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Director Network Operations Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

We're seeking a Director, Network Engineering to lead a talented team responsible for designing and managing the network foundation that supports critical banking operations. This role is ideal for a ...

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We're seeking a Director, Network Engineering to lead a talented team responsible for designing and managing the network foundation that supports critical banking operations. This role is ideal for a ...

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About the role The US Repair Network Operations Director is the steward of Axitech's partner and OEM repair-shop network in the United States. You own where and how repair work is provisioned across ...

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IL · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

Direct compilation of records and reports concerning network operations and maintenance * Troubleshoot network performance issues * Analyze network traffic and provide capacity planning solutions

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Director Network Operations information

See Illinois salary details

$32.9K

$104.3K

$173.9K

How much do director network operations jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for director network operations in Illinois is $104,345.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $73,200.00 and $131,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the main challenges a director of network operations faces when managing large-scale network infrastructures?

One of the primary challenges for a Director of Network Operations is ensuring high network availability and reliability across multiple sites while responding quickly to outages or performance issues. Managing a diverse team of engineers, prioritizing projects, and keeping up with evolving technologies also present ongoing difficulties. Additionally, balancing security requirements with operational efficiency and coordinating with other IT and business units to align network strategies with organizational goals are key aspects of the role. Successful directors proactively implement robust monitoring, clear escalation paths, and continuous process improvements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of network operations, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Network Operations, you need expertise in network architecture, management, and security, supported by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with network monitoring tools, enterprise routing and switching platforms, and certifications such as CCNP or CCIE are typically required. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities set exceptional candidates apart in this role. These skills are crucial for ensuring network reliability, driving continuous improvement, and leading teams to support organizational goals.

What does a director of network operations do?

A Director of Network Operations oversees the management, maintenance, and optimization of an organization's computer networks. They are responsible for ensuring network reliability, security, and performance while leading a team of network engineers and technicians. The role often involves strategic planning, budget management, setting operational policies, and collaborating with other IT leaders to align network infrastructure with business goals. Directors of Network Operations also handle vendor relationships and may be involved in disaster recovery planning and implementation.

What is the difference between Director Network Operations vs Network Manager?

AspectDirector Network OperationsNetwork Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire network strategy, large teams, and high-level planningManages daily network operations, troubleshooting, and team supervision
CredentialsTypically requires advanced certifications (e.g., CCNP, CISSP) and extensive experienceOften requires Cisco or CompTIA certifications and relevant experience
Work EnvironmentStrategic, executive-level, cross-departmentalOperational, technical, team-focused
Industry UsageCommon in large enterprises and corporationsFound in organizations of various sizes, more hands-on

The main difference between a Director Network Operations and a Network Manager lies in scope and strategic focus. The Director oversees overall network strategy and large teams, while the Network Manager handles daily operations and technical issues. Both roles require relevant certifications and experience, but the Director's role is more strategic and leadership-oriented.

What are the most commonly searched types of Network Operations jobs in Illinois? The most popular types of Network Operations jobs in Illinois are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Network Operations jobs in Illinois? For Director Network Operations jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Network Operations jobs in Illinois look for? The top searched job categories for Director Network Operations jobs in Illinois are:
What cities in Illinois are hiring for Director Network Operations jobs? Cities in Illinois with the most Director Network Operations job openings:
Infographic showing various Director Network Operations job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 60% In-person, 20% Hybrid, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $104,345 per year, or $50.2 per hour.

Fulltime : Director Network Security

USM

Schaumburg, IL

Full-time

Re-posted 9 days ago


Job description

Job Description

Role : Director Network Security

LOCATION : Schaumburg IL

Duration : Fulltime

Must be US citizen or Green Card holder.

Job Description :

The Director Network Security plays a critical strategic role in protecting the U.S. Cellular brand and securing the U.S. Cellular national network from significant revenue/data loss. This vital position will provide critical leadership and overarching vision on security architecture and business assurance activities. Serves as company's expert in the field of security technology.

Scope of responsibilities include:

Delivery of Network Security Engineering service and operations

Security assessment functions related to carrier infrastructure

Leadership, evaluation and oversight in the implementation of new technologies, policies, and procedures for optimal business network operations

Relationships management with internal and external business partners as necessary to provide security assurance against cyber-attacks, to include denial of service campaigns, web defacement, unauthorized access, etc.

Guidance and control of all projects and activities which are necessary in securing large, complex Enterprise and mobile service provider networks.

Preparation and management of annual operating capital budget

Essential Duties and Key Responsibilities:

Directs Security Operations to ensure key performance indicators are met and threats/vulnerabilities are mitigated. This includes Security Incident & Event Management as well as daily threat analysis.

Directs Security Engineering this includes oversight of the security perimeter architecture and design, third party extranet connectivity design, network segmentation, and Intrusion Detection/Protection System evolution.

Directs Security Assessment which includes assessments of critical carrier infrastructure as well as PCI relevant infrastructure. The assessment function includes penetration and application testing as well as verification of remediation of findings.

Develop strategies for securing assets, customer services delivery, and regulatory/audit compliance for approval by senior executives, TDS, and USCC board. Develop strategic security priorities either alone or with executive direction.

Represent the company at industry conferences and represent the department at company meetings. Serve as a spokesperson for company security policies to all levels of the organization. Lead and/or participate in departmental leadership initiative teams.

Responsible for all USCC geographical locations concerning all elements of network security, including securing informational asset infrastructure, regulatory compliance and audit (Sarbanes-Oxley, PCI, CPNI, and others), security of customer-facing services, security elements of cross-functional multi-departmental company initiatives and projects, as well as securing all Internet, Extranet, and Virtual Private Network connections

Prepare, review, and manage annual operating, capital budget plans and priorities for the Network Security team. Ensure the budgets meet expected deadlines and corporate objectives for projected growth.

Continue to evolve the reference architecture for the Enterprise and mobile service provider security infrastructure, while ensuring the protection of customer data

Serve as the final escalation point for all service provider network security operations issues with a degree of quality that results in absolute root-cause determination and drive vendor partners to provide quality assurances by requiring immediate bug fixes, software updates, etc., as necessary to ensure an Ideal Customer Experience at all times.

Manage all elements of vendor negotiations and contractor relationships

Provide leadership and guidance through example, coaching, and mentoring. Create an environment that encourages engineers to expand their horizons, learn new processes, and grow their technical and leadership skills. Plans for human resources, including interviewing, hiring, disciplining, development/career planning and setting priorities for all team members.

Ensure that the security infrastructure is designed to prevent revenue and data loss, to include inappropriate and/or unauthorized disclosure of Company and/or Customer information; and other cyber activities that could negatively impact the good name and reputation of U.S. Cellular and/or our customers.

Drives the initiation of compelling business cases that support changes to network and system infrastructure.

Qualifications :

Minimum of 10-15 years relevant work experience with a minimum 10 years in information security and/or network engineering

Minimum 8 years managing team of senior technical engineers

Masters or Bachelor's degree in related technical / business area

Certification(s) in relevant field of expertise (CISSP required, CCNP required, CCIE preferred)

Experience re-engineering / process improvement

Demonstrate expert security market awareness as well as insights into cutting-edge technologies.

Strong project management experience running cross-functional teams.

Ability to create / define metrics that accurately reflect the current state of a given process or operation

Experience supporting mission-critical infrastructure in a fast-paced environment

Demonstrated experience in and high-level knowledge of complementary technical fields (i.e.: Network engineering, operating systems, etc.)

Be recognized as a leader within security arena and have deep relationships with technical, business and sourcing counterparts.

Foster relationships with the customers, associates, and vendors to proactively identify needed changes.

Lead process improvement initiatives.

10% travel required

Excellent problem solving / analytical skills and knowledge of analytical tools

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Excellent presentation skills demonstrated in front of large audiences.