Senior NOC Manager – Service Provider/MSP
About us: RKON Technologies is a leading cybersecurity and managed IT services provider, recognized for its ability to align with top-tier technology partners—especially Microsoft—to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions. With services that span Managed Service Provider (MSP) and Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) models at RKON, our services enable mid-enterprise and private equity clients to deliver world class outcomes through cloud security, governance and risk management, identity and access management, application and platform transformation, zero trust solutions , and more.
RKON is a Cloud Solutions Partner in Digital and App Innovation, Modern Workplace, Security, and Infrastructure with Advanced Security designation in Identity and Access Management.
Position Summary:
The Senior NOC Manager is responsible for leading the Network Operations Center for a Managed Service Provider (MSP). This role oversees 24/7 monitoring and support across multiple client environments, ensuring uptime, performance, and adherence to service level agreements (SLAs). The Senior NOC Manager will manage NOC analysts/engineers, implement ITIL-aligned processes, drive automation, and serve as an escalation point for critical client issues. This role is both strategic and hands-on, ensuring operational excellence and high levels of customer satisfaction. This role is based in RKON HQ in Chicago, and you must be able to commute to the office 2x a week.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the 24/7 NOC team responsible for monitoring and supporting client IT environments, including networks, servers and cloud platforms.
- Ensure timely detection, escalation, and resolution of incidents in line with SLAs and client expectations.
- Develop and maintain client-specific runbooks, escalation procedures, and communication protocols.
- Oversee incident, problem, change and request management processes across multiple client environments.
- Collaborate with customer success and technical account managers and service delivery teams to ensure proactive communication and service excellence for clients.
- Produce regular service performance reports and participate in client-facing service reviews.
- Continuously improve monitoring, alerting, and automation to increase efficiency and reduce manual intervention.
- Serve as the final point of escalation for critical/high-priority incidents and coordinate response efforts across technical teams and vendors.
- Ensure effective onboarding of new clients into the NOC, including monitoring setup, documentation, and knowledge transfer.
- Manage vendor and carrier relationships for escalations and service coordination.
- Mentor and develop NOC engineers, fostering a culture of accountability, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or equivalent experience.
- 8+ years of IT operations experience with at least 3+ years in a leadership role within a Service Provider/MSP NOC environment.
- Strong understanding of multi-tenant environments and MSP service delivery models.
- Proven experience with ITIL processes (incident, change, problem, request management) in an MSP setting.
- In-depth knowledge of networking (LAN/WAN, firewalls, VPNs), cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, M365), and server technologies.
- Experience with RMM (Remote Monitoring & Management) tools, ticketing systems, and automation platforms.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage distributed/global teams in a 24/7 environment.
- Excellent client-facing communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Certifications in IT service management, cloud platforms, networking, or enterprise infrastructure are preferred.
Key Competencies
- Customer-focused mindset with the ability to balance client needs with operational efficiency.
- Strong decision-making skills under pressure, particularly during client-impacting incidents.
- Strategic thinker capable of scaling operations to support growth.
- Excellent organizational and reporting skills, with a focus on SLA compliance and service delivery metrics.
- Skilled at fostering cross-functional collaboration between technical, account management, and vendor teams.