Director, OT Network Infrastructure

RWE•Chicago, IL

37d•$160,000 - $220,000

About The Position

The Director, Network Infrastructure, Operational Technologies (OT) provides both strategic leadership and operational direction for the company's OT infrastructure. This role oversees two Tier 2 life-cycle support teams-Networking and Security-responsible for break/fix, maintenance, equipment refresh, and compliance across mission-critical OT systems. Beyond day-to-day operations, the director plays a pivotal role in shaping the enterprise OT program, establishing governance, leading modernization efforts, and ensuring resilience of the company's renewable energy infrastructure. The role collaborates closely with Tier 3 project teams, the Strategy & Planning function, and the Enterprise Architect to align operational support with long-term strategy.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
A minimum of 10 years of experience in network and/or security infrastructure management, with at least 5 years in leadership roles.
Deep expertise in networking and security systems technologies (e.g., firewalls, IDS/IPS, switches, routers, VPNs, segmentation, wireless, monitoring tools).
Proven track record leading operational support teams with lifecycle management, compliance, and incident response responsibilities.
Strong understanding of compliance frameworks relevant to OT environments (e.g., NERC CIP, NIST, ISO 27001).
Strategic thinker with strong operational execution skills.
Excellent leadership and team development abilities.
Strong communication and executive stakeholder management skills.
Ability to balance compliance, operational stability, and innovation.
Motivated self-starter, goal-oriented, and strong problem-solving abilities
Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds
Demonstrated desire to learn about the Company and the renewables space Sets enterprise-wide OT standards, governance, and best practices.
Applies broad OT expertise to both strategic and operational planning.
Demonstrates deep understanding of networking and security technologies with the ability to translate technical insights into business value.
Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Teams
Represents OT in corporate planning, regulatory, and industry forums.
Partners with executives to align OT strategy with business objectives.
Leads all OT functions across the enterprise or major divisions.
Oversees budgets, resource allocation, and strategic priorities.
Commitment to safety, resilience, and regulatory readiness.
Collaborative mindset with strong vendor and partner management skills.
Resilient, adaptable, and capable of leading through change.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic direction for all OT functions within the organization, ensuring seamless integration of security, applications, coordination, and incident/user support into a cohesive OT program.
Establish, implement, and enforce enterprise-level OT governance frameworks, operational standards, and compliance protocols to ensure readiness for audits and inspections.
Develop and manage multi-year plans for OT system upgrades, process enhancements, and workforce development aligned with business and regulatory needs.
Direct large-scale, cross-functional OT initiatives such as modernization programs, security posture improvements, and critical infrastructure resilience projects.
Represent OT leadership in corporate planning sessions, regulatory engagements, and industry forums to influence direction and policy.
Lead two Tier 2 life-cycle support teams (Networking and Security), ensuring high performance in break/fix, maintenance, equipment/system refresh, and compliance.
Oversee development of KPIs, dashboards, and reporting structures to provide executives with visibility into OT performance, risk status, and strategic progress.
Ensure smooth handoff of systems from Tier 3 project teams into Tier 2 support for long-term operations.
Serve as the senior-level escalation point for complex OT incidents, coordinating enterprise-level response and ensuring post-incident reviews drive improvements.
Manage departmental budgets, ensuring optimal allocation of resources to priority initiatives while maintaining operational stability
Partner with the Enterprise Architect and Strategy & Planning team to align operational practices with long-term technology roadmaps.
Lead strategic vendor relationships, negotiating contracts and managing performance to ensure solutions meet enterprise operational requirements.
Ensure compliance with all applicable standards (e.g., NERC CIP, NIST, ISO 27001) and drive continuous readiness for regulatory inspections.