Head of Sector Strategy & Strategy Projects

Department: Strategy

Team: Sector Strategy

Location: London (Hybrid)

Position type: Permanent Full time

What the hiring manager says

The telecoms and technology ecosystem is entering one of the most consequential periods in its history. Telcos technology companies vendors policymakers and regulators are all redefining their roles in an increasingly interconnected and competitive landscape.

As Chief Strategy Officer I am building a Strategy function that ensures GSMA remains relevant forward-looking and indispensable to our members. The Head of Sector Strategy & Strategy Projects will play a central role in defining the industrys 35 year strategic outlook and translating it into clear positioning and priorities for GSMA.

This is not a traditional planning role. It is about shaping the strategic narrative of the sector anticipating disruption and ensuring GSMA stays ahead of structural shifts in technology regulation competition and business models.

Hakan Dursun Chief Strategy Officer

About the Team

The Strategy team shapes the long-term direction of the GSMA to ensure we provide maximum value to our members and the broader mobile ecosystem.

The team is responsible for:

• Sector Strategy & Strategy Projects defining the industrys 3-5 year outlook and implications for GSMA

• Corporate Strategy & Strategy Projects developing the 3-year strategic roadmap of GSMA KPIs business plan and high-level operating plan

• Strategic Initiatives leading/ coordinating cross-functional initiatives externally and internally (e.g. 5G monetisation 6G AI Innovation inorganic growth opportunities AI-first GSMA etc.)

• GSMA Intelligence the only data and insights source built from inside the telecoms industry delivering trusted forecasts real-time insights and deep research across the global telecoms ecosystem

• Strategy Group convening telecom CSOs to align on industry-level priorities

As a small high-impact team we work across functions and regions to drive clarity alignment and execution against long-term goals.

About the role

The Head of Sector Strategy & Strategy Projects is responsible for defining and continuously evolving GSMAs sector-level strategy.

This role provides a structured understanding of the strategic roadmaps priorities and challenges of key industry stakeholders - including telcos technology companies vendors policymakers and regulators - and translates these insights into a comprehensive 3 - 5 year sector strategy.

The role ensures GSMA remains aligned to the most critical global and regional industry priorities and is positioned as a trusted strategic partner to its members.

Key Responsibilities

Sector Strategy Development

• Develop and own a comprehensive 3 - 5 year sector strategy for GSMA

• Map the strategic roadmaps and investment priorities of key ecosystem stakeholders (telcos tech companies vendors regulators policymakers)

• Identify global structural themes and regional variations in priorities and challenges

• Translate industry shifts into clear implications for GSMA positioning and priorities

• Provide strategic inputs into the corporate strategy and annual business planning cycle

Foresight & Horizon Scanning

Lead structured horizon scanning and scenario planning to anticipate shifts in:

• Telecom and technology evolution

• AI and emerging technologies

• Regulatory and policy frameworks

• Competitive dynamics

• Consumer behaviour

Additionally develop alternative future scenarios and stress-test GSMAs strategic positioning and establish early-warning mechanisms for disruptive market developments.

Market Intelligence & Strategic Analysis

• Conduct market landscaping and competitive analysis across core and adjacent sectors

• Develop business cases and strategic options assessments

• Commission and interpret external research where necessary

• Partner closely with GSMA Intelligence to integrate market data into strategic insights

• Produce executive-level strategic briefings for the Leadership team Director General and the Board

Cross-Functional & Regional Collaboration

• Work very closely with key functional/ regional teams to understand top global & regional priorities and challenges

• Ensure sector strategy reflects global & regional realities and opportunities

• Contribute to corporate strategy for strategic alignment across functions/ regions

• Contribute to strategic initiatives led by the broader Strategy team

External Representation & Ecosystem Engagement

• Represent GSMA in relevant strategy innovation and industry forums

• Engage with senior stakeholders across telcos technology firms vendors and policy bodies

• Position GSMA as a thought leader in sector-level strategic dialogue

About You

• Significant experience in strategy consulting corporate strategy or corporate development (ideally in telecoms)

• Deep understanding of the telecom ecosystem including policy / regulatory and technology dynamics

• Demonstrated experience developing long-term strategic frameworks and future scenarios

• Strong commercial acumen and ability to translate industry insight into actionable strategy

• Experience influencing senior executive stakeholders

• Proven ability to operate in complex multi-stakeholder environments

• Excellent analytical structuring modelling and storytelling capabilities

• Experience engaging at C-suite level is highly desirable

• Exceptional communication and presentation abilities

• Proven track record of delivering growth initiatives

• Management consulting background

About Your Skills

We strive to offer a meaningful and inclusive application experience for all candidates. Should you require any accommodations or adjustments due to a disability or for any other reason during the hiring process please contact with your request.

Contract type

Worker type

What We Offer

Working at the GSMA offers you unparalleled access to the mobile industry. We offer a chance to truly shape the direction of mobile whatever your role. By joining the GSMA you will be exposed to a fast-paced rapidly evolving environment working on global solutions genuinely fascinating and industry-changing projects and a stimulating and dynamic environment designed to enable you to flourish.

In addition to architect-designed offices and competitive compensation our benefits include fantastic learning & development opportunities generous holiday allowances four additional days off for professional development and many others.

To learn more about the GSMA visit our career site our LinkedIn page and our Twitter page.

Being You at the GSMA

We care deeply about diversity equity and inclusivity and aspire to be the best at it. Your well-being and work/life balance is important so flexi-time and remote working is available to all staff. Were keen to ensure everyone is equal represented and connected so we particularly encourage applications from all demographics. The sucess of the GSMA year on year will continue to be contributed by people from all walks of life.

GSMA Values

Our values not only drive our culture they shape how we work and interact inside and outside our global organisation.

Passionately driven

We approach everything we do with unparalleled capability tenacity and commitment knowing that the challenging scale pace and complexity of our work is what leads to its world-changing impact.

Insightful leaders

We continually develop and engage our expertise insight and creativity so that were always ready to respond to the changing landscape with authority agility and nuance.

Stronger together

We lean on each other so the industry can lean on us embracing our diversity by actively seeking out perspectives and skill sets beyond our own fuelling each others successes and constantly asking how we can help.

Underpinning our values is our collective mindset to show up purposefully as good human beings every day in every situation. When were at our best we are collaborative considerate and compassionate to others and we create a safe space for one another to thrive assuming positive intent in our colleagues. And if we arent at our best and the pressure is on we feel free to be ourselves but still remain curious lean into the tough stuff and we are always respectful to others and accountable for the part we play.