Network Manager in Birmingham

The Network Manager is responsible for leading the Network Services, Operations and Delivery functions to ensure stable, secure and high‑performing network services across the organisation. Operating within a modern, partner‑enabled model, the role focuses on service ownership, operational governance, strategy execution and vendor/MSP management. Strong technical knowledge is required to guide internal teams and third‑party providers, with an emphasis on leadership, service performance, and continuous improvement. The Network Manager also drives key transformation initiatives, such as Zero Trust, network simplification and the network strategy and roadmap, while ensuring alignment with security, architecture and compliance frameworks.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Management: Lead, mentor, and manage the network team, consisting of service, operations and delivery capabilities (approx. 7 people), ensuring clarity of roles within the operating model. Provide coaching, direction and subject matter leadership to team members, fostering a high‑performance culture focused on service excellence, reliability, and continual improvement.
• Service Ownership & Operational Governance: Act as the service owner for network services, ensuring stable, secure and resilient end‑to‑end service delivery across WAN/SD‑WAN, LAN/WLAN, Firewalls, Remote Access and Public DNS. Provide governance and oversight of operational activities performed by internal teams and managed service providers, ensuring compliance with SLAs, KPIs, and operational standards. Ensure effective incident, problem, change and lifecycle management processes are followed in line with ITIL frameworks.
• Strategic Direction & Transformation: Drive the development, execution, and continuous refinement of the network strategy and roadmap, including Zero Trust, network simplification, cloud networking, and secure access initiatives. Lead network related transformation and continuous improvement programmes, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, cyber security, and wider IT strategy.
• Vendor & Partner Management: Own day‑to‑day and strategic relationships with key vendors and managed service providers, ensuring effective performance management, service governance and contract alignment. Lead governance forums, including monthly service reviews, operational performance reporting, issue escalations and risk management. Ensure suppliers adhere to compliance and security standards and deliver consistent, high‑quality service.
• Risk, Compliance & Security Alignment: Ensure network services and operations meet internal and external regulatory standards. Maintain oversight of network asset and configuration management processes, ensuring accuracy and audit readiness.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Engage and collaborate with IT Leadership, Architecture, Workplace, Data Centre & Cloud and Shared Services to ensure network services are integrated, scalable and support business needs. Act as a trusted advisor to divisional and operating company teams on network related activities, ensuring alignment with strategic direction and architectural standards. Communicate network service health, risks, constraints, and opportunities to stakeholders in clear and business relevant terms.
• Project & Delivery Oversight: Provide leadership and oversight for network related initiatives and projects, ensuring appropriate planning, governance, resourcing, and vendor coordination. Support the delivery of transformation activities such as Zero Trust pilots, Network Asset Management, large scale refresh cycles and architectural transitions.

Individual Competencies

• Drive Results – Consistently achieving objectives, even under tough circumstances, pushing self and others to accomplish goals.
• Have Courage – Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
• Cultivate Innovation – Creating new and better ways for the organisation to be successful.
• Have a Strategic Mindset – Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Attract and Develop Talent – Attracting, selecting, and developing talent to meet the organisation's goals and needs.
• Be Resilient – Rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.
• Collaborate – Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Make Quality Decisions – Making good and timely decisions that keep the organisation moving forward.
• Drive Vision and Purpose – Painting a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.

Key Characteristics

• Leader – Strong leadership and interpersonal skills to manage and mentor a team.
• Visionary Moderniser – able to think outside the situation on the ground and drive toward best‑in‑class modern technology and practice.
• Critical thinker – a problem solver and resolves conflicts.
• Customer Focused – Looks for ways to innovate to improve the focus on the customer.
• Motivated – stays motivated and can deal with resistance.
• Coaches others to build on strengths and improve on weakness; listens to and encourages regular honest feedback.
• An inclination to drill into detail and take corrective action early and decisively.

Key Functional Competencies

• Prepared to breakdown organisational boundaries through collaboration and cross staffing by building strong relationships based on trust with peers.
• Proven project management skills, with the ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
• In‑depth knowledge of networking concepts, tools, infrastructure and capabilities.
• Experienced with multiple networking software products, platforms and vendors.
• Strong vendor management skills, with experience managing third‑party relationships.
• Strong professional accreditations / certifications such as ITIL, CISCO, Azure, CompTIA+.
• Excellent Written and Verbal communication skills with people at all levels across the organisation.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Effective negotiation skills to be able to facilitate collaboration with internal stakeholders, vendors and MSPs.
• The ability to translate business requirements into viable technical solutions.
• Strong stakeholder management skills (all directions).
• The ability to communicate complex concepts to technical and non‑technical audiences.

Experience / Education

• College diploma or university degree in business, information systems, or technical related subject.
• Minimum of 5 years hands‑on, technical experience of working as part of a network operations team and wider infrastructure / IT team.
• Minimum of 5 years management experience as part of a network operations team or wider infrastructure / IT team.
• Experience working in the construction materials / industrial manufacturing sector.
• Proven experience of working in a federated matrix model.

Other (Key) Dimensions

• Number of Managed Users: 33k+
• Geographies Supported: 20+ Countries
• Headcount within the IT Operations team: 60+
• Headcount across European IT teams: 450+

What CRH Offers You

• A culture that values opportunity for growth, development, and internal promotion.
• Highly competitive salary package.
• Comprehensive secondary benefits.
• Significant contribution to your pension plan.
• Health and wellness programs.
• Excellent opportunities to develop and progress with a global organization.

Connect Your Future to CRH. We are curious to learn more about you. At CRH, we believe our mutual differences contribute to the healthy, productive, and enjoyable workspace we create. Please introduce yourself and send us your application. Is this role not for you, but do you know someone who would love to join the team? Please let us know! CRH finds it important that vacancies are shared to individuals that may find them interesting and/or could be suitable for the role. Please contact our recruitment team at careers@crh.com. CRH is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community. Benefits/perks listed above may vary depending on the nature of the employment with CRH and the country where you work. Please note that we cannot accept any applications submitted through email for GDPR purposes. Candidates must apply through our job portal. We do not accept candidate introductions for this position from recruitment agencies, unless you have been instructed to do so by our recruitment team.