Network Operations Manager

Role & responsibilities

• Lead and manage day-to-day network operations and NOC activities across enterprise and data-center environments.
• Manage 247 network monitoring, incident response, troubleshooting, escalation, and service restoration.
• Ensure network availability, performance, reliability, and security meet defined SLAs and operational KPIs.
• Lead and mentor network engineers, NOC engineers, and support teams across shifts.
• Monitor enterprise networks including LAN, WAN, WLAN, MPLS, SD-WAN, VPN, and data-center networks.
• Oversee configuration, maintenance, upgrades, patching, and lifecycle management of network infrastructure.
• Manage routing and switching technologies including BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, VLAN, STP, ACL, and NAT.
• Coordinate network security operations involving firewalls, VPNs, IPS/IDS, access controls, and secure network connectivity.
• Monitor network performance using tools such as SolarWinds, PRTG, Zabbix, Cisco DNA Center, Splunk, or equivalent platforms.
• Lead major incident management, root-cause analysis, problem management, and preventive-action initiatives.
• Define and maintain network monitoring, alerting, escalation, and operational procedures.
• Manage network changes, maintenance windows, upgrades, and implementation activities in accordance with change-management processes.
• Drive network automation using Python, Ansible, or network orchestration tools to improve operational efficiency.
• Support cloud and hybrid-cloud networking initiatives across AWS, Azure, or other cloud platforms.
• Manage network capacity planning, performance optimization, redundancy, and high-availability requirements.
• Coordinate with telecom providers, OEMs, managed-service providers, and other technology vendors.
• Manage vendor performance, contracts, escalations, technical support, and service delivery.
• Prepare operational dashboards, SLA reports, incident reports, capacity reports, and management presentations.
• Ensure compliance with network security, ITIL, governance, audit, and organizational standards.
• Participate in disaster-recovery planning, testing, and business-continuity activities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve network availability, operational efficiency, and customer experience.

Preferred candidate profile

• 5 to 10 years of experience in Network Engineering, Network Operations, NOC, or IT Infrastructure, with relevant team-lead/management experience.
• Strong experience managing enterprise network operations and 247 NOC environments.
• Excellent knowledge of Cisco and/or Juniper networking technologies and multi-vendor network environments.
• Strong hands-on understanding of routing, switching, LAN, WAN, WLAN, MPLS, SD-WAN, VPN, and data-center networking.
• Strong knowledge of routing protocols including BGP, OSPF, and EIGRP, along with VLAN, STP, ACL, and NAT.
• Experience managing network security technologies including firewalls, IPS/IDS, VPN, and network access controls.
• Experience with network monitoring and management tools such as SolarWinds, PRTG, Zabbix, Cisco DNA Center, Splunk, or equivalent platforms.
• Strong understanding of ITIL processes, incident management, problem management, change management, and SLA management.
• Proven experience handling P1/P2 incidents, escalations, root-cause analysis, and service restoration.
• Experience managing and mentoring network/NOC teams, including shift planning and performance management.
• Knowledge of SD-WAN, cloud networking, hybrid-cloud connectivity, and network automation is highly desirable.
• Working knowledge of Python, Ansible, or other network automation technologies is an advantage.
• Strong experience with network capacity planning, performance management, high availability, and disaster recovery.
• Experience managing telecom providers, OEMs, MSPs, and other technology vendors.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to work with technical teams, customers, vendors, and senior management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively in a high-availability, SLA-driven environment.
• Preferred certifications: CCNP, CCIE, JNCIP/JNCIE, Fortinet, Cisco SD-WAN, or ITIL.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, Electronics & Communication, Telecommunications, or a related discipline; master's degree/MBA is an advantage.