Network Team Lead

Description The Network Team Lead is responsible for leading Otava’s Network Engineering and Network Operations function while serving as a senior technical resource for complex client and internal infrastructure initiatives. This role combines people leadership, operational accountability, technical escalation management, project delivery, and continuous improvement responsibilities. Role Responsibilities Team Leadership & Management Lead, mentor, coach, and develop a team of Network Engineers and Network Administrators. Conduct performance reviews, career development planning, and ongoing coaching. Manage team workload, priorities, schedules, and escalation assignments. Participate in recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and training new team members. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and customer focus. Ensure proper documentation, knowledge sharing, and operational consistency across the team. Operational Leadership Own operational health, availability, and performance of Otava’s network infrastructure. Serve as the primary escalation point for critical network incidents and customer-impacting issues. Lead root cause analysis (RCA) efforts and drive corrective and preventive actions Develop and maintain operational procedures, standards, and best practices. Monitor service levels and key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure delivery excellence. Coordinate maintenance windows, upgrades, migrations, and change management activities. Network Engineering & Infrastructure Design, implement, and support enterprise network solutions for internal and customer environments. Oversee deployment and maintenance of routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs, and related networking technologies. Lead network architecture reviews and recommend improvements for scalability, performance, and security. Support cloud networking initiatives across public and private cloud environments. Collaborate with Security and Compliance teams to maintain secure network operations. Provide advanced troubleshooting and technical guidance for complex networking issues. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Engineering, Technical Services, Product, Security, Compliance, and Customer Success teams. Support pre-sales and customer-facing discussions when advanced networking expertise is required. Contribute to strategic planning, technology roadmaps, and infrastructure modernization initiatives. Participate in major incident management and disaster recovery planning. Experience: 5+ years of experience supporting enterprise network environments. 2+ years of leadership, team lead, mentoring, or supervisory experience. Experience managing enterprise routing, switching, firewall, and VPN technologies. Strong experience with Cisco IOS, FortiOS, or similar enterprise networking platforms. Experience supporting cloud networking environments including Azure and/or VMware-based infrastructures. Experience with large-scale enterprise and managed services environments preferred. Experience with Fortinet security products strongly preferred. Experience with Cumulus, Arista, or similar data center networking platforms is a plus. MSP, cloud services, or managed infrastructure experience preferred. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Strong knowledge of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, NAT, QoS, VPNs, VLANs, and Layer 2/Layer 3 networking Experience with routing and switching technologies, including BGP, OSPF, and STP Understanding of network design, redundancy, and high-availability architectures Knowledge of network security concepts, including firewalls, ACLs, IDS/IPS, Zero Trust, and secure remote access solutions Experience supporting enterprise network infrastructure and troubleshooting complex network issues Familiarity with VMware networking technologies, NSX (preferred) Leadership & Communication Strong leadership and coaching skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. Strong customer service orientation. Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills. Windows Server, and Active Directory Education Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. License or Certification (willing to complete in established timeframe) One or more of the following certifications preferred: CCNP Enterprise CCNA Fortinet NSE4 / NSE5 / NSE7 VMware VCP Azure Network Engineer Associate ITIL Foundation What We Offer: Hybrid work, competitive compensation package, base ( $100k - $110k annually ), 401(k) with company match, medical, dental, vision, HSA options, life and disability insurance, generous flexible PTO, paid holidays, paid volunteer time off, paid parental leave, professional development opportunities, and an Employee Assistance Program. What about OTAVA? As a global leader in secure, compliant, enterprise-class cloud hosting, we deliver a full range of solutions from colocation to private and hybrid cloud computing. We’re creative thinkers who love to serve others, automate where possible, and change when required. We’re about putting people first – our employees and our customers. We have a customer-centric focus and go all in, on helping our customers protect and manage their data. We aim for superior customer service in everything we do and strive to get even better. Our onboarding process is designed to ensure a seamless integration into the OTAVA team. From day one, you'll be welcomed by a team dedicated to making your transition smooth and enjoyable. Your growth is our priority. Our training programs are tailored in partnership with all our technology vendors to ensure you have the skills and knowledge needed to excel in your position. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career, there's always room to learn and grow at OTAVA. Working at OTAVA means being part of a team that values your expertise, fosters professional growth, and provides opportunities to make a significant impact. Join us as we continue to push boundaries and shape the future of secure, and intelligent multi-cloud solutions. Joining OTAVA means embarking on a journey of growth, innovation, and professional fulfilment. Our commitment to your success extends beyond recruitment; it's about creating an environment where you can thrive and make a meaningful impact.