Director of Network Practice

Claranet Limited; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading IT service provider in the UK is seeking a Director of Network Practice. In this pivotal role, you will lead the strategic direction and operational delivery of network services. Responsibilities include overseeing product management, ensuring service excellence, and engaging with stakeholders to drive customer satisfaction. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in a senior leadership role within the managed services space, as well as strong operational and technical oversight skills. This role offers a competitive salary and a chance to shape innovative network solutions.

Benefits

Pension Scheme

Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage

Enhanced Annual Leave

Continuous Learning & Development

Qualifications

• Significant experience in senior network leadership roles within MSP, ISP, or telco environments.
• Proven leadership skills and ability to manage cross-functional teams.
• Strong knowledge of network design, delivery, and product management.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute strategy for network and connectivity services.
• Lead a multi-disciplinary team for network product management and delivery.
• Engage with key stakeholders to ensure service excellence and satisfaction.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Network product management

Customer engagement

Operational excellence

Team leadership

Education

Degree in a relevant technical or business discipline

Technical certifications (e.g., CCNP, NSE)

Tools

ITIL

PRINCE2

Job description

As Director of Network Practice at Claranet, you will lead the strategic direction, operational delivery, and product management of our customer‑facing network and connectivity services. This senior leadership role is pivotal in shaping Claranet’s network offerings, driving innovation, and ensuring excellence across delivery and product lifecycles. You will be responsible for the management, leadership, and strategy of the Network & Connectivity domain, including Delivery and Network Product Management. Working closely with commercial stakeholders and Group Networks, you will ensure our services remain competitive, secure, and aligned with customer needs. Role Mission Claranet's strategy is to build long‑term, trusted relationships with its customers by delivering market‑leading, integrated managed services. We are seeking a leader to build and to own the existing and future market‑leading multi‑solutions portfolio that Claranet offers to customers that enables cross and up sell.

Objectives & Key Results – Strategic Leadership and Commercial Ownership

• Define and execute the strategy for Claranet’s network and connectivity services.
• Own revenue, gross profit, and staffing costs for the Network Practice.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with key vendors (e.g., BT/Openreach, Cisco, Fortinet).
• Inspire and lead cross‑functional teams across multiple locations.

Operational Delivery and Service Excellence

• Lead a multi‑disciplinary organisation comprising:
  • Network Product Management
  • Network Delivery and Fulfilment
• Collaborate with the Managed Service and Customer Services Director to define operational expectations, service costs, and fulfilment standards.

Technical Oversight

• Ensure robust and scalable architectures across wired, wireless, virtual/cloud, SD-WAN/SASE, and voice (VoIP) environments.
• Align customer solutions with core infrastructure and automation platforms with Group Networks.

Customer and Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as Executive Sponsor for key accounts within the network portfolio, ensuring satisfaction and retention.
• Proactively support business development through strategic input, competitive service positioning, and customer engagement.

Product Management

• Lead the development and lifecycle management of Claranet’s network and connectivity products.
• Define and evolve product strategy in alignment with customer needs, market trends, and business objectives.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure alignment with core infrastructure and automation platforms.
• Own the roadmap for network services, including wired, wireless, SD‑WAN/SASE, and voice offerings.

Behavioural Competencies – Organisational & Behavioural Fit

• Strategic and commercially minded, with a good understanding of managed IT services.
• Adaptable leader comfortable operating in high‑change, high‑growth environments.
• Highly accountable and results‑oriented, with a track record of delivery in fast‑paced organisations.
• Resilient, open to challenge, and willing to constructively navigate conflict or uncertainty.

Critical Competencies – Technical Fit

• Extensive experience in a senior network leadership role in MSP, ISP, or telco environments.
• Proven experience in network design, delivery, and product management.
• Familiarity with UK regulatory obligations and commercial management of network services.

Desirable

• Degree in a relevant technical or business discipline.
• Technical certifications (e.g., CCNP, NSE).
• ITIL, PRINCE2, or equivalent delivery qualifications.

Founded at the beginning of the dot‑com bubble in 1996, our CEO Charles Nasser had a light bulb moment to develop a truly customer‑focused IT business. Since then, Claranet has grown from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the UK to being one of the leading business modernisation experts, who deliver solutions across 11+ countries.

Benefits

• Pension Scheme: Employer‑matched contributions to help you plan for the future.
• Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: Access to private medical care for your peace of mind and wellbeing.
• Enhanced Annual Leave: 25 days of holiday, increasing to 27 days with service, plus bank holidays and a day off for your birthday.
• Continuous Learning & Development: Ongoing opportunities to grow your skills and advance your career.

What makes us unique is Team Claranet, our internal community that supports causes close to our employees’ hearts. We offer paid charity leave, support local charities across our offices, and host annual fundraising events, all backed by a dedicated committee. We’re proud founding members of TC4RE (Technology Community for Racial Equality) working collectively to build a more diverse and inclusive tech industry.