Hi

Role: Network Operations Lead

Work Location: Manila, Philippines

Contract

Key Responsibilities:

• Network Operations Management:
• Oversee the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the entire network infrastructure, encompassing Data Center networks, Branch connectivity, and Campus LAN/WLAN environments.
• Ensure high availability, performance, and security of all network services in accordance with defined SLAs and business requirements.
• Develop, implement, and enforce network operational standards, policies, and procedures.
• Manage incident management, problem management, and change management processes for network-related issues, ensuring timely resolution and minimal impact to business operations.
• Drive proactive network monitoring and alerting strategies to identify and resolve potential network issues before they impact services.
• Manage and optimize network operational budgets.
• Data Center Network Management:
• Manage the design, implementation, and operation of the Data Center network infrastructure, including switching, routing, firewalls, load balancers, and other critical components.
• Ensure high-speed, low-latency connectivity within the Data Center to support critical applications and services.
• Oversee network capacity planning and forecasting for the Data Center environment.
• Coordinate with Data Center operations teams to ensure seamless integration of network infrastructure.
• Branch Network Management:
• Oversee the connectivity and performance of the network infrastructure across all branch locations within the Philippines (e.g., MPLS, SD-WAN, VPN, LAN & Wireless LAN).
• Ensure reliable and secure communication between branches and the central data centers.
• Manage network service providers for branch connectivity, including contract management and performance monitoring.
• Troubleshoot and resolve network issues affecting branch operations.

• Campus Network Management:
• Manage the design, implementation, and operation of the Campus LAN and WLAN infrastructure, ensuring reliable connectivity for employees and other stakeholders within the campus environment.
• Oversee network access control and security within the campus network.
• Manage network capacity planning and performance optimization for the campus.
• Team Leadership and Development:
• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of network engineers with expertise across data center, branch, and campus networking.
• Set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback, and conduct performance appraisals.
• Foster a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment within the team.
• Identify training needs and facilitate professional development opportunities for team members.
• Vendor Management:
• Manage relationships with key network service providers, hardware vendors, and software vendors.
• Negotiate and review vendor contracts and SLAs.
• Monitor vendor performance against agreed-upon metrics.
• Security and Compliance:
• Ensure all network operations adhere to relevant regulatory compliance standards within the Philippines BFSI sector (e.g., Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas guidelines) and the customer's internal security policies.
• Participate in security audits and implement remediation plans as required.
• Implement and maintain network security best practices across all network segments.
• Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity:
• Contribute to the development, testing, and maintenance of the network components of the organization's Disaster Recovery (DR) and Business Continuity (BC) plans.
• Ensure the resilience and recoverability of critical network infrastructure in the event of a disaster.
• Continuous Improvement:
• Identify opportunities for network optimization, automation, and infrastructure enhancements.
• Stay abreast of emerging network technologies and industry best practices.
• Lead and participate in projects aimed at improving network efficiency, scalability, and security.
• Stakeholder Management:
• Effectively communicate with internal stakeholders (e.g., application teams, security teams, business units) regarding network status, incidents, and planned changes.
• Provide regular reports on network performance metrics.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 10-12 years of progressive experience in network operations, with significant experience managing complex network environments encompassing data centers, branch networks, and campus LAN/WLAN.
• Proven experience leading and managing teams of network engineers.
• Deep technical expertise in a wide range of networking technologies and protocols, including:
• Routing and Switching (Cisco, Juniper, etc.)
• Firewalls (e.g., Palo Alto Networks, Cisco ASA, Fortinet)
• Load Balancers (e.g., F5, Citrix)
• Wireless technologies (Cisco, Aruba)
• WAN technologies (MPLS, SD-WAN, VPN)
• Network monitoring and management tools (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios, Cisco Prime Infrastructure)
• Network security principles and best practices.
• Strong understanding of network design principles and best practices.
• Experience with IT service management (ITSM) frameworks such as ITIL.
• Familiarity with network automation tools and scripting (e.g., Python, Ansible) is a plus.
• Strong understanding of security principles and best practices relevant to network operations.
• Experience with disaster recovery and business continuity planning for network infrastructure.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication (both written and verbal), interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Experience working within the BFSI sector and understanding its regulatory requirements in the Philippines is highly preferred.
• Experience managing network infrastructure for a geographically distributed organization is essential.

Certifications (Desirable):

• Cisco certifications (e.g., CCNA, CCNP, CCIE).
• Juniper certifications (e.g., JNCIA, JNCIS, JNCIP).
• Security certifications (e.g., CompTIA Security+, CISSP, CCSP).
• ITIL certifications (e.g., ITIL Expert, ITIL Managing Professional).

Regards

James

Lead APAC Recruiter | Amsptek LLC

Please refer to job description.