VP, IT Network and Communications

At VyStar, we offer competitive pay, an excellent benefit package that includes a 401(k) Plan, an extensive paid technical and on-the-job training program, and tuition reimbursement--available to all full and part time employees. Part time positions start at a minimum of 30 hours per week. We encourage you to become a part of VyStar Credit Union's family of employees. VP, IT Network and Communications Under the direction of the SVP, Infrastructure & Cloud Engineering, the Vice President of IT Network and Voice Technology is responsible for the analysis, design, planning, implementation, and maintenance of all facets of the infrastructure network and communications team at VyStar including data network communication infrastructure, voice and telecom communications infrastructure, audio/video infrastructure, and related services. The Vice President of IT Network and Voice Technology plans, leads, coordinates, and directs all daily operational activities of these teams and provides direction and solutions that enhance mission-critical services to enable data center, branch, ATM, contact center, and online and mobile banking delivery channels ensuring world-class financial services to our members. You’ll work with the SVP, Infrastructure & Cloud Engineering, members of the IT Senior Leadership Team, and other key technology and business decision-makers in identifying and implementing cost-effective technology solutions for all aspects of the business. This position provides the strategy, leadership, and day-to-day management of the managers and staff of the data network communications team, voice/telecom team, and AV infrastructure teams with ultimate responsibility for identifying and designing related current and future technical solutions which keep VyStar products and services in use 24/7/365. This role requires a mix of broad technical knowledge, project management experience, strong analytic skills, a strategic vision to transform and drive innovative solutions, and a track record of delivering results. Qualified candidates will have strong technical leadership and storytelling skills to build rapport with technology and business partners. Essential Job Functions Works in close collaboration with VyStar leadership and senior colleagues, establishing and maintaining network and communications infrastructure strategy and path that aligns with industry-wide best practices. Should have deep technology understanding in network and communications space and should be able to roll-up sleeves and get into the details and problem solving. Look to transformative and innovative solutions for network and communications space. Ensures that systems within the department are fully compliant with defined security standards and other quality benchmarks that may be relevant via security architecture and procedures. Drive vulnerability management to address any security gaps and remediation in their space. Establishes and periodically reviews the processes and metrics for defining performance and ensuring it remains at optimal levels. Drives accountability through data and metrics. Creates and drives the vision, mission, and purpose for your teams, signing off on the KPIs necessary to meet the needs of the business, and developing and executing strategic plans to achieve delivery. Ensures appropriate stakeholder engagement. Facilitates the development of the accountability action chain, establishing continuous improvement opportunities and projects to enhance the service to business customers and members. Creates and implements IT policies and procedures that enable strong security and risk-management capabilities within the area of responsibility. Explores new technologies and software as appropriate and in conjunction with the vision of the SVP, Infrastructure & Cloud Engineering, and guidance from the VP of Architecture. Oversees the design and implementation of the ongoing support of the data and voice/telecom and AV infrastructure within VyStar; including branch-based AV and content delivery system infrastructure. Provides recommendations and implementation of new investments. Ensures the consistency and maintainability of existing infrastructure environments through the creation, maintenance, and enforcement of well-documented standards and procedures for the implementation of technical solutions. Partners closely with the technical support team in gathering consumer feedback and developing insights that will lead to the improvement of IT services. Constantly reviews and assesses the effectiveness of the existing network, communications and AV infrastructure, and processes developed by the department. Analyzes complex business requirements and makes recommendations to the SVP, Infrastructure & Cloud Engineering for technical solutions, ensuring that these solutions are aligned with the overall business vision, mission, and direction. Improves efficiency and level-sets coverage/resources to ensure service availability and support that meets service level agreements. Ensure vital services are optimized and always on. Establishes operational and capital budgets to address the needs of various areas of the department. Adheres to the overall financial objectives of the business and tracks the annual departmental expenditures and directs the department’s financial needs in conjunction with Finance. Ensures the team is engaged in both the team and wider company strategy, goals, and purpose, through regular communication and meetings/events, driving a team communication strategy so messages are appropriately channeled, and employees are engaged positively and appropriately. Builds a team culture and atmosphere that embraces change and is looking for continuous improvements. Manages team performance, agreeing on clear goals and targets, reviewing performance formally and informally, giving feedback, course correction, motivation, and enabling recognition. Enables the development of individual team members, delivering training opportunities, coaching, and guidance as needed to enable them to achieve their full potential. Is a thought partner and sounding board for the SVP, Infrastructure & Cloud Engineering, CIO, and other senior technical leaders, advising on company strategy, projects, and goals, as and when needed, helping to prioritize competing demands. Provides oversight and ownership of the entire network and communications infrastructure ensuring proper configuration, implementation, maintenance, and monitoring of availability so services meet or exceed service level agreements. Coordinates the resolution of operational issues, provides leadership on exceptional problems, and guidance to staff in responding to system issues affecting credit union members and staff. Negotiates technology contracts in conjunction with the contract managers to coordinate implementation, service contracts, and equipment acquisitions. Manages vendor relationships to achieve efficiency and success of the operations and quality of the products and services at an optimum cost to VyStar. Accountable for delivering VyStar’s portfolio of infrastructure dependent projects which include large, complex, cross-functional strategic and/or tactical initiatives, within the defined scope, time, and cost requirements. Builds relationships and collaborates with other department and business unit leaders regularly. Resolves outstanding issues to ensure the satisfaction of stakeholders. Performs other duties as assigned. Job Qualifications Experience building, scaling & monitoring network and communications infrastructure needed for highly-available SaaS, IaaS, and data center-based applications and services. Should be familiar with Cloud infrastructure & network connectivity specifically Azure or AWS voice systems. Must have experience with Cisco network architectures including ACI software-defined networking. Must have experience with on-premises and cloud-based voice/telecom systems, preferably Avaya or similar enterprise voice systems. Must have experience with enterprise contact center enablement and support technologies. Must have experience supporting large enterprise Audio Video implementations including conference room automation, video conferencing, content sharing, and content delivery systems. Familiarity with enterprise-class security standards. Strong Leadership and team-building skills. Strong negotiation skills with business and technical groups including the ability to share knowledge, facilitate discussions, resolve conflicts and build consensus among stakeholders. Extremely accomplished in communicating to all levels of management with the presentation skills necessary to communicate, and persuade, a wide range of audiences. Superior analytical and critical thinking skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Superb project management and organization skills. Financial services experience is highly desired. Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline; Master’s degree or MBA is highly desirable; equivalent experience acceptable. 10+ years of progressive IT leadership experience. #J-18808-Ljbffr