Senior Director of Global Network Infrastructure

JLL•Chicago, IL

5d•Remote

About The Position

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) is seeking an exceptional Senior Director of Global Network Infrastructure to lead their enterprise-wide network strategy and operations. This executive role encompasses responsibility for global network architecture, cloud and on-premises infrastructure, network security operations, and operational excellence across all JLL locations worldwide. Reporting directly to the Global Head of Infrastructure Operations, this position provides strategic leadership for network infrastructure services that enable JLL's global business operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or related field required; Master's degree strongly preferred.
15+ years of progressive IT infrastructure experience with at least 10 years in network architecture and operations.
8+ years in senior leadership roles managing large global teams and complex network environments.
5+ years of executive-level experience with C-suite interaction and board-level presentations.
Proven track record leading enterprise-wide network transformation initiatives.
Deep expertise in enterprise network architecture: routing protocols (BGP, OSPF), switching (802.1Q, VPC, MC-LAG), data center fabrics (Spine-Leaf, VXLAN).
Extensive knowledge of cloud networking across AWS (VPC, Transit Gateway, Direct Connect), Azure (VNet, ExpressRoute, Virtual WAN), and GCP.
Strong understanding of SD-WAN technologies, overlay networks, and application-aware routing.
Comprehensive knowledge of network security: firewalls, IPS/IDS, network segmentation, zero-trust architecture.
Experience with network automation and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, Ansible, Python).
Familiarity with observability platforms (Datadog, ThousandEyes, CloudWatch) and ITSM frameworks (ITIL).
Strategic thinking with ability to translate business needs into technical solutions.
Exceptional communication skills with ability to influence at all organizational levels.
Strong financial acumen and budget management experience.
Proven change management capabilities in complex global organizations.
Executive presence and credibility with senior stakeholders.
Cross-cultural awareness and experience leading geographically distributed teams.
Understanding of commercial real estate industry and business drivers (preferred).
Experience managing P&L responsibility and optimizing infrastructure TCO.
Ability to build compelling business cases linking technology investments to business outcomes.
Track record of successful vendor negotiations and contract management.
Risk management perspective balanced with innovation and transformation.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree
Understanding of commercial real estate industry and business drivers

Responsibilities

Define and execute the global network infrastructure strategy, aligning technology roadmaps with business objectives and digital transformation initiatives.
Drive network modernization initiatives, including cloud migration, software-defined networking (SDN), and next-generation infrastructure adoption.
Establish enterprise-wide network architecture standards, governance frameworks, and reference models.
Lead strategic planning for network capacity, scalability, and geographic expansion to support business growth.
Evaluate emerging technologies and innovation opportunities to maintain competitive advantage.
Serve as the executive voice for network infrastructure, presenting to C-suite leadership and board members on strategy, investments, and business impact.
Partner with business unit leaders to understand requirements and translate them into network infrastructure capabilities.
Drive cross-functional collaboration with Security, Applications, Cloud Services, and Business Continuity teams.
Representing IT infrastructure in enterprise risk management discussions and business continuity planning.
Champion digital workplace initiatives that depend on robust network connectivity.
Develop and manage annual network infrastructure budgets exceeding $20M, including capital and operational expenditures.
Drive total cost of ownership (TCO) optimization through strategic vendor relationships, contract negotiations, and service consolidation.
Build compelling business cases for infrastructure investments, articulating ROI and business value.
Optimize resource allocation across global network operations, architecture, engineering, and project teams.
Establish financial controls and KPIs to track budget performance and cost efficiency.
Direct network operations across 80+ countries, ensuring 99.99% availability for mission-critical business services.
Oversee incident management, problem resolution, and major incident response for global network infrastructure.
Establish and monitor SLAs for network services, holding teams accountable for performance commitments.
Drive continuous improvement in operational efficiency, MTTR reduction, and proactive issue prevention.
Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and corporate policies globally.
Lead global network architecture team (Internal and MSP) in designing resilient, scalable solutions for data centers, cloud environments, and office locations.
Oversee WAN/LAN architecture, SD-WAN strategy, cloud networking (Azure, AWS, GCP), and hybrid connectivity solutions.
Direct network security architecture including firewalls, segmentation, zero-trust implementation, and threat prevention.
Guide technology selection and standardization decisions for routing, switching, wireless, and network services platforms.
Ensure architectural alignment with cybersecurity frameworks and data protection requirements.
Negotiate and manage strategic relationships with tier-1 carriers, ISPs, and network technology vendors.
Oversee managed service provider relationships for network operations support and specialized services.
Drive vendor performance management, ensuring contractual compliance and service level achievement.
Lead RFP processes for major network infrastructure procurements and service contracts.
Establish vendor governance frameworks and regular business review cadences.
Lead a global organization of 50+ network professionals across operations, engineering, and project delivery functions.
Build high-performing teams through strategic hiring, talent development, succession planning, and retention initiatives.
Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, continuous learning, and customer-centricity.
Establish clear career progression paths and professional development programs for network professionals.
Drive diversity and inclusion initiatives within the infrastructure organization.
Mentor and develop senior leaders including the Director of Cloud Network Operations and other direct reports.
Provide coaching, performance feedback, and growth opportunities to build bench strength.
Delegate strategically while maintaining appropriate oversight and escalation paths.
Encourage cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing across infrastructure teams.
Model executive leadership behaviors and JLL cultural values.