Network Operations Lead Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

First American Bank was founded in Chicago, and over the years has expanded throughout Wisconsin and Florida. As the largest privately held bank in Illinois, we now have over 60 locations and assets of $8+ billion.  We are a community bank at heart with international expertise, traditional values, and a forward-looking philosophy. Our employees have the experience and vision to meet the needs of savers, borrowers, and businesses in the 21st century. First American Bank can offer employees a level of visibility, career growth, and stability that is difficult to find in many larger corporations.

The Network Manager oversees a team of Systems Engineer Networking Specialists, ensuring the administration, security, and optimization of network infrastructure across campus, data centers—including First American Bank’s Elk Grove Village Data Center and Vernon Hills High Availability Data Center—as well as branch locations. This manager leads strategic network planning, vendor coordination, and security risk mitigation efforts while overseeing the team responsible for network, firewall, SD-WAN, wireless administration, technical support, and Data Center infrastructure, ensuring alignment with evolving business needs and industry standards. Additionally, this individual serves as the department representative for networking initiatives, collaborating across teams to address IT concerns and drive innovation.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee a team of Systems Engineer Networking Specialists that administer and support the Network (Campus, Data Center, Branches), Firewalls, SD-WAN, and Wireless network environment. Directly manage the daily activities of employees within the department, coordinating and prioritizing requisite duties and daily assignments while appraising employee productivity and performance. Compose and deliver performance evaluations.
• Manage the coordination of hardware and software vendor support, ensuring seamless installation and efficient upgrade activities.
• Continuously develop and maintain expertise in emerging and existing technologies to optimize their application within our environment.
• Oversee and ensure timely completion of remediation and patching activities, aligning with defined Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to maintain system security and performance.
• Provide strategic oversight of network design, ensuring IT resources are optimally aligned to meet evolving business requirements for network infrastructure and firewall security.
• Lead and coordinate cross-training initiatives to ensure comprehensive coverage across all areas, designating primary, secondary, and, where necessary, tertiary support staff for operational continuity.
• Develop, maintain, and regularly update a three-year network technology roadmap to align with evolving business needs, ensuring milestones and objectives are met on schedule.
• Develop, manage, and proactively update departmental project lists, ensuring clear communication of progress to stakeholders and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Develop, manage, and continuously optimize the staff support calendar to ensure seamless team operations. Coordinate scheduling needs, anticipate workload demands, and proactively adjust assignments to maximize efficiency and coverage.
• Serve as the department representative for networking projects, issues, and initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and technological advancements. Meet regularly with representatives from various departments to discuss IT needs, address concerns, and proactively identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support the design, development, and implementation of the Network Operations Center to optimize network performance and reliability. Assist in defining operational workflows, selecting technologies, and establishing monitoring systems to ensure seamless functionality.
• Collaborate closely with Information Security to assess and mitigate risks posed by emerging threats to the network. Conduct thorough risk analyses, implement proactive security strategies, and ensure swift, effective responses to vulnerabilities. Facilitate communication between teams to align security protocols with organizational objectives, strengthen threat detection capabilities, and enhance overall network resilience.
• Responsible for employee hiring, training, staff development, scheduling, and direct assistance with coverage of daily workloads when needed. Monitor work standards and adherence to company policies. Proactively deliver feedback to direct reports to promote staff development, and administer corrective action as needed.
• Conduct and complete additional assignments/projects as designated by management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. Focus on Computer Science or related discipline preferred.
• Certifications in Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto, and/or Aruba are preferred.
• Minimum five years’ experience in relevant role(s) including at least 2 years with managerial duties.

• Advanced knowledge and expertise in Juniper, Cisco, and Palo Alto Networks required.

• Experience with a variety of routing protocols and IP Addressing required.

• Demonstrated experience in project management—including planning, organization, and resource coordination—is required.

• Experience implementing WIFI and VOIP QOS policies in complex environments required.

• Strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage competing deadlines, and deliver high-quality results in a dynamic, fast-paced IT environment. Proven experience in balancing multiple projects and adapting to shifting priorities is essential.
• Qualified military veterans are encouraged to apply.
• Demonstrated expertise in advanced networking technologies, including routing and switching, firewall configuration and management, wireless access points and controllers, and SD-WAN infrastructure.
• Proven experience supporting high-availability environments across data centers, campus networks, and branch locations, with a strong understanding of remote site operations and associated support methodologies

• A functional understanding of network architectures designed for hybrid cloud environments, with practical knowledge of virtual platforms such as Citrix, Azure, VMware, and Hyper-V. Ability to manage and optimize network-based monitoring systems and oversee the performance, reliability, and scalability of the overall network infrastructure.

• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 products and applications, including the ability to effectively prepare or review documents, procedures, and reports.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new systems and applications, as well as the ability to understand, adapt and adjust responsibilities/workflows as a result of system upgrades.
• Must be professional, comfortable speaking with external and internal contacts with a demonstrated ability to tailor the message appropriately to the audience and situation effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to convey thoughts and ideas effectively and succinctly via written formats, including emails, letters, and electronic platforms. Maintain professional standards relating to spelling and grammar.
• Use sound professional judgment to balance the interests of the organization and customer, understanding and using available resources to mitigate risks.
• Maintain good working relationships with internal partners by exhibiting exemplary interpersonal skills, adopting a constructive, solutions-focused approach.
• Use sound professional judgment to balance the interests of the organization and customer, understanding and using available resources to mitigate risks.
• Ability to relay technical information to both technical and non-technical personnel.
• This position requires regular travel throughout the Chicagoland area, with frequent locations being Elk Grove Village and Vernon Hills. Periodic travel to Wisconsin, specifically Kenosha and Milwaukee, is also expected, along with occasional trips to Florida, including Miami and Tampa.
• Typical schedule is Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional hours may be required depending upon business need.Rotational Saturday work and off-hours on-call availability.
• A rotational Saturday will be required based on department needs. On call rotation is also required.
• Punctuality is required to maintain First American Bank’s customer service standards.