment options.
• Evidence of leading cross-functional projects, programmes or major workstreams through to measurable outcomes.
• A proactive and autonomous leadership style, with the judgement to take ownership, challenge assumptions, make recommendations and drive decisions forward, while recognising when escalation is required.
• Strong stakeholder-management and communication skills, with the ability to influence commercial, technical, financial, legal, supplier and senior audiences.
• The leadership breadth, commercial judgement and organisational influence to represent the function credibly and operate effectively at Director level when cover is needed.
• Established knowledge of the UK and Irish carrier and infrastructure market.
• Direct experience of subsea capacity procurement or UK and Irish Rights of Way would be advantageous.

What we offer you:

Looking to make a mark? At Colt, you’ll make a difference. Because around here, we empower people. We don’t tell you what to do. Instead, we employ people we trust, who come together across the globe to create intelligent solutions. Our global teams are full of ambitious, driven people, all working together towards one shared purpose: to put the power of the digital universe in the hands of our customers wherever, whenever and however they want. We give our people the opportunity to inspire and lead teams, and work on projects that connect people, cities, businesses, and ideas. We want you to help us change the world, for the better.

Diversity and inclusion

Inclusion and valuing diversity of thought and experience are at the heart of our culture here at Colt. From day one, you’ll be encouraged to be yourself because we believe that’s what helps our people to thrive. We welcome people with diverse backgrounds and experiences, regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability, neurodiversity, age, marital status, pregnancy status, or place of birth.

Most recently we have:

• Signed the UN Women Empowerment Principles which guide our Gender Action Plan
• Trained 60 (and growing) Colties to be Mental Health First Aiders

Please speak with a member of our recruitment team if you require adjustments to our recruitment process to support you. For more information about our Inclusion and Diversity agenda, visit our DEI pages.

Benefits

Our benefits support you through all parts of life, for both physical and mental health. Flexible working hours and the option to work from home. Extensive induction program with experienced mentors and buddies. Opportunities for further development and educational opportunities. Global Family Leave Policy. Employee Assistance Program.