Assistant Director Network Engineering

Salary Grade

Senior Staff position, Salary Grade 18 or above. 

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Job Description

POSITION OBJECTIVE 

The Network Engineering and Unified Communications department is responsible for the design, implementation, and operation of enterprise network infrastructure. Areas include wired networking, wireless networking, DDI, Unified Communications, and network security. The university network covers approximately 150 buildings, with a 100 Gigabit-per-second backbone and multigigabit access layer. The network consists of more than 500 switches supporting over 20,000 computers, 5,000 IP telephones, and over 5,200 wireless access points. The university also has over 110 Gbps of capacity to external networks. The network is vital to the university’s business functions.

This position oversees the Network Engineering team, which focuses on the design and implementation of network infrastructure and related services. The position will function as project manager for initiatives that span the division as well as other areas of the university including project management, budgeting, and reporting. Focus on services of extremely high risk, complexity, availability, and visibility is required. This position will work closely with the Assistant Director of Network Operations to ensure engineering solutions and operational needs are properly aligned and share resources when needed. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Provide day-to-day supervision for team(s) including remote and on-campus personnel. Manage the training and development of staff and self. Ensure staff activities and performance are aligned with department and divisional goals. Conduct performance appraisals for staff. Collaborate with UTech leadership and Human Resources regarding personnel issues and conflict resolution. Assist in the recruitment, interviewing, and hiring of full-time engineering staff, contractors, and students. Provide guidance to staff and prioritize work based on changing demands. (30%)
2. Participate in and execute project plans leveraging the network engineering team and others throughout the department, division and University. Contribute in network and system design activities considering service improvements and operational efficiency. Collaborate with faculty and staff across the University to ensure network and telephony service are meeting the needs of their administrative, teaching, and research activities. Propose new and emerging technologies that may enhance services and operations. Participate in IT change control meetings and procedures. (25%)
3. Collaborate with operationally focused teams to ensure incident and problem resolution and assist in fulfilling service requests as needed. Field after-hours emergencies and respond as appropriate. Pursuing continuous process improvements to lower incident rate. (25%)
4. Collaborate with peers and leadership in developing and monitoring annual capital and operational budgets. Develop multi-year communications infrastructure refresh plans. Manage vendor and service provider relationships and review contracts. Develop spending proposals and procure equipment and services (20%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned. (<1%)

CONTACTS 

Department: Regular contact with supervisor to review goals, accomplishments, and overall team performance at key stages. Daily contact with team(s) to tackle a variety of issues collaboratively and negotiate issues that may arise to resolve problems effectively. Daily/weekly contact with developers, engineers, managers for coordinating activities.

University: Regular contact with cross-functional project teams to tackle a variety of issues collaboratively and negotiate issues that may arise to resolve problems effectively. Regular contact with project director to review project timeline, key milestones and outstanding issues. Regular contact with stakeholders and internal constituents to facilitate and promote joint action and cooperation to achieve results.

External: Daily/weekly contact with vendors and outside affiliates (i.e., OARnet, Internet2, AT&T, other universities) to facilitate the external connectivity requirements of the University network.

Students: May supervise students working in the department.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervise network engineering employees. May include supervision and team leadership of core technical services projects. May direct the work of student employees.

QUALIFICAITONS

Experience: 7 years of experience. Previous management or supervisory experience is preferred.

Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Professional level certifications such as PMP, CCNP, or CISSP may also be desirable.

REQUIRED SKILLS

1. Knowledge of network automation concepts including Intent Based Networking, network orchestration, network source of truth, software development, version control, and CI/CD are desirable.
2. In-depth knowledge of network and communications technologies and protocols and the ability to apply that knowledge to design creative solutions.
3. Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
4. A service-oriented collaborative approach to customer and peer relationships.
5. A high level of integrity is required, as the individual will be required to work with and manage sensitive information.
6. Familiarity with network security as it relates to the network and network services infrastructure.
7. Familiarity with application programs such as spreadsheets including Microsoft Excel, word processors including Microsoft Word, graphics, databases, diagnostic utilities, terminal emulators and communication/network software.
8. Ability to develop project team – Improve team performance by building team cohesiveness, leading, mentoring, training, and motivating in order to facilitate cooperation, ensure project efficiency, and boost morale.
9. Ability to execute project plan – Execute the tasks as defined in the project plan in order to achieve the project goals.
10. Knowledge and skill in risk monitoring and control – The ability to implement the approved actions and workarounds required to mitigate project risk events in order to minimize the impact of the risks on the project.
11. Ability to create technical documentation. An ability to review technical design documents to ensure requirements are met.
12. Demonstrated excellent mentorship, leadership, managerial, and facilitation skills.
13. Possess good listening skills – Listens intently to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions when appropriate, and allowing others to speak without interrupting them.
14. Demonstrated superior collaboration skills and techniques which appropriately define alternate solutions; resolve conflicts; and create lasting, productive partnerships with clients. Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face.
15. Demonstrated superior interpersonal skills and negotiating skills.
16. Ability to respond to difficult, stressful or sensitive interpersonal situations in ways that reduce or minimize potential conflict and maintain good working relationships among internal and external customers. The ability to recognize awkward or potentially embarrassing situations that sometimes arise. Always aware of tone and careful choice of words, while at the same time ensuring that the intended message is clear, polite and readily understood.
17. Ability to develop networks and use them to strengthen internal and external support. Ability to identify opportunities and take action to build strategic relationships between UTech and other university areas, teams, departments, etc., to help achieve business goals. Recognizes how university culture impacts the success of the project.
18. Ability to optimize the use of time and resources to achieve the desired results; effectively plans and organizes work to minimize crises; prioritize appropriately. A keen attention to detail.
19. Consistently models high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness and respect for the individual. Embraces diversity.
20. Experience working with diverse populations and willingness to support a community commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
21. Ability to work with and draw from various university teams and resources and collaborate and scope projects accordingly. Ability to effectively manage and guide group efforts. This includes providing an appropriate level of feedback concerning group progress. An ability to manage and coordinate the activities of individuals over which the individual may have no direct authority.
22. Ability to develop in-depth understanding of client needs to be more helpful. The ability to consider how different audiences are likely to respond and choose the best method of communicating the message to each audience.
23. Ability to recognize the importance of certain tasks and responsibilities and the ability to prioritize to ensure that deadlines are met.
24. Ability to meet consistent attendance.
25. Demonstrated history of successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest.

WORKING CONDITIONS

General office environment. There are periods of stressful times especially during project deadlines. Due to time constraints, many functions and reports must be completed on set deadlines. Travel between various locations on campus may be required. The position requires typing on a computer keyboard and using a computer mouse and a printer. The employee may be required to attend meetings/functions outside normal working hours. The employee may be required to carry a cell phone, during and after their normal work hours, including weekends to attend to after-hours emergencies. This position may be eligible for hybrid work arrangements after 90 days with department approval.

Hybrid Eligibility

This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.

EEO Statement

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Reasonable Accommodations

Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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