Networking Team Lead

Sotera Health•Oak Brook, IL

15d

About The Position

As Network Team Lead, you will play a pivotal role in guiding the strategic direction and daily operations of the enterprise network infrastructure. This hands-on leadership position is ideal for a seasoned Senior Network Administrator ready to take the next step in their career. You will supervise technical resources, drive architectural decisions, and ensure the performance, scalability, and security of network systems across the global organization. Essential job functions: Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of enterprise network infrastructure, including switches, firewalls, SD-WAN appliances, and wireless systems. Strong working knowledge of Palo Alto Firewalls, Panorama, and Prisma is highly desirable. Provide technical supervision and mentorship to the network team, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented team environment. Facilitate network architecture planning and design discussions in partnership with global infrastructure teams. Guide the team through initiatives, including project planning, execution, and delivery. Collaborate with stakeholders to develop and maintain strategic network roadmaps aligned with business goals and evolving technology needs. Partner with IT leadership to promote cross-training, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement through routine staff meetings. Manage vendor relationships, including roadmap discussions, support escalations, and participation in vendor selection processes. Troubleshoot complex network issues and serve as an escalation point for advanced technical challenges. Ensure the timely execution of upgrades, patches, and changes to network infrastructure in coordination with IT change management processes. Maintain accurate documentation including network diagrams, configurations, and standard operating procedures. Perform other duties as assigned to support IT infrastructure and business operations.

Requirements

10–15 years of hands-on experience supporting complex enterprise networks.
Proven experience leading technical teams or projects and supporting team success through prioritization, troubleshooting, and cross-functional collaboration.
Deep understanding of network devices and technologies including switching, routing, firewalls, SD-WAN, and wireless systems.
Strong grasp of network architecture principles, best practices, and standards.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills required for writing technical documentation and engaging with stakeholders.
Experience with network performance monitoring, capacity planning, and optimization.
Proven ability to plan, coordinate, and execute cross-functional network projects with limited supervision.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline is preferred. Equivalent experience in enterprise network environments will be considered in lieu of a degree.
Strong experience with firewall technologies.
Hands-on expertise with Cisco switches (required).

Nice To Haves

Strong working knowledge of Palo Alto Firewalls, Panorama, and Prisma is highly desirable.
Certifications such as Cisco Certified Network Associate, Network+, or similar are desirable.
Familiarity with Palo Alto firewalls (nice to have).
Exposure to Aruba networking solutions (nice to have).

Responsibilities

Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of enterprise network infrastructure, including switches, firewalls, SD-WAN appliances, and wireless systems.
Provide technical supervision and mentorship to the network team, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented team environment.
Facilitate network architecture planning and design discussions in partnership with global infrastructure teams.
Guide the team through initiatives, including project planning, execution, and delivery.
Collaborate with stakeholders to develop and maintain strategic network roadmaps aligned with business goals and evolving technology needs.
Partner with IT leadership to promote cross-training, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement through routine staff meetings.
Manage vendor relationships, including roadmap discussions, support escalations, and participation in vendor selection processes.
Troubleshoot complex network issues and serve as an escalation point for advanced technical challenges.
Ensure the timely execution of upgrades, patches, and changes to network infrastructure in coordination with IT change management processes.
Maintain accurate documentation including network diagrams, configurations, and standard operating procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned to support IT infrastructure and business operations.