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The Network Architect II is responsible for all phases of the strategic design, testing, configuration, implementation, documentation, troubleshooting, and secure operation of Cleco’s Enterprise Network environments, supporting Cleco’s business and operational needs. This responsibility includes the development and future planning of Cleco’s network infrastructure to both Corporate assets as well as Operational assets. Maintains the current environment while simultaneously plans for future growth based on projected business and operational needs.

Key Responsibilities

- Champions a corporate culture that emphasizes transparency, integrity, safety, environmental responsibility, employee development, diversity and inclusion, customer service, and operational excellence.

- Ensures current systems never reach obsolescence through continuous review, planning, and budgeting.

- Developing and configuration on many network platforms and technology including LAN, WAN, Datacenter Network Design, Wireless, SDWAN, and VoIP solutions.

- Datacenter and Carrier contract negotiations and service delivery, including sizing and utilization studies to design proper network infrastructure for growth.

- Provides technical execution of defined activities to support the delivery of sub function initiatives required to achieve efficiency, effectiveness, and innovation objectives.

- Performs industry technology research and use case studies to find applicable solutions to the Operational and security related needs of the Cleco environment.

- Using current network measurement, monitoring and performance tools, analyze data output to assess current environment status, troubleshoot and resolve network issues and provide network usage trend analysis to IT management in support of future network upgrades and design.

- Collaborates with all areas of IT (Operations, Cyber Security, Telecommunications, Applications, Project Management) and business units to design an overall network roadmap supporting current and future business initiatives. Works with proven vendors and circuit providers to deliver needed bandwidth services to support business needs.

- With minimal supervision, designs optimal enterprise networking environment to provide high availability, scalability, and high-performance networking infrastructure to meet business and operational needs. Provides budget input and timelines, overseeing the move from design to implementation. Responsible for network device asset, change, and life cycle management including patching, testing, troubleshooting, and maintaining current configuration & documentation.

- Monitors and troubleshoots firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, syslog servers, radius servers, etc. to protect the integrity and security of Cleco’s network as well as company and customer data.

- Responsible for operating as the experienced technical staff for project teams within [job discipline] to execute through defined project objectives, milestones, and priorities in the short-term according to established project plans and manager guidance.

Qualifications

Required Education, Skills & Experience

- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Networking, or other Computer Science related field.

- 5+ years of related experience

- Step progression levels based on skill proficiency and scope of job.

- Knowledge of Best Practices (Network Architecture and development)

- Strong leadership and task completion skills

- Strong planning and project management skills

- Willingness and ability to learn new technologies on the job

- Proficient at functioning effectively within a team environment, present ideas and opinions in a respective and collegial manner

Licenses and Certifications

- 2 or more industry related technical certifications. (Cisco, Fortinet, CompTia, Nokia, Wireless)

Key Competencies

BEHAVIORAL

- Balances stakeholders

- Builds effective teams

- Business insight

- Communicates effectively

- Courage

- Demonstrates self-awareness

- Drives Results

- Drives vision and purpose

- Ensures Accountability

- Instills trust

- Nimble learning

- Plans and Aligns

- Safety

- Strategic mindset

TECHNICAL

- Analytical skills

- Compliance

- Computer Skills

- Business Partnering

- Application Development

- Architecture

- Business Requirements Analysis

- Database Administration

- Hardware Management

- IT Data Management

- IT Implementation and integration

- IT Support

- IT Testing

- Network/IT Security

May perform other duties as assigned.