Network Lead (IT/OT)

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the technical vision, standards, and lifecycle strategy for enterprise network services, including LAN, WAN, wireless, and related network platforms.
• Define and maintain network standards aligned with availability, security, operational resilience, and manufacturing requirements.
• Contribute network domain input into enterprise and infrastructure future‑state planning.
• Assess overall network domain health, including technical debt, aging infrastructure, operational risks, and support challenges.
• Identify gaps, vulnerabilities, and scaling constraints across IT and OT network environments.
• Ensure visibility of network risks and dependencies for leadership and architecture planning.
• Identify network improvement and modernization opportunities and translate them into structured, prioritized initiatives.
• Provide technical input and recommendations to support prioritization of network‑related work and investment decisions.
• Support development of business‑justified initiatives related to resiliency, capacity, security posture, and modernization.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight for network‑related projects, ensuring designs align with standards and long‑term domain direction.
• Guide solution design and technical decisions without acting as the primary implementation resource.
• Partner with Project Managers to ensure network deliverables are scoped, sequenced, and executed effectively.
• Maintain accurate network domain data, documentation, and system records (e.g., topology, standards, lifecycle states).
• Ensure domain information is reliable for operational planning, audits, and enterprise architecture use.
• Support consistent processes for managing and governing network services across sites.
• Act as a key technical partner to the IT Architect, providing domain insight and validated network data for cross‑domain planning.
• Collaborate with Infrastructure Platforms, Cloud Platforms, Cybersecurity, Manufacturing/Engineering, and Operations teams to ensure integrated solutions.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor for network‑related decisions and escalations.

Qualifications:

• Degree or diploma in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field
• Deep technical expertise in enterprise networking within multi‑site, high‑availability environments, ideally including manufacturing or industrial operations.
• Strong understanding of network lifecycle management, resiliency, security principles, and modernization planning.
• Proven ability to define standards and guide technical direction across both operations and project delivery.
• Experience assessing technical debt, operational risk, and long‑term sustainability of network platforms.
• Ability to translate complex technical needs into structured recommendations and actionable initiatives.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, including the ability to support architectural and leadership decision‑making.
• Experience supporting IT/OT integrated network environments is preferred.
• Background in network refresh, modernization, or standardization programs.
• Familiarity with enterprise architecture concepts and cross‑domain dependency planning.
• Industry certifications (e.g., CCNP/CCIE, network security certifications) are an asset.
• Willingness to travel occasionally between Canada and U.S. manufacturing sites

MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class otherwise protected under applicable human rights legislation. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled and all other qualified applicants

The Successful Applicant

The successful candidate is a senior network professional who combines deep enterprise networking expertise with strong strategic and architectural thinking. They are comfortable owning standards, lifecycle planning, and modernization across complex, multi‑site IT and IT/OT environments within manufacturing.

They are a collaborative, influential leader who guides technical direction without being hands‑on day to day, communicates clearly with architects and leaders, and proactively manages risk, technical debt, and long‑term network health.

What's on Offer

• Strategic ownership of an enterprise‑wide network domain with real influence over standards and investment decisions
• Opportunity to shape modernization across complex IT and IT/OT manufacturing environments
• High‑visibility partnership with architecture and leadership teams
• Less hands‑on firefighting; more focus on long‑term vision, risk reduction, and innovation
• Stable full‑time role with predictable hours and meaningful impact at scale