Account Manager – Core & Access Networks
Nokia
Quick Take
Drive revenue growth and customer retention for Nokia's Core & Access Networks portfolio across East Africa by managing strategic accounts, identifying new opportunities, and leading complex multi-stakeholder sales cycles.
10+ years of telecom/IT account management and solution sales experience; deep knowledge of mobile networks and digital infrastructure; proven ability to influence senior decision-makers and close large deals.
Work for a global telecommunications leader shaping Africa's digital transformation; manage high-value accounts; collaborate with global teams; mentor junior staff; significant impact on regional market expansion.
Job Description
Nokia is a global leader in telecommunications, network infrastructure, and digital solutions. With a strong presence across Africa, Nokia partners with Communication Service Providers (CSPs) and Enterprise (ENT) customers to deliver cutting-edge mobile networks, digital infrastructure, and automation technologies. In East Africa, Nokia plays a pivotal role in shaping the region's digital transformation journey.
- Manage and grow relationships with existing CSP and ENT customers, driving sales while consistently meeting and exceeding sales targets.
- Identify and pursue new business opportunities by leveraging market knowledge and professional networks to expand customer engagement across East Africa.
- Lead and drive sales activities across the MI (with focus on CNS) and NI portfolio in East Africa.
- Develop a deep understanding of customer strategies, market dynamics, and digital infrastructure priorities in the region.
- Identify, shape, and convert opportunities by aligning Nokia solutions to customer business and technology challenges.
- Define and execute account strategies to achieve revenue growth and market expansion.
- Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with senior stakeholders across technical, operational, and commercial functions.
- Own and manage the sales pipeline, ensuring accuracy and discipline in CRM tools.
- Lead complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycles from opportunity identification through negotiation and contract closure.
- Collaborate with global and regional teams to develop competitive sales strategies and winning proposals.
- Coordinate pre-sales, solutioning, and partner ecosystems to deliver differentiated, value-based solutions.
- Work closely with delivery and operations teams to ensure alignment on execution, risk management, and customer satisfaction.
- Engage with key decision-makers at customer organisations, providing valuable insights and fostering strong connections.
- Share innovative ideas for future direction and enhancements in organisational operations.
- Mentor and provide guidance to less experienced team members, fostering a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment.
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Business, or a related field.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in account management and solution sales within the telecom and/or IT industry.
- Strong knowledge of Mobile Networks, Digital Infrastructure, and automation technologies.
- Good understanding of mobile and fixed network technologies and market trends.
- Proven ability to manage and grow key accounts and drive revenue in competitive markets.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement skills with experience influencing senior decision-makers.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify problems and implement process improvements.
- Ability to work independently within defined guidelines while applying best practices and industry knowledge.
- Experience with CRM tools and disciplined pipeline management.
- Strong collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional and global teams.
Requirements Breakdown
Must Have
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Business, or related field
- Minimum 10 years of account management and solution sales in telecom/IT industry
- Strong knowledge of Mobile Networks, Digital Infrastructure, and automation technologies
- Proven track record managing and growing key accounts in competitive markets
- Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and ability to influence senior decision-makers
Nice to Have
- Experience with CRM tools and sales pipeline management
- Understanding of East African telecom market dynamics and CSP/Enterprise customer landscapes
- Exposure to multi-country or regional sales operations
- Track record of mentoring junior sales team members
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Salary Context
Salary not specified; likely senior-level compensation for Account Manager at global tech company in Nairobi
Account Managers with 10+ years of experience at multinational telecoms companies in Kenya typically earn between KES 180,000–280,000 monthly gross, depending on portfolio size and company tier. Nokia's global presence and scale suggest competitive compensation above average market rates for the role.
About Nokia
Nokia is a global telecommunications and digital infrastructure powerhouse with a significant presence across Africa, partnering with Communication Service Providers and enterprise customers to build next-generation mobile and fixed networks. In East Africa, Nokia is central to regional digital transformation, offering cutting-edge solutions in 5G, cloud, and automation. Working at Nokia offers access to global technology, market influence, and a platform to shape how the region connects.
Likely Interview Questions
- 1
Walk us through a complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycle you've led in the telecom industry—how did you navigate competing interests and close the deal?
- 2
How have you identified and shaped new business opportunities in a competitive telecom market, and what was the revenue impact?
- 3
Describe your approach to account strategy development. How do you ensure alignment between Nokia's solutions and a customer's business and technology challenges?
- 4
Tell us about a time you built trust with senior stakeholders (C-level or equivalent) at a customer organisation. How did that relationship drive growth?
- 5
How do you manage and maintain discipline in your sales pipeline using CRM tools, and what metrics do you track to forecast accurately?
Application Tips
Quantify your account management success: highlight specific revenue growth, customer retention rates, and deal sizes you've managed in telecom/IT to demonstrate scale and impact.
Emphasize experience with CSP (Communication Service Provider) and/or Enterprise customer segments, as these are Nokia's core markets in East Africa.
Showcase your understanding of mobile network technologies (4G/5G), digital infrastructure, and automation solutions—use technical terminology appropriately to signal credibility and market knowledge.
Demonstrate regional or international sales experience and your ability to work with global teams; Nokia values managers who can operate across multiple markets and geographies.
Career Path
Roles that lead here
Where this leads
Skills & Keywords
Honest Assessment
Green Flags
- Reputable global employer with significant African presence and market influence—Nokia is a known, stable, and respected brand in telecom.
- Clear growth and mentorship expectations, signaling investment in professional development and leadership pipeline within the organization.
- Explicit mention of cross-functional collaboration (pre-sales, delivery, operations) and exposure to global teams, which broadens skillset and career optionality.
- Focus on strategic account development and solution selling (not transactional sales), indicating higher-value work and intellectual engagement.
Watch Out
- Salary not specified in a senior-level, high-responsibility role at a global company—candidates should clarify compensation early in the process to avoid wasted effort.
- Job description cuts off mid-sentence ('Experience with CRM tools and disciplined')—suggests the posting may be incomplete or hastily prepared, raising minor concerns about role clarity.
- Heavy emphasis on mentoring and process improvement alongside core sales targets could indicate unclear priorities or risk of role scope creep; clarify expectations during interview.
A Day in the Life
Your week at Nokia in Nairobi is a blend of strategic account management and hands-on sales execution. Monday opens with a CRM review and pipeline discipline check before back-to-back calls with three key CSP customers on 5G infrastructure roadmaps and their digital transformation priorities. Tuesday you're in the office leading a solutioning workshop with pre-sales engineers and a prospect's technical team, translating their network challenges into Nokia's automation and CNS portfolio value. Wednesday you're presenting a competitive proposal to senior stakeholders at a telco, then collaborating with your regional and global teams via video to refine the pitch. Thursday involves mentoring a junior account manager on account strategy, attending an internal training on new product capabilities, and updating the CRM with pipeline forecasts. Friday you close a mid-sized deal, document lessons learned, and plan next week's outreach to three identified Enterprise prospects in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to be an Account Manager – Core & Access Networks at Nokia?
You need a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Business, or related field, plus a minimum of 10 years of account management and solution sales experience in the telecom or IT industry. You should also have strong knowledge of mobile networks, digital infrastructure, automation technologies, and proven ability to manage large accounts and influence senior decision-makers.
Is this role based in Nairobi, and is it fully on-site?
Yes, the role is based in Nairobi and is full-time. The job description does not specify remote work arrangements, so you should assume it is primarily office-based with potential travel to customer sites across East Africa.
How much does an Account Manager – Core & Access Networks earn at Nokia?
Nokia has not published a salary for this role. Based on market data for senior account managers with 10+ years of experience at multinational telecom companies in Kenya, estimated compensation is typically between KES 180,000–280,000 monthly gross, but you should ask Nokia directly during the interview process for their specific offer range.
What are the career growth opportunities for this role?
This role offers clear upward mobility toward Regional Sales Director, Head of Sales, or Director of Account Management positions. Nokia also emphasizes mentoring and process improvement, signaling investment in developing future leaders within the organization and across the broader telecom sector.
What is the difference between the MI (with focus on CNS) and NI portfolio mentioned in the job description?
MI stands for Mobile Infrastructure and NI for Network Infrastructure; CNS likely refers to Core and Access Networks (the focus of this role). You'll be selling Nokia's solutions across both portfolios to Communication Service Providers and Enterprise customers—expect to learn these product lines thoroughly during onboarding.
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