Associate Director, Metro Access Transport

At Optus, we don't sit back and let the future happen to us - we're out there making it. By expanding into new technology and relentlessly improving every day, we're creating a better tomorrow for all Australians.

We believe in the strength of a vibrant, diverse and inclusive workforce where backgrounds, perspectives and life experiences of our people help us innovate and create strong connections with our customers.

The Associate Director, Metro Access Transport provides strategic leadership for the planning, performance, and cost optimisation of Optus' Metro Access Network, which underpins our Fixed, Enterprise, and Mobile services. Reporting to the Senior Director, Metro Access Engineering, this role ensures the network is resilient, efficient, and future-ready, delivering the right balance between growth, performance, and customer experience.

Leading a team of technical leads, specialists, and engineers, you'll coordinate the end-to-end service and platform management of Metro Access technologies including Carrier Ethernet, IP, clocking/sync and associated NMS systems. You'll set the direction for network expansion, resiliency, and decommissioning, while driving long-term unit cost reductions. Partnering with Architecture, Deployment, and Finance, you'll develop automation use cases and ensure network performance, capacity, and CX KPIs are consistently met.

The day to day

Lead the planning, budgeting, and governance of Metro Access Transport programs, ensuring alignment with Networks strategy and financial targets.

Develop cost models, optimise unit cost and opex, and manage inventory, obsolescence, and facility costs to deliver long-term efficiency.

Release engineering plans, conduct capacity planning, and supervise performance to meet CX and network KPIs.

Drive vendor engagement, procurement strategies, and tenders, ensuring timely delivery, compliance with SLAs, and adoption of new technologies.

Provide technical and strategic leadership for product, design, regulatory, and operational initiatives, while resolving escalated faults and risks.

Build and lead a high-performing, multi-skilled team, encouraging innovation, people development, and strong engagement to deliver continuous improvement.

Why you are our next Associate Director, Metro Access Transport

Ability to set long-term network strategies, develop cost models, optimise TCO, and align investments with business goals.

Deep knowledge of Access Network Architecture (Carrier Ethernet, IP, DWDM, clocking/sync, and NMS platforms) and capacity/performance planning.

Proven track record in leading large-scale programs, ensuring delivery to scope, time, budget, and quality.

Strong influencing, relationship-building, and collaboration skills across internal executives, cross-functional teams, and external partners.

Experience in driving automation, simplification, and continuous improvement to improve efficiency and CX outcomes.

Track record of building high-performing, multi-skilled teams with a focus on engagement, capability uplift, and succession planning.

What's in it for you?

3 days in the office, 2 days remote – with flexible hours to suit

Inclusive carer neutral paid Parental Leave of up to 16 weeks

Competitive leave including 2 'Connected Leave' days

All Optus employees have access to resources, webinars and support via the 'Parents at Work portal'

Own your own growth by accessing an extensive online and facilitator led learning catalogue.

Connect at work through our employee-led volunteer groups: Culture Connect, Elevate Women, Disability Network, Express Yourself (LGBTQIA+), United Veterans, Yarn Network, Wellbeing Network and Young Professionals.

Vibrant campus life, variety of facilities including restaurants, cafes, gymnasium, GP, and post office

Free Optus bus from Macquarie University Metro Station (every 6-8 minutes); morning and afternoon

Keen to see what it's really like to work at Optus? Search #OptusLife on LinkedIn to go behind the scenes

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

or call We're here to help. When you contact us, please advise your preferred method of contact and we will be in touch within 48 hours.

For more information on Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Optus, please visit