US, Midwest:
Our client is one of the largest, most highly regarded non-profit organizations in the world. With a sagging economy and an increasingly competitive field for non-profit membership, our client years ago began taking dramatic steps to improve day-to-day operations and overall quality of service for its members. A key aspect of this transformation has been to build a more sophisticated information technology infrastructure, specifically a cutting-edge network with 24 x 7 availability and reliability. By enabling users worldwide to access and manage up-to-date operational data, this IT initiative reinforces the new business-like approach of this service-oriented organization.
The Role:
One of the most highly visible support roles within the organization, the Network Services Manager has responsibility for providing strategic oversight and day-to-day operations of data and voice network services. To a large extent, this role involves managing the operation and administration of a 24 x 7 network while continuously integrating new hardware and system components in order to improve the technology infrastructure. Another crucial function of this role will be to develop and implement a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that goes beyond data back-up and accounts for other mission-critical emergencies. Reporting to the Manager of Information Systems, the Network Services Manager will direct and mentor four Network Analysts on a team that will continue to grow and expand.
More specifically, the Network Service Manager will also:
- Develop schedules, assign and monitor work, gather resources, implement productivity standards and resolve operational problems.
- Evaluate vendor products and interactions with end users to determine hardware and software requirements.
- Utilize technical support systems to record, track, follow-up, provide status and manage support requests and issues.
- Maintain quality services by establishing or recommending, following and enforcing industry best practices, organizational standards, policies and/or procedures.
- Design, implement and manage a comprehensive disaster recovery plan.
- Research issues and recommend appropriate course of action for systems engineering, architectural design, disaster recovery and infrastructure upgrade.
- Participate in Service Level Agreement development, tracking and reporting, and subsequently responsible for measuring and meeting service level performance targets.
- Manage relationships between customers, users, vendors and service providers, both internal and external, including communications, prioritization, coordination and allocation of resources.
- Assist in strategic planning to define and develop goals and objectives and planned courses of action.
- Participate in budgetary planning, forecasting and monitoring, and manages expenses within established guidelines.
- Partner with other IT teams to develop and support business systems by implementing complex system integration solutions.
- Manage employees including, recruitment, work assignments, development and performance management, ensuring compliance with headquarters human resource policies and procedures.
Candidate Profile:
The organization requires an individual who is equal parts technically savvy, strategic, and who exhibits strong management and leadership skills. He or she must possess sound business acumen, an ability to delegate responsibility and communicate directives clearly, and must always keep the big picture in mind. Our client is a smaller organization but has a complex, expansive technology infrastructure, so the ideal candidate must exhibit strong project management skills and juggle multiple short and long-term project initiatives effectively.
Given the company’s specific needs, the leadership team will ideally hire someone who has adapted well to the dynamics of both large and small companies (either for-profit and/or non-profit). This individual will enjoy working in an environment where rapid decision-making is enabled. He or she will wear multiple hats as team leader, technical connoisseur, and as one of the primary crafters of the company’s long-term technological infrastructure strategy.
More specifically, the successful candidate shall exhibit:
- Consistently high annual success rates of managing a 24 x 7 network, with minimal timetables of unplanned downtime.
- Demonstrated experience managing enterprise-wide network infrastructure projects on time and within budget.
- Strong track record of integrating diverse systems and applications within a large, complex network; which shall include MS Office including intermediate Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well as a comprehensive working knowledge of network services environments.
- Proven success developing and implementing a multi-faceted disaster recovery plan.
Specific Education and Experience Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Office Automation, Network Engineering or Telecommunications.
- A minimum of seven (7) years of network management experience including infrastructure design, telecommunications, data communications and project management or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- A minimum of three (3) years of supervisory experience.
Specific Leadership Competencies Required:
- Customer Service Orientation
- Employee Development
- Delegation
- Clear Communication Skills
- Personal Integrity and Professional Conduct
- Problem Solving/Decision Making
