Network & Infrastructure Operations Lead
Hybrid | 3 Days Onsite
Role Overview
Our client is seeking a technically strong Network Operations Lead to play a hands-on leadership role supporting the stability, security, and evolution of our enterprise infrastructure. This position is designed for a leader who remains deeply engaged in the technology-approximately 80% hands-on execution and 20% people leadership-while guiding a small, growing team of infrastructure professionals.
The Manager will have ownership across networking, server, and cloud operations, working in both on-premises and Azure environments. This role requires excellent communication skills, the ability to manage up to senior and executive leadership, and a mindset focused on continuous improvement and innovation. The team currently consists of three professionals, and this leader will help shape its growth, maturity, and operating rhythm.
Key Responsibilities
Infrastructure & Operations (Primary Focus)
- Serve as a hands-on technical leader supporting daily network, server, and cloud operations.
- Administer and support Windows Server and Active Directory environments across on-prem and cloud platforms.
- Manage and optimize Microsoft Azure infrastructure, including hybrid identity and server workloads.
- Maintain a holistic view of enterprise networking, including LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, wireless, VPN, and firewall environments.
- Support virtualization platforms (VMware and/or Hyper-V) and core infrastructure services.
- Ensure availability, performance, and reliability across enterprise systems and services.
- Support backup, recovery, and disaster recovery capabilities in alignment with business continuity objectives.
- Act as an escalation point for complex network or server-related issues.
Team Leadership & Operational Rhythm (Approximately 20%)
- Lead and support a small infrastructure team (currently 3) through technical guidance, mentorship, and collaboration.
- Run daily or regular stand-up meetings, establish clear priorities, and maintain operational visibility.
- Foster a culture of accountability, problem-solving, and continuous learning.
- Provide hands-on assistance with troubleshooting while helping the team develop stronger technical depth.
- Bring new ideas, tools, and approaches to improve infrastructure operations and resilience.
Architecture, Security & Continuous Improvement
- Partner with Information Security teams to ensure secure infrastructure operations and adherence to security standards.
- Support patching, vulnerability remediation, access controls, and secure remote connectivity.
- Contribute to infrastructure architecture discussions and offer forward-looking recommendations.
- Identify opportunities for automation, monitoring improvements, and operational efficiencies.
- Support audit readiness and regulatory reviews through strong operational discipline and documentation.
Communication & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with application, database, service desk, and security teams to support enterprise initiatives.
- Communicate clearly with senior leaders and C-level stakeholders, translating technical risks and decisions into business context.
- Participate in infrastructure planning discussions and provide informed recommendations.
- Maintain accurate documentation including network diagrams, operational procedures, and runbooks.
- Support change management processes to ensure stable and predictable production environments.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or equivalent experience.
- 7+ years of experience in infrastructure, network, or systems engineering roles.
- Proven hands-on experience with:
- Windows Server and Active Directory
- Microsoft Azure
- Enterprise networking (routing, switching, firewalls, VPNs, wireless)
- Strong understanding of hybrid on-prem/cloud environments.
- Experience supporting virtualization platforms (VMware and/or Hyper-V).
- Ability to think holistically about infrastructure design and operations.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including comfort presenting to senior leadership.
- Ability to participate in after-hours support or on-call rotation as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience in regulated or highly available operating environments.
- Infrastructure, networking, or cloud certifications (Microsoft, networking, or security-focused).
- Experience supporting hybrid identity, cloud migrations, or infrastructure modernization initiatives.
- Background supporting audit or compliance-driven environments.
- Prior informal or formal leadership experience in a technical team setting.
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