Director of Network Services

Creighton University • Omaha, NE

1d

About The Position

Reporting to the Sr. Director of Infrastructure & Operations, the Director of
Network Services provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and
long-term vision for the University’s enterprise network infrastructure. This
role is accountable for the reliability, security, scalability, and performance
of all campus networking services supporting academic instruction, research,
healthcare-related programs, residential life, and administrative operations.
Serving as the senior authority for network services, the Director leads a team
of network engineers and administrators, manages critical vendor partnerships,
and aligns network strategy with institutional priorities, cybersecurity
requirements, and future-facing technologies. This position balances
executive-level planning with operational excellence, ensuring the University’s
network is resilient, modern, and capable of supporting evolving teaching,
research, and digital transformation initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, or a related field or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale campus or enterprise networks with high availability requirements.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in enterprise network environments, including leadership or management roles. Cisco Enterprise routing and switching
• Cisco ACI Experience
• Cisco SDA Experience
• 10+ years of progressive experience in enterprise network environments, including leadership or management roles. Cisco Enterprise routing and switching
• Large-scale Cisco wireless networks
• Palo Alto Firewalls
• Cisco VPNs
• Proven experience in engineering and supporting complex, mission-critical network environments.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate institutional goals into technical direction.
• Strong communicator who can engage executives, faculty, technical staff, and vendors.
• Collaborative, service-oriented mindset aligned with the University’s mission and values.
• Forward-looking approach to technology, risk, and operational maturity.
• Data Center Operations
• Network Security Fundamentals
• Performance Tuning/Monitoring
• Accountability & Adaptability
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Customer Relationship Management
• Innovative/creative thinking
• Mission/Service orientation
• Backup Management Systems
• Telecommunications - Video/Voice
• Wireless Networking
• Network Security Principles
• Network operating systems
• Equipment configuration, testing, and repair
• Knowledge of network protocols
• Knowledge of Server operating systems.
• Network evaluation using standard tools.
• Ability to accurately diagnose problems.
• Operate network test equipment
• Openness (zest) for learning
• Results orientation
• Vendor Relationship Management
• Oral/written communication
• Time Management
• Technical Writing
• Problem Solving

Nice To Haves

• Cisco Certified Network Expert (CCIE) (preferred)
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Certification (preferred)
• CCNA Preferred
• ITIL certification or achieve certification within 6 months of hire

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Vision
• Define and execute the University’s enterprise network strategy, roadmap, and architectural direction, including wired, wireless, data center, cloud connectivity, and edge networking.
• Align network services with institutional strategic goals, academic innovation, research needs, and clinical/healthcare-related programs.
• Lead modernization initiatives such as next-generation wireless, network automation, zero-trust networking, and cloud-integrated architectures.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to IT leadership and executive stakeholders on network capabilities, risks, and investment priorities.
• Operational Oversight
• Ensure high availability, performance, and resilience of campus-wide network services, including core, distribution, access, and wireless infrastructure.
• Establish and enforce operational standards, change management practices, monitoring, and incident response processes.
• Oversee 24x7 network operations, escalation procedures, and coordination during critical incidents or outages.
• Maintain comprehensive network documentation, diagrams, standards, and lifecycle management plans.
• People & Team Leadership
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of network engineers, administrators, and operational staff.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, performance expectations, and professional development pathways.
• Foster a culture of accountability, documentation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Support succession planning and workforce sustainability for critical network functions.
• Financial & Vendor Management
• Own the network services budget, including forecasting, capital planning, renewals, and cost optimization.
• Develop and manage multi-year capital investment plans for network infrastructure.
• Lead vendor relationships with strategic partners (e.g., Cisco, wireless providers, carriers, monitoring platforms).
• Governance & Stakeholder Engagement
• Represent Network Services on University committees related to technology, risk, and academic initiatives.
• Communicate network strategy, major initiatives, and service impacts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Partner with academic, research, and administrative units to understand requirements and translate them into scalable network solutions.
• Other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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