Overview
Department: Strategy Team: Strategic Initiatives
Location: London (Hybrid)
Position type: Permanent, Full time
What the hiring manager says
Strategy only matters if it translates into meaningful impact. The Head of Strategic Initiatives will ensure that GSMA does not simply observe industry shifts but actively shapes them.
About the Team
The Strategy team shapes the long term direction of GSMA to deliver value to members and the broader mobile ecosystem. The team is responsible for sector strategy & projects, corporate strategy & projects, strategic initiatives, GSMA intelligence, and convening telecom CSOs to align industry level priorities.
About the Role
As Head of Strategic Initiatives you will identify, shape, and amplify high impact strategic priorities across the mobile ecosystem, translating them into visible, measurable impact. You will bring a top down, ecosystem level perspective to priorities such as 5G monetisation, 6G, AI, and innovation, ensuring GSMA delivers maximum value and leadership.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Priority Identification & Scoping
- Identify and champion high impact strategic initiatives aligned with sector and corporate strategy.
- Define clear ambition, scope, and outcomes for selected priority areas.
- Develop initiative charters and strategic roadmaps.
- Ecosystem Mapping & Opportunity Identification
- Map the industry landscape for each priority: key players, competitors, existing initiatives, potential partners, and white spaces.
- Identify where GSMA can uniquely add value and differentiate.
- Cross Functional Orchestration
- Coordinate across GSMA functions-policy, technical domains, events, marketing, regional teams, GSMA Intelligence.
- Ensure initiatives leverage GSMA's full capability stack: technical expertise, policy influence, global events and convening power, brand and communications.
- Align stakeholders around shared objectives and measurable outcomes.
- Execution Oversight & Impact Amplification
- Establish governance and progress tracking mechanisms.
- Move initiatives beyond concept into visible, measurable impact.
- Identify and resolve execution bottlenecks.
- Drive storytelling and positioning to reinforce GSMA's leadership.
- Ensure the "GSMA stamp" is clearly visible in priority areas.
- Partnership & External Engagement
- Develop strategic partnerships that accelerate impact.
- Represent GSMA in industry forums and working groups.
- Strengthen GSMA's position as the industry's coordination platform.
About You
- Significant experience leading complex, cross functional strategic initiatives.
- Strong understanding of the telecom and broader digital ecosystem.
- Demonstrated ability to orchestrate across multiple stakeholders without direct authority.
- Strong commercial and strategic acumen.
- Experience shaping large scale programmes or ecosystem initiatives.
- Comfortable operating at executive level and influencing senior leaders.
- Pragmatic, impact oriented, and execution focused.
- Experience operating in fast paced or high growth environments.
- Results oriented problem solver with strong resilience and adaptability.
About Your Skills
- Delivery: driving execution excellence and translating strategy into actionable plans.
- Leadership: setting direction, aligning stakeholders, and driving teams to deliver high impact outcomes.
- Influence: shaping decisions and fostering alignment across complex stakeholder environments.
- Stakeholder Management: building trust based relationships and driving collaboration.
- Commercial Awareness: understanding market dynamics and identifying value creating opportunities.
- Innovation: identifying emerging trends and fostering creative approaches for differentiated value.
What We Offer
Working at GSMA offers unparalleled access to the mobile industry, a fast paced evolving environment, global solutions, and a dynamic culture. In addition to architect designed offices and competitive compensation, benefits include learning & development opportunities, generous holiday allowances, four additional days off for professional development, and more.
EEO Statement
We strive to offer a meaningful and inclusive application experience for all candidates. If you require accommodations during the hiring process, please contact .
Contract
Contract type: Regular
Worker type: Employee