The Network Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, administration, security, performance, and strategic direction of the Credit Union's network department. This position manages the personnel, processes, systems, and vendor relationships necessary to support secure, reliable, and efficient network services across the organization. The Network Manager ensures network infrastructure and operations align with business objectives, regulatory expectations, and information security requirements. This role is accountable for departmental planning, team development, operational excellence, project execution, and the protection of the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the Credit Union's networked information resources.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities:
- Provides overall leadership and management of the network department, including planning, organizing, prioritizing, directing, and evaluating departmental activities in alignment with organizational goals, IT strategy, and business needs. Supervises, coaches, develops, and evaluates network department staff; assigns work, establishes performance expectations, and supports training and career development.
- Oversees the daily operation, administration, maintenance, support, and lifecycle management of all network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, wireless systems, VPN technologies, and related communication platforms. Ensures network systems are available, reliable, scalable, and operating effectively to meet current and future business requirements.
- Leads the design, implementation, enhancement, and continuous improvement of network systems, services, standards, and procedures. Establishes and monitors departmental goals, service standards, and performance metrics for network availability, capacity, incident response, and operational effectiveness; implements improvements as needed.
- Ensures all network systems and departmental processes comply with applicable security standards, internal policies, regulatory requirements, and IT control frameworks. Oversees the prevention, detection, response, containment, and remediation of network-related incidents, outages, and vulnerabilities in coordination with Information Security and other applicable teams. Participates in disaster recovery, business continuity, and incident response planning to support infrastructure resiliency. Aligns with leadership and organizational initiatives / directives to see they are successfully coordinated and completed.
- Directs network-related projects, upgrades, expansions, and infrastructure changes, ensuring successful execution within scope, timeline, budget, and security requirements. Manages vendor and third-party partner relationships related to network systems, services, maintenance, and support. Develops budget recommendations and manages departmental expenses related to hardware, software, licensing, maintenance, support, and capital planning.
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Work Experience:
- Minimum 5 years of IT networking experience with medium to large network environments and organizations is required.
- Minimum 3 years of management or supervisory experience of a network engineering team, infrastructure, or related IT functions is required.
- Strong understanding of modern networking concepts and computer/network security practices and applications is required.
- Advanced knowledge of LAN/WAN environments, routing, switching, firewalls, VPNs, wireless technologies, IDS/IPS systems, and related network tools, emerging networking technologies (SD-WAN, SASE) is required.
- Experience with network systems planning, implementation, administration, troubleshooting, monitoring, optimization, and lifecycle management is required.
- Experience managing projects, departmental operations, service delivery, and vendor relationships is required.
- Working knowledge of compliance, risk management, and security controls as they relate to enterprise network systems is required.
- Basic knowledge of Credit Union products and services, features, and benefits is preferred.
- Experience in financial institution network environments and familiarity with regulated technology operations is preferred.
Education and Certifications:
- Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Network Engineering, or in a similar area of study, OR an equivalent combination of education, relevant work experience, or military experience is required.
- Certifications/License - one or more current network certifications is required.
- For example - FCF, FCA, FCP or FCSS
- Certification/License - management, advanced networking, or security certifications is required.
- For example - FCSS in Network Security or ITIL Foundations
Other Skills required:
- Courtesy, tact, and diplomacy are essential elements of the job.
- Work involves frequent interaction with employees, management, executives, vendors, and external partners for purposes of giving or obtaining information, building relationships, influencing decisions, and securing cooperation.
- Able to interface effectively with staff, all levels of management, and third-party vendors.
- Demonstrates strong leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to build trust, accountability, and teamwork.
- Functions well within departmental and cross-functional teams and works proactively with others to achieve common goals.
- Possesses strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare and present reports, plans, proposals, and recommendations to management.
- Demonstrates dedication to appropriate, secure, and strategic uses of network technology.
- Exhibits strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills; identifies and resolves issues in a timely manner and analyzes information effectively.
- Able to supervise, coach, and train employees, including organizing, prioritizing, delegating, and scheduling work assignments.
- Possesses strong organizational and time management skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities effectively.
- Able to work independently with minimal supervision while keeping leadership informed.
- Demonstrates flexibility and ability to work during non-business hours as necessary.
