Job Title: Network Hardware Manager Wage/Hour Status: Exempt
Reports to: Director of Information Technology Pay Grade: T08E
Dept./School: Information Technology Days: 227
Primary Purpose: Lead the district’s network infrastructure operations and Networking Team to ensure secure, reliable, high-performing connectivity across schools and administrative facilities. The manager directs network planning, implementation, monitoring, maintenance, incident response, documentation, customer service, and staff development, and exercises independent judgment in prioritizing work, allocating resources, and recommending technical and personnel actions.
Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, management information systems, information technology, or a related field, and at least five years of progressively responsible network support or network administration experience; or
- Five years (or more) successfully leading network support or network administration experience may substitute for the degree and experience combination.
Certifications:
- Relevant current networking certification, such as Cisco CCNA/CCNP or CompTIA Network+, is preferred but not required.
Special Knowledge/Skills:
- Advanced knowledge of enterprise LAN/WAN design, routing, switching, VLANs, subnetting, IP address management, and network address translation.
- Working knowledge of Cisco networking technologies, wireless networks, firewalls, IDS/IPS, load balancers, data center network architecture, voice systems including UCCX, and Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure.
- Knowledge of network monitoring, configuration management, disaster recovery, cybersecurity controls, change management, and technical documentation.
- Ability to analyze complex incidents, evaluate technical options, establish standards, manage vendors and projects, and communicate clearly with technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
- Ability to lead, coach, schedule, evaluate, and hold staff accountable while maintaining effective customer service.
Major Responsibilities and Duties:
Leadership and Personnel Management
- Direct the daily work of the Networking Team; establish priorities, schedules, service expectations, and performance measures.
- Participate in employee selection and make hiring recommendations; onboard, train, coach, evaluate, and support retention of high-quality team members.
- Address performance and conduct concerns; maintain appropriate documentation and recommend corrective or disciplinary action in coordination with the Director of Information Technology and Human Resources.
- Identify staff development needs and ensure required technical and operational training is completed and documented.
Network Engineering and Operations
- Plan, configure, administer, monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot district routing, switching, wired and wireless networks, firewalls, IDS/IPS, load balancers, voice-related network services, and data center network infrastructure.
- Review network capacity, availability, performance, and security; recommend architecture, lifecycle replacement, and resiliency improvements.
- Lead resolution of complex outages and performance issues, coordinating escalation with vendors and other Technology teams as needed.
- Maintain network diagrams, configurations, inventories, standards, procedures, change records, and recovery documentation.
- Implement approved changes using defined testing, change-control, backup, rollback, and communication practices.
Security, Continuity, and Compliance
- Apply district cybersecurity standards and least-privilege practices to network systems; support vulnerability remediation, logging, monitoring, segmentation, and incident response.
- Support continuity of operations and disaster recovery planning by maintaining redundant services, current recovery procedures, configuration backups, and periodic tests.
- Protect confidential district information and comply with applicable district policies, procedures, contractual requirements, and legal obligations.
Planning, Service, and Communication
- Develop and maintain written Networking Team standards, operating procedures, service documentation, and customer-support expectations.
- Coordinate with the Operations Manager, Infrastructure Manager, Information Security staff, campus leadership, and other departments to deliver reliable services and resolve needs.
- Evaluate products and services; assist with specifications, purchasing, licensing, contracts, vendor performance, budgets, and long-range planning.
- Prepare records, reports, project updates, risk information, and recommendations for the Director of Information Technology and Chief Technology Officer.
- Communicate planned maintenance, outages, risks, and service impacts to appropriate stakeholders in a timely manner.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Information Technology or Chief Technology Officer, consistent with the general scope and level of responsibility of the position.
Working Conditions:
Mental/Physical/Environmental Factors:
- Mental demands: Maintain emotional control under stress; work with frequent interruptions; analyze complex technical problems; manage multiple priorities and deadlines; communicate effectively during service disruptions and emergencies.
- Tools/equipment used: Standard office equipment; computers; network testing and diagnostic tools; hand tools; ladders; district vehicle; enterprise network, monitoring, ticketing, and documentation systems.
- Physical demands: Frequent sitting, standing, walking, keyboarding, and repetitive hand motions; occasional climbing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, and work in confined equipment spaces; occasional lifting and carrying of equipment up to 50 pounds, with assistance or mechanical support when appropriate.
- Environmental factors: Work in offices, schools, data centers, telecommunications rooms, warehouses, and occasionally outdoors; exposure to electrical equipment, noise, dust, temperature variation, and construction or maintenance areas; districtwide travel required.
- Work schedule: Occasional prolonged or irregular hours. Participation in scheduled maintenance, after-hours work, and on-call or emergency response may be required to restore critical network services.