Director Of Network Practice

Claranet; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading IT services provider in the UK is seeking a Director of Network Practice to lead the strategic direction and operational delivery of its network services. This senior role requires strong leadership skills and experience in managed IT services. Responsibilities include defining the strategy, driving innovation, and ensuring excellence across product lifecycles. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in network leadership and possess relevant certifications. Attractive benefits include enhanced annual leave and comprehensive healthcare coverage.

Benefits

Pension Scheme

Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage

Enhanced Annual Leave

Continuous Learning & Development

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the strategy for network and connectivity services.
• Own revenue, gross profit, and staffing costs for the Network Practice.
• Lead a multi-disciplinary organization for operational delivery.

Skills

Strategic and commercially minded

Adaptable leader

Results-oriented

Resilient in high-change environments

Education

Degree in a relevant technical or business discipline

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

ITIL, PRINCE2, or equivalent delivery qualifications

Job description

Position Summary

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.

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.

Position Specifications

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.

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.

About Claranet

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.

Equal Opportunities Statement

Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of what we value as an organisation. Claranet is an equal opportunities employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other status protected by law. Our recruitment team are happy to support any reasonable adjustments that are needed within the recruitment process.

Ready to take the next step in your career with Claranet? Click 'apply' - we can't wait to meet you!

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