Emergency Telecommunications Specialist

About the Company

Unable to provide sponsorship at this time. Only considering persons eligible to work in the United States.

Global Support and Development is seeking to hire an Emergency Telecommunications (ETC) Specialist within our Programs section. The position is full-time, fixed-term, and will end on December 18, 2026. Reporting to our Senior Manager of National Response System Effectiveness (NRSE), the ETC Specialist will serve as a technical leader and project manager, responsible for ensuring the successful implementation of the Response Coordination program. This position will be an in-person role based in Charlotte, N.C. with significant travel to Caribbean and Central America. The Emergency Telecommunications Specialist will work to ensure successful implementation of the Response Coordination program strategy by supporting priority countries with ETC services, ensuring that they are efficient, effective, and sustainable.

About the Role

GSD Offers a Comprehensive Benefits Package To Include:

• Up to 25 days of accrued vacation
• Up to 80 hours of annual sick leave
• Up to 80 hours of Military Pay and 30 Days Differential
• Medical, Dental and Vision (GSD covers monthly premium)
• Group Life and AD&D Coverage (GSD covers monthly premium)
• Retirement (Pre and Post Tax Options) and a Company Match
• Matches on Qualified 529 Plans
• Up to 14 Paid Holidays

Want to know more? Read below for additional responsibilities and qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead ETC Engineer for the Response Coordination Strategy, overseeing both emergency telecommunications (Radio and Satellite) and critical IT infrastructure components. This includes developing robust and scalable solutions and building local capacity for their long-term sustainability;
• Lead the assessment, design, and implementation of essential IT infrastructure, including data centers, server architecture, network security, and cloud solutions, to support humanitarian operations;
• With key partners, identify, assess, and prioritize areas impeding the reliability and resilience of essential telecommunications infrastructure in GSD prioritized area of operations;
• Improve the preparedness of national and local authorities and their key partners to strengthen response readiness and local capacity based on best practices;
• Adopt sound project management approaches to support the management, oversight, measurement, and reporting of GSD-supported ETC projects;
• In collaboration with the Innovation team, facilitate the provision of high-quality and appropriate technology solutions, and foster a culture of innovation to deliver quality services for key national authorities;
• Ensure coordination and collaboration with relevant regional bodies in accordance with Partnership protocols. This will include but is not limited to CDEMA and CARILEC to align GSD's efforts with regional strategies and foster strong, long-term partnerships;
• Manage and coordinate a network of in-region specialists and consultants, providing technical guidance, project oversight, and mentoring to enhance local expertise and ensure project success;
• Prompt and action GSD’s core values of accountability, humility, and integrity in all work we conduct;
• Promote good stewardship of financial and other resources to achieve maximum benefit to those impacted by disaster or at risk of impact;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Experience:

• Ten (10) or more years of relevant work experience in emergency telecommunications, preferably in the humanitarian sector;
• Five (5) or more years experience operating in emergency telecommunications in an international context;
• Proven experience designing and managing sustainable projects in accordance with international project management standards. Project management certification is a plus;
• Professional experience in an international, humanitarian context running large Telecom/ICT Support Operations, with proficiency in the basic use of various types of communications equipment (including mobile radios VHF, UHF, HF and IP Radio, satellite phones, BGAN, LANs and WANs); and also involving emergency response operations for ETC;
• Five (5) years of experience in the design, installation, configuring, and troubleshooting of a wide range of communications and IT infrastructure systems, including IP networks (LAN/WLAN/WAN), server administration (Microsoft and Linux), VoIP/Unified Communications, cybersecurity protocols, and experience in configuring smart phones of various operating systems;
• Five (5) years of experience in installing and programming HF base and mobile stations and VHF/UHF analog and digital portable, mobiles and base stations and repeaters, along with troubleshooting and maintaining radio equipment and networks;
• Two (2) years of experience in installing, configuring, and troubleshooting analog and digital PABXs and IPBXs/VoIP/Unified communications systems;
• Experience in cybersecurity a plus;
• Demonstrated experience working and leading technical projects in the Caribbean region is highly preferred, with a strong understanding of the unique logistical, cultural, and infrastructure challenges present in this area;
• Additional vocational/on the job training and participation in field deployment exercises are a plus.

Education

• Master of Science or Engineering in Telecommunications Network Systems, IT/Computer networks, Information Systems Management or Computer Science applications preferred; or Equivalent education and experience.

Professional Licenses/Certifications

• Part 107 License is desired;
• ITIL 3 certification is desired;
• Certification in project management is desired.

Knowledge/Skills

• Proven ability to produce quality results within challenging timeframes and ongoing change;
• Program oversight and management, development of programmatic policy, procedure, and guidelines;
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously under pressure;
• Proven ability to manage contractors and consultants’ field work, with the ability to develop the skills of local staff and consultants in diverse cultural contexts;
• Cultural awareness and the ability to work collaboratively with a wide array of stakeholders to build relationships;
• Proficiency with basic office software (i.e., Microsoft Office, Google Docs, etc.);
• Advanced knowledge of IT infrastructure best practices, including network architecture, data security, and disaster recovery planning;
• Proficiency in coordinating teams of various backgrounds and ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously under pressure;
• Superior organizational skills, the ability to shift tasks rapidly, be self-motivated