Operations Manager with Network (Cisco) and Network Security - Belgium

Role: Operations Manager with Network (Cisco) and Network Security (Belgium)

Location: Belgium

Experience: 8+ years

Languages: Dutch and English (mandatory)

Salary: €6,700 per month

Role Summary

Responsible for managing and supporting OT infrastructure, enterprise networks, and security services. The role requires strong L3 technical expertise, ownership of operational stability, incident management, change governance, and continuous improvement across industrial and enterprise environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end OT infrastructure and network operations to ensure service reliability.
• Maintain critical industrial environments with minimal operational impact.
• Lead major incidents, troubleshooting, escalations, and service recovery activities.
• Manage controlled changes within production-sensitive environments.
• Work closely with plant teams, engineering, IT, cybersecurity, and external vendors.
• Improve operational visibility through documentation, risk tracking, and process improvements.

Technical Expertise Required

• Strong experience with OT infrastructure supporting industrial environments.
• Hands-on knowledge of:
• Cisco routers and switches
• LAN/WAN and datacenter connectivity
• Windows/Linux OT systems
• Virtualization platforms
• Firewalls and security controls
• VPN and remote connectivity
• Backup and recovery solutions
• Site and endpoint infrastructure

Network & Security Responsibilities

• Provide L3 support for enterprise network environments.
• Troubleshoot complex issues involving:
• Routing and switching
• VLANs, trunking, STP
• OSPF/BGP/static routing
• HSRP/VRRP
• ACLs
• Packet loss, latency, and connectivity issues
• Manage Palo Alto firewall operations including:
• Security policies
• NAT
• VPN
• Traffic analysis
• Firewall troubleshooting
• Panorama-managed environments

Incident & Change Management

• Lead P1/P2 incidents and act as escalation point for complex issues.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Support network migrations, upgrades, and service changes.
• Ensure proper validation, rollback planning, and documentation.

Operational Responsibilities

• Manage tickets, escalations, SLA performance, and service priorities.
• Provide technical guidance to L1/L2 teams.
• Coordinate with vendors, carriers, cloud teams, and application teams.
• Support service reviews and operational reporting.

Governance & Improvement

• Maintain:
• Network diagrams
• SOPs
• Firewall documentation
• Support procedures
• Implementation guides
• Ensure security and change processes are followed.
• Identify opportunities for optimization, automation, and improved resilience.

Required Skills

• Strong Cisco networking experience.
• Strong Palo Alto firewall expertise.
• Advanced troubleshooting across network and security domains.
• Experience with enterprise, datacenter, branch, and hybrid environments.
• Knowledge of ITIL processes and operational governance.

Soft Skills

• Strong ownership and leadership during incidents.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Ability to manage L3 escalations independently.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Skills

• Cloud networking and security exposure.
• Monitoring and log analysis experience.
• Automation/scripting knowledge.
• Vendor management experience.

Expected Outcomes

• Stable network and OT infrastructure operations.
• Faster resolution of critical incidents.
• Improved service resilience and reduced recurring issues.
• Strong documentation and operational governance.
• Increased stakeholder confidence.