Deputy-Chief Networking Officer

City of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA

4d • $160,000 - $175,000

About The Position

The Deputy CIO of Networking is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing and directing the organization’s networking infrastructure. The role manages the planning, implementation, and maintenance of network systems to ensure performance, security, and scalability, and works with the CIO on strategic initiatives aligned with organizational goals. The position requires extensive networking experience, leadership ability, and knowledge of emerging network architecture trends.

The role oversees network design, architecture, operations, maintenance, security, performance optimization, disaster recovery, vendor relationships, budget management, compliance, and risk management. It also collaborates with other departments and IT leaders, communicates networking plans and policies, supports stakeholders, and identifies process and technology improvements.

Requirements

• JNCIP network systems certification or measurable work experience totaling at least 5 years.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with major coursework in Public Administration, Communications, Information Technology, or a closely related field.
• 10 to 15 years of infrastructure and data center experience.
• At least 5 years of leadership experience managing multiple large, cross-functional teams or projects and influencing senior management and key stakeholders.
• 5 years of managerial or supervisory experience planning, developing, managing, or implementing a comparatively sized or larger data center.
• All applications must include a cover letter; applications without one will be considered incomplete.
• Must become a City of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire.

Nice To Haves

• Networking-related experience is strongly preferred over infrastructure or data center support experience.
• Juniper or Cisco certifications.
• Experience working for an ISP carrier or in the telecommunications industry.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the CIO to develop and implement networking strategies aligned with the organization’s IT roadmap.
• Lead the design and deployment of networking solutions for current and future organizational needs, and stay informed about emerging technologies and trends.
• Design, implement, maintain, and expand network infrastructure, including LAN, WAN, VPNs, and cloud-based networking solutions.
• Evaluate networking technologies, tools, and systems to improve performance, scalability, and security.
• Maintain continuous network operations and availability; monitor performance, troubleshoot problems, perform maintenance, and maintain network documentation.
• Implement and enforce network security protocols, including firewalls, encryption, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and access controls.
• Conduct security audits, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing; respond to security incidents and report breaches when necessary.
• Monitor network bandwidth, traffic, and performance; optimize configurations for efficiency, load balancing, and redundancy, and address bottlenecks.
• Develop, implement, test, and update network disaster recovery and business continuity plans, including backup, replication, and failover arrangements.
• Research and assess networking vendors, establish evaluation criteria, negotiate contracts, and ensure contracts comply with city policies and legal requirements.
• Monitor vendor performance against service-level agreements and key performance indicators, conduct reviews, manage vendor relationships, and address vendor risks and issues.
• Collaborate with departments and stakeholders to understand networking needs and communicate vendor updates and changes.
• Assist in developing the networking budget; identify expenditures, analyze costs, monitor spending, provide budget updates, prioritize resources, and forecast future needs.
• Prepare budget justifications and reports on budget performance, vendor expenditures, and return on investment; present findings to senior management.
• Ensure network systems comply with regulatory requirements and organizational policies, and conduct risk assessments and mitigation activities.
• Ensure network teams follow organizational policies and procedures, and oversee budgets for team development and network operations.
• Analyze team and network performance metrics and report on effectiveness and performance to upper management.
• Collaborate across departments and with IT leaders to align networking goals with organizational objectives and broader IT initiatives.
• Communicate networking plans, policies, and procedures to stakeholders and serve as a networking subject matter expert to other departments.
• Identify improvements in network operations and implement innovative solutions and technology to enhance team performance and operational efficiency.

Benefits

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer.
• Tuition discount program for City employees, and sometimes spouses and dependents, in partnership with area colleges and universities.
• Comprehensive health coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
• Wellness program eligibility for a discounted medical plan.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Retirement savings options.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior