Head of Networks

• Other
• Melbourne
• Permanent
• Lead network strategy and architecture.
• Drive automation and service excellence.
• Mentor teams and influence key decisions.

We are partnering with a leading organisation. As they continue to grow, they are seeking an experienced Head of Networks to lead the strategy, architecture, service design, and operational excellence of their networking practice.

This is a senior leadership role combining technical authority, team development, and commercial ownership. You'll be responsible for driving a secure, scalable, and automated networking platform across a multi-tenant client environment, while shaping the future direction of the business's network environment.

Responsibilities

• Drive the strategy for the network platform.
• Review current MPLS platform, network architecture and risk register to identify strengths, weaknesses and ensure operational stability.
• Review and analyse the existing network roadmap and, in consultation with key stakeholders, design and implement the next-generation network.
• Lead a network automation transformation to improve efficiency, reduce risk and accelerate client outcomes.
• Conduct capacity planning across both organic and exceptional growth scenarios.
• Participate in pre-sales activities, providing appropriate technical solutions for client opportunities.
• Support opportunity and win strategies with business stakeholders.
• Ensure all proposed client solutions are feasible and aligned with core network platforms.
• Participate in Change Advisory Board (CAB) activities to assess network-related change requests.
• Maintain the core network risk register, ensuring risks are identified, assessed and mitigated.
• Develop network platform metrics and reporting for executive leadership and technology teams.
• Maintain a deep understanding of organisational technologies and architectures.
• Develop and maintain current and future-state architectural blueprints.
• Assess the impact of enterprise architecture initiatives on service provider platforms.
• Act as a trusted advisor on technology vendor and solution decisions.
• Develop TCO models to support business case development.
• Be available to respond to major incidents, including out-of-hours situations where required.

Requirements

• Substantial senior experience in enterprise or service-provider networking, including a demonstrable leadership or design-authority role, ideally within a multi-tenant environment.
• Deep, current expertise across secure networking (SASE/SD-WAN/ZTNA), campus, data centre and cloud networking.
• Proven track record designing and operating multi-tenant managed network services at scale.
• Strong grounding in network automation and infrastructure-as-code, with a genuine bias toward standardisation over bespoke work.
• Demonstrated ownership of major-incident response and service-quality outcomes against SLAs.
• Solid understanding of network security and compliance frameworks (Essential Eight, ISO 27001).
• Experience leading, mentoring and growing technical teams.
• Excellent client-facing communication with the ability to engage effectively with both executive stakeholders and technical teams.

Education & Certifications

• Tertiary qualification in Information Technology or equivalent industry experience.
• CCIE certification or equivalent experience.

Technical Expertise The role requires current, hands-on knowledge across:

• Secure Networking / Edge: SASE/SSE, ZTNA, SD-WAN, Secure Web Gateway, CASB integration (Fortinet, Palo Alto, Cato, Cisco, Zscaler, Netskope).
• Campus & Wireless: Enterprise switching, Wi-Fi 6E/7, cloud-managed networking and AIOps-driven fabrics.
• Data Centre: L2/L3 fabric, EVPN-VXLAN, overlay/underlay design, firewalling and load balancing.
• Cloud & Multi-Cloud: Azure and AWS networking constructs, hub-and-spoke and Virtual WAN topologies, cloud-native connectivity and hybrid interconnects.
• Routing & Switching: BGP, OSPF, VLANs, VRFs, QoS and multicast fundamentals.
• Automation & Observability: Infrastructure-as-Code, configuration management, telemetry, flow analytics, AIOps and full-stack correlation.
• Systems Maintenance: Ubuntu Server, Docker containers and network management platforms including TACACS, RADIUS, Syslog, Grafana and TSDBs.

What's on Offer?

• Senior leadership role with significant influence on technology strategy.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
• Ongoing training, development and paid certifications.
• Collaborative culture with access to leading technologies.
• Quality hardware and equipment provided.
• Employee referral program.
• Strong focus on career development and internal growth opportunities.

Apply now for a confidential discussion.
Please note: Employment will be subject to a satisfactory National Police Check.