Associate Director, Network Standards

Optus is an Australian telecommunications company, delivering more than 11 million services to our customers every day across mobile, broadband and digital solutions.

This role is based in Sydney or Melbourne.

As our Associate Director, Network Standards, you will be a key technical  support forOptus representation in global standards forums. You'll bring deep expertise in mobile telecommunications and 3GPP standards development to shape Optus' technology strategy, influence international standards bodies, and translate complex standards outcomes into meaningful outcomes for our networks, products, and spectrum assets. This is a high-impact role that sits at the intersection of deep technical knowledge and strategic influence.

What You'll Do

• Monitor, analyse, and assess developments across 3GPP working groups and releases, identifying emerging technology trends and evaluating the opportunities and risks arising from standards evolution
• Review technical contributions, specifications, and change requests, assessing their impact on Optus networks, products, devices, and spectrum assets
• Develop technical positions, briefing papers, and contribution proposals to support Optus' strategic objectives across international standards bodies including 3GPP, ITU-R, GSMA, and APT
• Coordinate and consolidate technical input from internal subject matter experts and external industry partners
• Prepare executive summaries, meeting reports, and strategic recommendations following standards and regulatory meetings
• Build and maintain strong technical relationships with vendors, operators, industry bodies, and regulatory stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor on standards-related matters

What makes you perfect for the role?

• Extensive experience in mobile telecommunications, wireless systems, or standards development
• Demonstrated hands-on participation in the 3GPP standards process, with direct involvement in RAN, SA, or CT working groups highly regarded
• Strong understanding of LTE, 5G, 5G-Advanced, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), and emerging 6G technologies
• Experience reviewing technical specifications, standards contributions, and protocol enhancements
• Ability to translate complex technical topics into clear business and strategic implications for executive audiences
• Exposure to ITU-R, GSMA, APT, or other international standards bodies, with knowledge of spectrum management and regulatory frameworks an advantage

The good stuff….

• 💜 Competitive remuneration and employee discounts. Make life easier (and more affordable) with $80 monthly credit and 25% off Optus products and unique shopping discounts with our retail partners.
• 🏠 Flexible working arrangements with opportunities to work three days in the office, two days remote or home.
• 🙌 Vibrant and collaborative office campus that includes cafes, convenience store, chill out zones, GP, post office, gym and on-site childcare centre.
• 📅 Competitive leave policies, including additional 'Connected' days to focus on culture, family, health, community, or whatever's important to you.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 We support growing families with inclusive, carer-neutral paid Parental Leave of up to 16 weeks.
• 🌱 Direct your own development and build future-ready skills with Optus U's industry-focused micro-credentials, developed with La Trobe and Macquarie Universities.
• 🤝 Build meaningful connections through employee-led networks and diversity initiatives including Culture Connect, Elevate Women, Disability Network and Express Yourself (LGBTQIA+).
• 🧘 Put your wellbeing first with free access to counselling and support services, 24/7 — in-person, by phone, SMS, or video.
• 🚌 Free Optus bus from Macquarie University Metro Station (every 6-8 minutes); morning and afternoon.

At Optus, we are strengthened by others and that means valuing diversity and saying 'yes' to embracing individual differences. We are committed to ensuring that our application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals from diverse gender, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, individuals with a disability, individuals identifying as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals who may have served in the armed forces or who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also want to do our best to make our recruitment process inclusive. If you require any adjustments or accessibility support to participate fairly and equitably in the recruitment process, please email accessiblerecruitment@optus.com.au or call 1800 309 170. For more information on Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Optus, please visit https://www.optus.com.au/about/inclusion-diversity