Senior Manager Network Infrastructure, Global

Avient Corporation (formerly PolyOne Corporation + Clariant Mb), with 2022 revenues of $3.65 billion, provides specialized and sustainable material solutions that transform customer challenges into opportunities, bringing new products to life for a better world. Examples include :

• Dyneema®, the world's strongest fiber™, enables unmatched levels of performance and protection for end-use applications, including ballistic personal protection, marine and sustainable infrastructure and outdoor sports.
• Unique technologies that improve the recyclability of products and enable recycled content to be incorporated, thus advancing a more circular economy.
• Light-weighting solutions that replace heavier traditional materials like metal, glass and wood, which can improve fuel efficiency in all modes of transportation and reduce carbon footprint.
• Sustainable infrastructure solutions that increase energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural resource conservation and fiber optic / 5G network accessibility

We are looking for a :

SENIOR MANAGER NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE, GLOBAL

Location : Any of Avient s locations in EMEA. On site / hybrid / remote depending on local rules for the location.

The Sr. Manager, Network Infrastructure, Global, is part of a dynamic global IT organization that supports the company’s mission and focus on innovation and sustainability, comprised of the 4 Ps’ Product, Planet, People, and Performance.

This role is responsible for management and strategic projects relating to the company’s Global network infrastructure, ensuring all regional teams certify it is secure, reliable, and scalable, whilst supporting and participating in our follow-the-sun methodology in providing global service to Avient.

Reporting to the Director of Digital Infrastructure & Operations (I&O), this Sr. Manager will lead the overall global network team, consisting of three regional teams of network voice and data engineers, with direct line management over their respective managers.

This role is key to our success as we transition and evolve our operational models, processes, systems, and team structure to ensure we exceed the expectations and demands of our rapidly growing business around the globe.

Key success factors will focus on collaborating with Avient's Digital I&O leaders and teams to align with strategic projects and implementing complimentary innovative plans through their global network organization.

This role collaborates with associates across all levels, geographies, business units and business functions, including external business users and partners, to solve business challenges and achieve desired business outcomes.

This Sr. Manager will have opportunity to bring new thinking to the organization, challenge the status quo, try out different approaches and make an impact not just on the immediate team, but throughout IT and the organization overall.

WHERE YOUR EXPERTISE IS NEEDED

• In collaboration with the Global Digital Design architectural team, the Sr. Manager is responsible for establishing a comprehensive and wholistic IT Network Infrastructure strategy, encompassing all global regions, from site through to cloud data center level, that aligns with the company's overall business objectives and strategic roadmap, in accordance with best practice and industry standards.
• Focused on transforming technology into value across objectives in Avient IT’s four strategic areas :

Investing in our peopleDelivering value-added solutionsDelivering secure, reliable, cost-effective solutionsDeveloping long-term strategies.

• Manage and mentor cross-regional teams of network engineers, specialists, architects, and managers, providing technical guidance, performance feedback, and career development opportunities.
• Provide project management guidance for complex projects and workstreams, advising on interdependencies and impact into other global initiatives, ensuring local regulatory and compliance requirements are met.
• Ensure that the security, performance, reliability, and efficiency of Avient's global network infrastructure; that services are available, scalable, and continually improved.
• Continuously evolve and adapt the Network Infrastructure organization to facilitate excellent follow-the-sun models of support, service provision and incident escalation around the globe.
• Ensure harmonized processes are in place, along with effective training and appropriate system access to guarantee gapless global support across all relevant technical areas.
• Fortify and enhance their teams’ efforts to configure, deploy, administer, and support Avient’s global networking infrastructure in collaboration with other cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with Digital Service Delivery to ensure meaningful KPIs are implemented and continuously measured to support SLA commitments in accordance with industry standards.
• Engage with the Digital Service Delivery team to assure that all regional teams have suitable and correct ITSM platform structure and processes to allow alignment with best practices for effective incident management, resolution, and reporting.
• Proactively research and champion ways to improve IT processes and efficiency of the global Digital I&O team and service delivery.
• Warrants that high quality documentation exists for all applicable projects, systems, and knowledgebase articles, pertinent to their area of responsibility.
• Act as a liaison between appropriate end users and all other IT Teams via phone, email, and ticketing systems, triaging appropriate incidents to ensure escalation to relevant teams and third parties.
• Support and help maintain relationships with all relevant IT vendors.
• Participate in the IT strategic process and / or service needs.
• Ability to work highly effectively, with no supervision, across various global virtual teams.
• Follow direction to achieve a high-quality outcome.
• Flexibility to work within global regional time zones, including to participate in off hours activities if appropriate.
• Potential global travel up to 10%.
• Other duties as assigned.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in Manufacturing or similar industry.
• 8 16 years of senior professional technical experience in a related IT field or area, or 10 years of experience in network engineering and architecture.
• 5 10 years of leadership experience managing significant cross regional and global teams, including demonstratable high quality staff management.
• Experience in effectively engaging and motivating remote and diverse team members.
• Demonstratable knowledge and hands-on experience in designing, implementing, and optimizing complex network infrastructure and services, such as LAN, WAN, VPN, SD-WAN, MPLS, BGP, OSPF, QoS, VoIP, Wi-Fi, etc.
• Strong experience and skills in network security, such as firewalls, IDS / IPS, VPN, encryption, authentication, etc.
• Proficient in network technologies and protocols, such as TCP / IP, DNS, DHCP, SNMP, HTTP, etc.
• Experience in network management and monitoring tools, such as SolarWinds, Nagios, Splunk, etc.
• Experience in network automation and orchestration tools, such as Ansible, Puppet, Terraform, etc.
• Experience in cloud network technologies and services, such as AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.
• Strong experience in environments with segmentation between IT / OT
• Relevant industry certifications are a benefit.
• Strong process and internal customer focus.
• Experience in network project management, planning, and execution, with proven ability to deliver results on time and within budget.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current and emerging technologies in relevant areas.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience working and collaborating within a global enterprise with diverse teams.
• Demonstrated infrastructure security focus and best practice working habits.
• Experience leading and contributing to infrastructure projects within a fast-paced acquisition focused culture.

PERKS AT WORK

• Culture of trust, empowerment and constructive feedback, we also provide our associates with robust development programs such as Avient Academy, Lean Six Sigma, and various leadership workshops to allow for career growth in a variety of ways.
• With workplace flexibility, health and wellness programs, casual dress days, and paid time off for community service, we are committed to building upon our positive momentum.
• Extensive onboarding, mentoring and personal development opportunities and an international team of experts.

We believe diversity of ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws.

Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.