Sargent & Lundy is a global leader in power and energy consulting, where innovation meets integrity, diversity, and a commitment to quality. Our distinctive capabilities provide domestic and international clients and partners with a thoroughly reliable source of comprehensive expertise. Sargent & Lundy offers challenge, flexibility, competitive salaries and benefits.

The Network and Collaboration Manager will be responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, and maintenance of network systems, ensuring that the organization’s communication infrastructure is reliable, secure, and aligned with business goals. This role also focuses on optimizing collaboration tools and technologies to enhance organizational efficiency, productivity, and seamless communication among teams. The ideal candidate will have strong technical expertise, leadership experience, and a deep understanding of network and collaboration technologies.

The primary responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to:

Network Infrastructure Management

• Design, implement, and manage the organization’s network infrastructure (LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, Wi-Fi, VPN, Firewall etc.).
• Set up and maintain a network operations center (NOC) to monitor and optimize network performance across various office sites and locations.
• Adept in using network monitoring tools such as Datadog, Cloudflare etc.
• Troubleshoot and resolve network issues, including connectivity problems, slow performance, and outages.
• Maintain and manage network security, including firewalls, VPNs, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and network access controls.
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify and deploy improvements in the network infrastructure.

Collaboration Systems Management

• Oversee the implementation and administration of collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.).
• Ensure seamless integration of collaboration platforms with other enterprise systems (CRM, ERP, document management systems).
• Manage user access controls and permissions across collaboration platforms.
• Provide support for end-users by troubleshooting and resolving technical issues related to collaboration tools.
• Monitor usage, performance, and analytics of collaboration platforms to identify areas for improvement.

Digital Workplace Management (Audio and Video)

• Collaborate with business leaders to assess unified communication and collaboration needs.
• Manage and support audiovisual(A/V) and conferencing equipment at various locations.
• Stay updated with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in network management and collaboration tools.
• Recommend new technologies or improvements to existing systems to enhance collaboration efficiency.
• Drive training and adoption programs to ensure employees are proficient in using collaboration technologies.

Vendor and Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with third-party vendors and service providers to ensure quality service delivery.
• Manage vendor contracts and service level agreements (SLAs) related to networking and collaboration tools.
• Liaise with stakeholders across departments to ensure the networking and collaboration needs of the organization are being met.
• Coordinate and lead internal teams for successful project completion related to network upgrades, deployments, or migrations.

Security and Compliance

• Implement and maintain security protocols to ensure network integrity and the confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulatory and industry standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS, in both networking and collaboration tools.
• Conduct regular security audits and risk assessments to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities in network and collaboration systems.

Project Management

• Lead and manage projects related to network upgrades, collaboration tool implementations, conference room set up or integrations.
• Develop project timelines, budgets, and resources, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within scope.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to deliver on project objectives.
• Document project workflows, best practices, and troubleshooting guides.

This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid schedule with the expectation of 3 days per week in our Chicago office, and 2 days remote from home. Some travel may be required for vendor meetings or site assessments.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Network Engineering or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• Certifications such as CCNP, CompTIA Network+, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator, or similar credentials are a plus.

Knowledge and Experience

• 10+ years of experience in IT networking, systems administration, A/V and collaboration technology management.
• Strong experience with network design, management, and troubleshooting (including hardware, software, and cloud-based networking).
• Proven experience managing and optimizing collaboration tools and platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Slack, etc.).
• Experience in vendor management, project management, and leading cross-functional teams.

Technical Skills

• Expertise in networking protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPNs, etc.).
• Experience with network hardware (routers, switches, firewalls, access points).
• Knowledge of cloud-based collaboration platforms and SaaS products.
• Familiarity with collaboration integrations (e.g., Microsoft 365.).
• Strong understanding of IT security principles and tools.

Soft Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work well with both technical and non-technical teams.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate team members and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in ITIL, Agile methodologies, or other project management frameworks.
• Experience with cloud networking platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Strong understanding of collaboration tool adoption and organizational change management.

We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

Sargent & Lundy is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by law.

At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award-winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.