Manager, Network & Systems Operations

Player 15 Group•Phoenix, AZ

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Player 15 Group includes several companies and many collaborative departments that support the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and Mortgage Matchup Center. Would you like to win championships and create sustained success? Player 15 Group is looking for individuals who are committed to pursuing excellence, win championships, create sustained success and desire to play a role in creating memorable experiences. We are seeking a proven and proactive Manager, Network & Systems Operations, to lead a small, high-impact technology team. This is a management role first, focused on setting direction, driving accountability, and ensuring operational excellence across network, systems, and infrastructure functions. The ideal candidate brings a strong technical foundation and understands how to engage directly when needed, but their primary responsibility is to lead the team, align with stakeholders, and deliver results. Success in this role means building clarity, maintaining standards, and developing both people and process by working across departments to scope, plan, and deliver technical projects with defined outcomes and timelines.

Requirements

Proven leader with a strong operational mindset, experienced in guiding infrastructure teams, prioritizing effectively, driving accountability, and delivering results in fast-paced environments.
Technically proficient in Cisco networking (routing, switching, UCS/FlexPod), NetApp, Aruba Wireless, Palo Alto firewalls, and DRaaS solutions, with hands-on capabilities when needed.
Skilled in vendor management and collaboration, particularly with MSSPs, SOC providers, and infrastructure partners, ensuring strong external partnerships and service delivery.
Adept at change management, access control, and maintaining clear, thorough operational documentation to support stability and compliance.
Clear, confident communicator who builds alignment, develops team capabilities, and thrives in service-driven settings—sports or live entertainment experience preferred.
5+ years of experience leading network and systems operations in enterprise or multi-site environments, with a focus on infrastructure and IT services.
Strong leadership background with a track record of owning processes, driving operational accountability, and guiding high-performing teams.
Hands-on expertise in Cisco networking (UCS, routing, switching), VMware, NetApp, Aruba Wireless, Palo Alto firewalls, and DRaaS solutions.
Skilled in implementing change management, access control, and maintaining clear documentation standards to support security and efficiency.
Proven success managing vendor relationships, including MSSPs and SOC providers, ensuring effective and secure service delivery.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology or a related field; certifications such as CCNP, ITILv4, or CISSP.
Experience in sports, live entertainment, or venue operations.

Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Development Lead and develop the network, systems, and integration operations team with a focus on clarity, accountability, and high performance Provide direction for core systems operations, stepping in during critical issues when needed Empower team members to own solutions while serving as an escalation point during high-priority incidents
Strategic Alignment Set infrastructure priorities in coordination with Strategic Technology Operations and Helpdesk leadership Align team objective with broader organizational goal through intentional planning and partnership.
Operational Excellence Enforce sustainable change management practices with a focus on risk mitigation and clear communication Ensure quality documentation and process adherence across systems, hardware, and software Maintain and improve core infrastructure services including Cisco UCS (FlexPod), Cisco Networking, Aruba Wireless, NetApp, and Palo Alto firewalls.
Resiliency & Continuity Oversee disaster recovery readiness through robust DRaaS implementation and regular testing Maintain systems uptime and reliability through proactive monitoring and issue resolution
Vendor & Facility Coordination Build and manage strong relationships with key partners including hardware vendors, MSSP, SOC provider. Partner with Arena Technology to ensure consistent operational reliability across facilities