Network Lead- Onsite

Company is seeking a hands-on Network Engineering Lead to lead and support our enterprise network environment. This role will replace a recently vacated manager position and is critical to ensuring stability, performance, and strategic evolution of the network. The individual will act as a player/coach, owning day-to-day network engineering responsibilities while also providing leadership, strategy, vendor management, and oversight of purchasing and lifecycle planning.

Key Responsibilities
Network Engineering & Operations (Hands-On)
Provide hands-on assistance with troubleshooting day-to-day network and wireless issues across the enterprise.
Perform and oversee MAC (Move/Add/Change) activities related to the network.
Support and lead tasks related to integrating new sites into the corporate network.
Manage and execute Cisco hardware lifecycle replacement and refresh initiatives.
Troubleshoot and resolve client network connectivity issues.
Maintain, update, and effectively utilize network monitoring and alerting systems to ensure availability and performance.
Leadership & Management
Serve as the primary technical and people leader for the network function.
Provide guidance, mentorship, and escalation support to internal staff and consultants.
Establish priorities, workflows, and best practices to ensure operational excellence.
Partner with IT leadership and cross-functional teams to align network initiatives with business needs.
Strategy, Planning & Governance
Own the network roadmap, including scalability, reliability, and security improvements.
Lead network architecture discussions and recommend enhancements aligned with business growth.
Develop and maintain standards, documentation, and procedures.
Ensure network solutions align with security, compliance, and corporate IT policies.
Vendor, Budget & Purchasing Management
Manage relationships with vendors, service providers, and partners.
Lead purchasing, licensing, and contract management related to network hardware and services.
Own budget planning, forecasting, and cost optimization for network initiatives.
Oversee hardware and software lifecycle planning to minimize risk and downtime.

Required Qualifications
7+ years of progressive experience in network engineering, including large-scale enterprise environments.
Proven experience managing global LAN/WAN infrastructures across hundreds of sites and multiple countries.
Strong hands-on expertise with Cisco networking technologies, including:
oCisco Routing, Switching, and Wireless
oCisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)
oCisco DMVPN
oCisco Cloud Web Security / Secure Access
oCisco Security Manager
Experience with Riverbed technologies for WAN optimization and performance.
Hands-on experience with initial configuration, installation, upgrades, and lifecycle management of enterprise network technologies.
Strong troubleshooting skills across wired, wireless, and WAN environments.
Experience supporting multi-site, globally distributed networks, including new site integrations.
Prior experience in a lead, senior, or manager role, or demonstrated ability to act as a technical leader.

Preferred Qualifications
Background similar to the retiring leader, including progression from Senior Network / Security Administrator into a Team Lead or Manager role.
Prior experience supporting both network and security operations within an enterprise environment.
Experience working in manufacturing, industrial, or global enterprise organizations.
Long-term ownership of complex environments, including LAN, WAN, wireless, and security technologies.
Demonstrated ability to grow from hands-on technical execution into broader leadership, strategy, and operational ownership.
Strong documentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.