Air Canada is seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of Network Services to lead the design, capacity, resilience, and evolution of a highly critical and complex global network environment. The role requires strong technical expertise, business acumen, and vendor leadership to operationalize secure, reliable, and scalable network services across on premise, cloud, and SaaS platforms. Reporting to the Senior Director, Cloud, Network and Platform Services, the position partners closely with IT leaders, executives, business stakeholders, and external providers to enable safe operations, data-driven decision-making, and exceptional customer experience.

Maintains a deep technical understating of emerging technologies, best practices and reflects that in the overall strategy related network evolution with a focus on efficiency and effectiveness. Builds a long-term roadmap to align with this in a complex multi-provider environment.  Interfaces with Air Canada IT business partners, Enterprise Architecture and other IT teams as well as external stakeholders, to identify and prioritize investments to support business demand.  Works with internal and/or external stakeholders as a thought leader to align technology solutions with business strategies with a bias to quick delivery and using existing assets to advance improvements which requires a broad knowledge of the technology landscape and close working relationships with tech leaders to drive long term technology plan.Manage an annual budget of approximately $60M including projects.Supports a highly technical team that is accountable for maintaining secure, reliable and performant network services by working extensively with external partners and ensure those partners meet their service delivery commitments.Ensure that vendor/partner invoices are accurate and dealt with in a timely manner.Lead the interaction with the Cyber Security function to ensure that no gaps in traffic analysis and visibility exist which is a key pillar to our cyber resiliency program for AC a top enterprise risk item.  Focus on the Continuous improvement of service delivery, standard process, and cost reduction.  Provide over-sight to the Network Capacity and Performance process and encourage through leading the development of resilient and performant services across all types of services – drive governance for overall network prioritization.  Provide strategic leadership and overall direction to a diverse team of internal staff and external vendors to deliver projects, initiatives and complex changes on time, and on-budget, while maintaining a laser focus on risk management and the end user experience.  Air Canada manages a complex environment with many external dependencies and proper planning, and documentation are keys to success.

A relevant University degree/technical certification (and/or relevant experience).  15-20 years’ experience in Network and IT operations, with a deep technical network domain expertise.  Cisco certification is an asset but not required.Budgeting, forecasting and management of more than $40M annually.A self-starter with critical thinking, analytical approach, business acumen and decision making.Bring a sense of urgency, customer advocacy and a drive for results.  Strong communication skills both written and verbal.A team player and proven leader with excellent interpersonal skills and collaborative attitude.Leadership of diverse teams of technology experts and vendor partners.  Having worked with out-sourcing or vendor partners is critical.Familiarity with the airline industry is an asset, and transportation/logistics background is also an asset. 

Candidates must be eligible to work in the country of interest at the time any offer of employment is made and are responsible for obtaining any required work permits, visas, or other authorizations necessary for employment. Prior to their start date, candidates will also need to provide proof of their eligibility to work in the country of interest.

Based on equal qualifications, preference will be given to bilingual candidates.

Air Canada is strongly committed to Diversity and Inclusion and aims to create a healthy, accessible and rewarding work environment which highlights employees’ unique contributions to our company’s success.

Air Canada thanks all candidates for their interest; however only those selected to continue in the process will be contacted.