Head of Network SASE

The Team:

The Global Network Services team operates with a strong focus on innovation, adaptability, and collaboration, driving the vision for a secure and scalable network infrastructure across multi-cloud environments. The team is deeply committed to adopting cutting-edge technologies like SASE and MCNaaS, embracing Zero Trust principles, and utilizing Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to automate and streamline processes. With a product mindset and a Scrum-based methodology at the core of their operations, the team consistently delivers efficient and effective solutions.

The team also thrives on cross-functional collaboration, partnering closely with Infrastructure, InfoSec, and LOB leaders to drive continuous improvement. Their commitment to operational excellence and reliability is reinforced by data-driven decision-making, transparency in metrics, and 24/7 support.

Responsibilities and Impact:

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and lead the long-term strategy for Network SASE, ensuring alignment with the company’s overall IT infrastructure roadmap and supporting a secure, scalable network for all users, regardless of location or endpoint technologies.
• Lead the strategic vision for Multi-Cloud Network as a Service (MCNaaS), ensuring it aligns with the organization’s multi-cloud architecture, scalability, and business needs.
• Establish a clear vision for integrating various SASE components by embracing Zero Trust Architecture, implementing best practices for orchestrating network and security policies across multiple cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.) to ensure high performance, security, and reliability.
• Oversee the migration of legacy network systems and the seamless integration of modern networking solutions into the existing network architecture, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum benefit from new capabilities.
• Spearhead the adoption of network provisioning and management automation across multiple cloud platforms using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) methodologies to enhance efficiency, agility, and operational scalability.
• Product Mindset: Align the team to a Product methodology using Scrum, including the creation of AGILE boards, sprint planning, and execution of Epic goals, prioritizing the backlog in Azure DevOps (ADO) boards.
• Engineering Quality & Operational Rigor: Implementing a robust SDLC framework that ensures all development activities follow defined phases to foster a culture of continuous improvement and quality assurance. Additionally, enforce rigorous documentation standards and adherence to change management guidelines. Conduct regular audits to ensure compliance, standardize development efforts, minimize risks, and enhance operational resilience.
• Training and Process Development: Train the global team on IELC (Infrastructure Engineering Lifecycle) and SDLC disciplines to establish a formal process for testing and certification.
• Change & Incident Management: Serve as an approver for network change requests and implementations, managing cloud and on-premises workloads. Act as a key contributor for indexing, reporting, and monitoring remediation efforts for major incidents.
• Infrastructure Monitoring, Platform & Health: Establish Network AI Ops capability to perform monitoring, with synthetic performance capability, enabling real-time visibility and reporting.
• Infrastructure Programs: Effectively Partner with Infrastructure, Workplace, and InfoSec teams to develop modern network solutions.
• Strategy & Continuous Improvement: Foster strong relationships with LOB’s, senior leadership, and Infrastructure & security practitioners globally. Engage with BISO (business information security officers) on various network policies.
• Metrics, Feeds and Datawarehouse: Leverage Datawarehouse technology to manage the requirements of various networking metrics requested by different stakeholders and also ensure timely delivery of feeds to downstream systems such as CMDB. For accuracy.
• Audit, Compliance & Business Continuity: Create and provide required artifacts for audit and regulatory requirements. Additionally, complete yearly business continuity plan exercise requirements.
• 24/7 Support: Provide oversight to 24/7 Network Ops team for first- and second line troubleshooting and drive remediation during impact-based alerts and outages.
• Vendor Management: Engage in vendor relationships, contracts, and support for various products, working with technical account managers and sales teams.

Compensation/Benefits Information: (This section is only applicable to US candidates)

S&P Global states that the anticipated base salary range for this position is $158,000 to $265,000. Final base salary for this role will be based on the individual’s geographic location, as well as experience level, skill set, training, licenses and certifications.

In addition to base compensation, this role is eligible for an annual incentive plan.

This role is eligible to receive additional S&P Global benefits. For more information on the benefits we provide to our employees, please click here.

What We’re Looking For:

Basic Required Qualifications:

Technical Skills

• Team Leadership: The ideal candidate must have 15+ years of experience in IT networking and security, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role focused on cloud-based network and security infrastructure. The candidate should possess strong expertise in multi-cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP), Zero Trust principles, cloud security, and network virtualization. Additionally, hands-on experience with technologies such as Zscaler, Fortinet, Cisco, VMware, or similar platforms is essential.
• Platform Expertise: Deep understanding of MCNaaS / SASE architecture and related components, including ZTNA, FWaaS, and SD-WAN. Hands-on expertise with network automation tools, SDN (Software-Defined Networking), VPNs, and IaC technologies (e.g., Terraform, Ansible). Strong knowledge of cloud networking protocols (VPC, peering, DNS, routing, etc.) and security principles.
• SDLC & Agile Methodology: Strong understanding of SDLC frameworks and best practices and Proficiency in Agile practices, Scrum framework, and managing Agile boards in tools like Azure DevOps (ADO).
• Incident, Change & Troubleshooting: Experience in handling change requests and major incident remediation. Strong problem-solving skills for first- and second line troubleshooting and remediation. Expertise in monitoring infrastructure stability and performance, and familiarity with tools for real-time visibility and reporting.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership, BISOs, and technical teams. Skills in managing vendor relationships, contracts, and support for technology products.

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

• Program Management: Strong program management skills to oversee deployment projects and annual upgrade initiatives.
• Effective Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate technical concepts and strategies to various stakeholders.
• Data Analysis: Ability to analyze metrics, performance data, and compliance artifacts to support decision-making and strategy development.
• Audit and Regulatory Requirements: Understanding of audit processes and regulatory requirements, and ability to produce necessary artifacts.
• Training and Mentorship: Capability to train and mentor global teams on technical and process-related disciplines.

Right to Work Requirements:

This role is limited to persons with indefinite right to work in the United States.

Return to Work:

Have you taken time out for caring responsibilities and are now looking to return to work? As part of our Return to Work initiative, Restart, we are encouraging enthusiastic and talented returners to apply, and will actively support your return to the workplace.