Network Manager

The Network Manager plays a pivotal role in the operation of West Edmonton Mall’s Information Technology infrastructure, overseeing all aspects of network management, ensuring that the organization's network systems are reliable, scalable, and optimized to meet business needs. The Network Manager is responsible for maintaining network security, implementing network upgrades, and managing a team of network professionals.

**Primary Responsibilities**:

- Overseeing the design, implementation, documentation, and maintenance of network infrastructure, including switches, routers, firewalls, and wireless networks ensuring alignment with business goals and industry standards.
- Designing network topologies (LAN, WAN, data center networks) with considerations for redundancy and fault tolerance.
- Developing a strategic roadmap for network infrastructure, considering business objectives, technology lifecycles and trends, scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness in mind.
- Creating and maintaining comprehensive documentation for planning, design, and procedural standards, ensuring alignment with the evolving IT landscape and best practices.
- Ensuring network availability, reliability, and performance, including monitoring and troubleshooting.
- Championing and directing efforts to establish and maintain robust business continuity procedures, including rigorous testing and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Implementing network security measures (firewalls, IDS/IPS, access control) in compliance with standards, best practices, blueprints, reference models or frameworks (i.e. CIS, NIST CSF)
- Coordinating deployment of network solutions, ensuring proper configuration, testing, and integration.
- Monitoring, analyzing, and evaluating network performance and traffic to optimize network utilization and identify bottlenecks.
- Preparing and presenting reports on network performance, upgrades, and security incidents to senior management.
- Automating routine tasks and network operations using appropriate tools and technologies.
- Conducting regular audits and reviews of automated tasks and network routines for accuracy and effectiveness.
- Assessing existing network infrastructure regularly to identify improvement areas and future needs.
- Conducting performance evaluations and setting goals for network team members, identifying training needs and recognizing exceptional performance.
- Collaborating with various departments to comprehend and fulfill network requirements, including technical guidance for network-related projects.
- Evaluating and recommending network technologies, tools, and vendors for enhanced performance and efficiency.
- Working with stakeholders to translate business requirements into effective network designs and developing a future network requirements roadmap.
- Negotiating contracts and pricing agreements with network solution vendors, collaborating with procurement and legal teams.
- Implementing strategies for evaluating, selecting, and procuring network solutions, including managing vendor relationships, creating and enforcing contract’s SLAs.
- Developing and managing project plans, prioritizing network projects and monitoring the progress, with regular status updates to stakeholders.

**Desired Qualifications**:

- Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in computer science, information technology, or a related field.
- Proven 5+ years’ experience as a network manager, senior network engineer, or similar role, with at least 3 years in a managerial position.
- In-depth knowledge and experience working on architectures and technologies, including LAN, WAN, VLANs, VPNs, VRFs and wireless networks.
- In-depth knowledge and experience working with network protocols and technologies including DNS, DHCP, SSL, BGP, OSPF, VoIP, Multicastetc.
- Strong understanding of network security principles and best practices, including firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, and access control.
- Proficient with network monitoring and troubleshooting tools, such as Wireshark, SolarWinds, or Nagios.
- Experience with network hardware and software, including Cisco, Juniper, Meraki, Palo Alto, Proofpoint, Mimecast, F5, Zscaler, Microsoft, AWS, and Fortinet.
- Strong knowledge in using network automating, scripting and open-source tools such as Ansible, Python, Perl, Bash, PowerShell, Linux CLI and Git.
- Strong knowledge in using and supporting different IdM platforms and services (i.e. LDAP, MFA, SSO, RADIUS, dot1x, open-source AAA tools).
- Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire a team of network professionals.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to make sound decisions in complex network environments.
- Solid project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage resources, and deliver projects on time and within budget.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively