Director Network Firewall Engineer Jobs in Wheaton, IL

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Senior Director of Global Network Infrastructure

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL)

Position Overview

Jones Lang LaSalle, a leading international commercial real estate firm, is seeking an exceptional Senior Director of Global Network Infrastructure to lead our 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.

Strategic Responsibilities

Enterprise Network Strategy & Vision

• 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

Executive Leadership & Business Partnership

• 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

Financial & Resource Management

• 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

Operational Leadership

Global Network Operations Oversight

• 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

Infrastructure Architecture & Engineering

• 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

Vendor & Service Provider Management

• 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

Team Leadership & Development

Organization Building & Talent Management

• 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

Leadership Development

• 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

Key Performance Areas

Service Excellence

• Network availability: 99.99% uptime for production environments
• MTTR reduction across incident categories (current network MTTR: 6-20 days depending on complexity)
• Customer satisfaction scores and Net Promoter Score (NPS) improvement
• Successful delivery of zero-defect major infrastructure changes

Operational Efficiency

• Network capacity utilization improvement
• Automation of routine operations and self-healing capabilities
• Reduction in manual intervention and toil
• Vendor consolidation and contract optimization savings

Strategic Initiatives

• Cloud network expansion supporting digital transformation
• Global SD-WAN deployment and legacy WAN retirement
• Network security modernization and zero-trust architecture implementation
• Data center network refresh and modernization programs
• Edge computing and IoT network enablement

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• 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

Technical Expertise

• 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)

Leadership Competencies

• 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

Business Acumen

• 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

Why Join JLL?

JLL is committed to creating exceptional workplace experiences through innovative technology solutions. This role offers the opportunity to shape network infrastructure strategy for a Fortune 500 global enterprise, lead world-class technical teams, and drive meaningful business impact through technology excellence. We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a culture that values innovation, collaboration, and professional growth.

JLL is an equal opportunity employer committed to building diverse and inclusive teams. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Estimated compensation for this position:

This range is an estimate and actual compensation may differ. Final compensation packages are determined by various considerations including but not limited to candidate qualifications, location, market conditions, and internal considerations.

Location:

If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet all the requirements. We're interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!

Personalized benefits that support personal well-being and growth:

JLL recognizes the impact that the workplace can have on your wellness, so we offer a supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes mental, physical and emotional health. Some of these benefits may include:

• 401(k) plan with matching company contributions

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Care

• Paid parental leave at 100% of salary

• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays

• Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay

At JLL, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you'repursuing.

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For candidates in the United States, please see a full copy of our Equal Employment Opportunity policy here.

Jones Lang LaSalle ("JLL") is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process - including the online application and/or overall selection process - you may email us at HRSCLeaves@jll.com. This email is only to request an accommodation. Please direct any other general recruiting inquiries to our Contact Us page > I want to work for JLL.

Pursuant to the Arizona Civil Rights Act, criminal convictions are not an absolute bar to employment.

Pursuant to Illinois Law, applicants are not obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest.

Pursuant to Columbia, SC ordinance, this position is subject to a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. Only job-related convictions will be considered and will not automatically disqualify the candidate.

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