Director, Global Networking & Telecom

Job Title: Director, Global Networking and Telecom

Business Unit: BNET

Location: Chicago

Reports To: Senior Director, Global IT Infrastructure

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Position Summary: The Director of Networking and Telecom will lead the global Network Engineering and Telecom teams. This role is based in Chicago and involves collaboration with a dynamic, global team, with close coordination with RJO's Information Security department. The Director of Networking and Telecom will play a crucial role in ensuring that the global networks remain reliable, scalable, and secure, meeting the changing requirements of our organization.

Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Global responsibility for the firm's Network Engineering & Telecom environment, including management of all Network Engineering & Telecom staff.
• Establish RJO's vision for the Network Engineering & Telecom discipline within IT Infrastructure, and the implementation for that vision. Includes technical designs and day-to-day operations for the discipline.
• Oversee the design and implementation of secure network architectures to meet best industry practices including maintenance, processes and procedures to mitigate risk to the firm.
• Management of RJO's production Networking & Telecom environments, with adherence to RJO Policies, including for best practices such as monitoring, patching, vendor support, lifecycle management, metrics capture, etc.
• Ensure that support to Back Office & Front Office teams across the enterprise meets their needs.
• Ensure global alignment amongst all Network Engineering & Telecom staff (in terms of staff and processes/procedures, and technical decisions & standards).
• Work with other leaders in IT Infrastructure and across RJO Tech to ensure global alignment amongst teams.
• Implement follow-the-sun support models within the Network Engineering & Telecom discipline. Includes monitoring, escalation, and incident management.
• Manage OpEx & CapEx budgets for the Network Engineering & Telecom discipline, including forecasting, budget reviews, and the tracking & variance reporting of actual expenses.
• Manage Network Engineering & Telecom projects & initiatives according to scope, budget and schedules.
• Manage Network & Telecom Infrastructure inventory to ensure systems are running on vendor supported hardware platforms.
• Manage vulnerability remediation across Network and Telecom Infrastructure to ensure no critical vulnerabilities pose significant risk to the firm.
• Develop and maintain network documentation, diagrams, and configurations (SOPs- Standard Operating Procedures).
• Adherence to RJO Policies (technical and non-technical). Implementation of RJO Policies as applicable to Network Engineering & Telecom and other IT Infrastructure disciplines, including development of supporting processes & procedures & controls.
• Maintains a commitment to the company's values, business processes, and code of ethics.

Job Requirements/Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience as a Director of Network Engineering or similar role, with a proven track record in designing complex network infrastructures.
• Expertise in network design principles, protocols, and technologies (TCP/IP, VLANs, VPNs, MPLS, BGP, OSPF, etc.).
• Hands-on experience with networking hardware and software from vendors like Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto, Fortinet, etc.
• In-depth knowledge of cloud networking concepts and technologies (AWS, Azure).
• Strong understanding of network security principles and best practices (firewalls, IDS/IPS, encryption, access control).
• Experience with network monitoring and management tools (e.g., SolarWinds Orion, Wireshark).
• Proficiency in Capacity Planning, Traffic Analysis, and technologies such as DNS, DHCP, IPAM, Netflow, QoS.
• Prior experience with Routing Protocols via technologies such as BGP, OSPF, RIP, PIM.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, project management, communication, collaboration, and leadership skills
• Relevant certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, or equivalent are a plus.

It is the policy of R.J. O'Brien & Associates, LLC to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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