Job Description

About Ashurst:Ashurst is a leading progressive global law firm with a rich history spanning more than 200 years. We are proud of our history and are future-focused, having expanded into new technologies through our NewLaw division, Ashurst Advance, and our consulting arm. Our in-depth understanding of our clients and commitment to providing excellent standards of service have seen us become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law. To find out more please visitIn order to comply with regulatory and client requirements, Ashurst will undertake appropriate vetting of staff. When applicants accept a job offer, Ashurst, alongside a specialist provider, will undertake professional verification and background checks. These checks are only undertaken with consent, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations.Job OverviewAs the Network Manager, you will serve as both the technical lead for the Network and a people manager for the Network team. Reporting directly to the Global Infrastructure Leader, you will be responsible for guiding technical decisions related to our network infrastructure strategy and collaborating with vendors to ensure service level agreements (SLAs) and performance targets are met, plus ensuring the quality of service is maintained. Your role will involve overseeing the day-to-day operations of backend IT systems, driving the implementation of new technologies, and ensuring the network remains robust and efficient. You will work in a dynamic environment, balancing Business as Usual (BAU) responsibilities with project-based initiatives, including the implementation of our SD-WAN project to enhance network performance and resilience.Main responsibilitiesLeadership and Team Management

• Provide leadership in monitoring, managing, and optimising all network infrastructure services, ensuring top-tier performance and availability.
• Offer guidance on best practices to junior engineers and act as a mentor to support their growth.
• Manage the global Network team and work closely with the IT Infrastructure Managers to provide seamless support and services across regions and time zones.
• Foster cooperation and collaboration across the Network, Infrastructure and Platform teams.

Technical Expertise and Decision Making

• Lead the support and ownership of WAN and LAN technologies.
• Offer expert-level support and guidance for cloud-based solutions (SASE), ensuring smooth integration and encouraging team development in cloud technologies.
• Develop, implement, and refine automation, leading initiatives that enhance network management, reduce manual processes, and streamline maintenance tasks across the team.
• Create, review, and enhance Network documentation, ensuring it meets business standards and supporting the team in adhering to consistent documentation practices.
• Champion IT processes and procedures, particularly around Change Control, Privileged Access Management, and system security, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.
• Take the lead in ongoing patching and upgrades of supported Network infrastructure to uphold security and functionality.

Incident and Service Management

• Oversee and guide the resolution of logged incidents and service requests, ensuring timely responses and providing support in handling major incidents and processes related to problem, change, and configuration management.
• Collaborate with the Service Delivery team to manage escalations and resolve tickets effectively, ensuring high-quality service delivery and providing strategic input on process improvements.
• Take a leading role in operational rotas, ensuring stability and proactively identifying issues.
• Work with key stakeholders to quantify and prioritise technical debt remediation.

Vendor and Stakeholder Management

• Manage relationships with external vendors and service providers to ensure service quality and value for money.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders to understand their infrastructure needs and ensure these are met effectively.
• Work closely with vendors to provide support and strategic guidance, ensuring improvements and assisting junior staff in resolving technical challenges through vendor collaboration.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Expert-level troubleshooting and design skills for complex network, system, and security challenges.
• Proven experience in enterprise-scale network design and implementation, particularly across multi-site LANs and WANs.
• Extensive experience with Cisco network infrastructure, including Cisco switching (Nexus 3K and 9K), and advanced routing protocols (BGP, EIGRP, OSPF).
• Strong expertise in firewall technologies, particularly Palo Alto and Fortinet.
• Deep understanding of wireless networking, with hands-on experience in Aruba solutions.
• Subject Matter Expertise (SME) in MPLS networks, VPN technologies, and Quality of Service (QoS) optimisation within Cisco environments and/or HPE environments.
• Proficiency in network monitoring and management tools, such as SolarWinds NPM/NTA, Cisco, PRTG, and F5 technologies (LTM, GTM, APM, and BIG-IP).
• Comprehensive knowledge of WAN optimisation technologies.
• Experience with SD-WAN design, implementation, and migration strategies in global environments.
• Strong vendor management skills, with a track record of overseeing third-party service providers and ensuring SLA adherence and ensuring quality of the service is maintained.
• Proven record of defining 3rd party vendor arrangements for a multinational organisation, including drafting detailed statements of work and negotiating SLAs.
• Experience of defining and implementing a vision for network support which has included a 24*7 operating model incorporating a mix of internal and 3rd party resources.
• Experience of managing a multi-million xc2xa3 networks budget with a track record of regular cost optimisations.
• The ability to present complex technical concepts in layman's terms to senior stakeholders.

Desirable skills and experience

• Knowledge of IT governance and compliance frameworks (e.g., GDPR, Cyber Essentials)Familiarity with incident response and disaster recovery planning
• Understanding of vulnerability management with experience in remediation and risk management.
• Experience in cloud networking (Azure Virtual WAN, AWS Direct Connect, Google Cloud Interconnect).
• Knowledge of automation and infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tools such as Ansible, Terraform, or Python for network automation.
• Familiarity with Zero Trust Network Architecture (ZTNA) and modern security frameworks like SASE (Secure Access Service Edge).
• Exposure to Network Access Control (NAC) solutions, such as Cisco ISE or Aruba ClearPass.
• Understanding of IPv6 implementation and migration strategies in large-scale environments.
• Experience integrating SD-WAN solutions with cloud security platforms (Netscope, Prisma Access, etc.).
• Knowledge of ITIL best practices and experience working in an ITSM-driven environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with experience presenting technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, PCNSE, NSE4/7, or equivalent, demonstrating expertise in networking and security.

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