Manager, Network and Voice

About Ascent

Ascent Global Logistics, headquartered in Belleville, Michigan, is a leading global provider of expedited, time-critical logistics solutions and other direct transportation services. The company connects customers to its extensive carrier network, internal ground fleet and airline via its proprietary, digital PEAK freight marketplace, which provides robust carrier capacity and transparent pricing, backed by 24/7/365 logistics experts. Ascent’s offerings include air charter and ground expedited solutions as well as truckload, less-than-truckload, global forwarding, brokerage, and managed transportation services. The experienced Ascent team solves customers’ most challenging logistics needs by providing industry-leading service and top-tier satisfaction.

Our Guiding Principles

At the core of Ascent's culture is a strong commitment to excellence, driven by the passion and dedication of every team member. We're equally dedicated to going above and beyond for our customers, ensuring this commitment extends beyond our team and brings exceptional value to those we serve. We aim for perfect execution in everything we do and ‘play hard’ by creating an environment where tasks are performed with a can-do attitude from start to finish. We ‘play smart’ by delivering on our commitments in an honest, fair and ethical manner. We treat every person with whom we interface with the utmost dignity and respect. We understand that our teammates are our most valuable assets, so we ‘play together’ by making every effort to provide a professional and enjoyable experience, enabling careers to flourish and personal growth to be achieved.

What You’ll Do

The Manager of the Network and Telecom team you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and managing our network systems to ensure efficient and reliable connectivity. You will also troubleshoot network issues, managing network security, and implementing network upgrades. You will lead a team of Network and Voice engineers by offering leadership, support, and guidance. The manager is responsible for ensuring the staff exceeds expectations regarding performance and defined metrics/benchmarks and follows standards and processes. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.

Planning, designing, implementing, operating, oversight, and budgeting the enterprise network and Telecom infrastructure; collaborating with internal teams and Management to streamline and incorporate processes that contribute to best-in-class service delivery; and maintaining relationships with and providing guidance to Network and telecom-managed service providers

• Ensure optimal performance and reliability, develop and implement network designs, including topology, protocols, and network security measures.
• Regularly monitor network systems and proactively identify and resolve network issues to minimize downtime and ensure smooth operations.
• Assess network performance, identify areas for improvement, and plan and implement network upgrades and expansions to meet the organization's growing needs.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of network configurations, diagrams, processes, and procedures to facilitate troubleshooting, maintenance, and future network enhancements.
• Collaborate with vendors to procure equipment, negotiate contracts, and ensure timely delivery of network and voice services and support.
• Manages and directs service partners on SLAs, procedures, technology, and standards.
• Diagnose and resolve network issues, including hardware and software failures, connectivity problems, and performance bottlenecks, using network diagnostic tools and techniques.
• Analyze network performance data and implement strategies to optimize network performance, such as bandwidth utilization, network throughput, and response times.
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery plans and strategies to ensure network availability during network failures or natural disasters.

• Provides regular reports to management about the environment's health and recommends any changes or follow-ups.

• Defines standards and procedures to ensure the availability and resiliency of the environment.

• Setting budgets for technology lifecycle needs, maintaining support, and future capacity growth.

• Provides leadership to individual team members on the team through coaching, feedback, development goals, and performance management.

• Manages team workloads and sets priorities for efficient planning of activities in alignment with departmental and company goals.

• Complete all tasks within the assigned schedule and budget while maintaining high service quality.

• Provide periodic and accurate feedback on the status of assignments.

• Review and create detailed information and documents relevant to assignments.

• Maintain a positive work attitude, a high level of communication, and cordial relations that foster team building.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or IT-focused field or equivalent experience

• 10+ years of experience supporting an enterprise environment

• 3+ years of managing or leading people

• Strong knowledge of networking concepts, protocols, and technologies, including TCP/IP, VPN, DNS, DHCP, LAN/WAN, QoS, routing, switching, and wireless networks.
• Proficiency in network management tools and technologies, such as network monitoring systems, configuration management, and performance analysis tools.
• Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose and resolve complex network issues efficiently.
• Knowledge of network virtualization technologies, such as SDN (Software-Defined Networking) and virtual private networks (VPNs).
• Familiarity with network performance optimization techniques, such as Quality of Service (QoS) and traffic shaping.

• Management of Outsourced Service Partner

• Knowledge of telephony (Microsoft Teams) and Five-9 contact center platform

• Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose and resolve complex network issues efficiently.

• Possess a positive and proactive attitude towards customer support and a desire to help people

• Ability to effectively multitask and work on multiple projects and various other tasks in tandem

• Highly disciplined and able to work independently and without direct supervision

• Excellent time management and organizational skills

Ascent’s Competitive Benefits

• 401(k) and employer matching

• Life Insurance

• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance

• Short- & Long-Term Disability

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Employee Assistance Program

• Paid Parental Leave

• Employee Wellness Program

• Paid Holidays

• Employee Recognition Programs

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Health Savings Account (HSA)

• Overtime, Differential & Bonus Pay