Network Operations Manager

Optomi, in partnership with our large retail client, is seeking an experienced and strong technology thought leader, to join their organization as a Network Operations Manager.

This role is hybrid in Chicago. Must come from large enterprise environment.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Oversee the network operations, managing daily activities, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring the network meets organizational performance standards
• Monitor and enforce SLA compliance, manage vendor relationships, and negotiate contracts to ensure service quality and cost-effectiveness in a multi-vendor environment
• Act as a liaison between the Network Services and business units, ensuring that network strategies and activities are closely aligned with business goals
• Implement advanced network monitoring tools and automation processes to proactively address issues, improve network performance, and reduce downtime
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of network professionals, promoting continuous learning and adherence to best practices in network management
• Evaluate and integrate new technologies and updates into the network infrastructure to support evolving business needs and security requirements
• Responsible for the development and execution of the end-to-end network automation framework
• Responsible for the development and execution of the end-to-end network tools strategy
• Identify new capabilities that can bring network operational efficiencies
• Create documentation including administration procedures/instructions for enabling automation into the environment
• Work closely with our internal customers to help alleviate their problems and ensure our network continues to meet their demands.
• Work on new designs/solutions related to automation, bringing them from concept to working operations
• Document network monitoring toolset support processes and procedures
• Lead network monitoring tool upgrades and changes in production environment
• Drive operational excellence projects to make improvements in our network quality and reliability.
• Troubleshoot complex problems and develop innovative solutions leveraging automation framework for day-to-day operations
• Define and document best practices and support procedures
• Mentor / cross-train team members to use and understand automation and tools processes
• Additional job duties may be assigned as needed to meet the needs of the business and support our Values.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree with 10+ years of experience with 2-3 years of direct experience with implementation and management of network automation solutions
• Scripting experience required
• Previous experience with design and deployment of large-scale network automations solutions
• Must have experience managing complex SLAs in a multi-vendor environment
• Experience leading a team of network engineers
• Experience working in an agile (SAFe) environment

Preferred Qualifications :

• Cisco/Aruba certifications a plus
• ITIL Service Management training or certification desired
• Strong Knowledge in the areas of fault monitoring, capacity management, configuration management, and performance management
• Ability to effectively articulate technical challenges and solutions
• Record of strong project management and time management skills
• Desire and ability to work in a fast paced, collaborative environment
• Strong knowledge of Network architecture best practice and experience designing with and integrating cloud-based services into production products

Key Skills:

• Project management, communication, coding language, network development, network architecture, cloud-based services, agile development
• Proven ability to build and lead a team with both architecture and operational responsibilities, ensuring both project commitments and operational SLAs are being met, day-to-day priorities are managed, and expectations are clearly set with network services internal customers and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to develop infrastructure lifecycle management strategies to manage performance, capacity, availability, reliability and new service introduction of network infrastructure services.
• Demonstrated leadership and technical mastery across all aspects of the infrastructure portfolio listed
• Proven ability to partner with infrastructure, security, application, and business leaders to provide technology solutions that respond to rapid changes in the business and ensure exceptional end-user experience
• Decision-making and Autonomy