Senior Director- Network Services (Promotional Opportunity - Internal Only)

University of Massachusetts Lowell•Lowell, MA

About The Position

The Senior Director of Network Services is responsible for the planning, design, governance, and reliable operation of the University’s enterprise network services. This role provides strategic direction, architectural authority, and operational oversight for all wired, wireless, and network‑adjacent services that support the University’s academic, research, athletic, residential, and administrative missions. Reporting to the Executive Director of IT Infrastructure, the Senior Director leads the Network Services organization with accountability for service reliability, scalability, security, and long‑term sustainability. This position maintains a broad and deep understanding of the University’s network environment and the institutional priorities that depend on it, ensuring that network services evolve in alignment with business, academic, and research needs. The Senior Director manages a team composed of highly experienced network engineers as well as early‑career and junior staff, and is responsible for establishing a high‑performing, collaborative, and resilient organization. A central focus of the role is mentoring and developing staff with the goal of advancing technical depth, expanding leadership capacity, and preparing employees for progression into more senior roles. This includes intentional succession planning, development of internal career pathways, and preparation of senior engineers for future managerial or advanced technical leadership roles within the Network Services team. Serving as the highest internal escalation point for complex and high‑impact network‑related issues, the Senior Director provides expert guidance during critical incidents, major initiatives, and architectural decisions, while ensuring effective delegation and operational ownership across the team. Through collaboration with IT peers and campus stakeholders, the Senior Director ensures that the University’s network services remain reliable, adaptable, and positioned to meet both current and future institutional demands.

Requirements

Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience in information technology, network engineering, or a related field
15+ years of experience within a network services organization demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility, including both advanced technical leadership and people leadership
10+ years of progressive leadership experience managing technical professionals, including senior‑level engineers and early‑career staff
15+ years of experience designing, supporting, and governing complex, multi‑vendor enterprise network environments in a University or similarly large organization, including platforms from vendors such as Extreme Networks, Juniper, and HPE/Aruba
Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, mentor, and develop technical staff, with a proven commitment to advancing careers and building long‑term organizational capability
Strong commitment to delivering reliable, consistent, and customer‑focused network services that support institutional goals and user success
Ability to understand University objectives and translate them into scalable, secure, and sustainable network architectures and technical strategies
Broad operational knowledge of operating systems and platforms supporting network services, including Windows and Unix/Linux environments
Thorough understanding of enterprise networking concepts and protocols, including the OSI model, Ethernet, TCP/IP, OSPF, BGP, and SNMP
Proven ability to analyze complex technical issues, evaluate risk, and lead the development and execution of effective remediation strategies
Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, coupled with the ability to balance technical, operational, and organizational considerations
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non‑technical audiences
Comprehensive knowledge of DNS, DHCP, and related data network services required to support enterprise network operations
Demonstrated mastery of industry best practices related to network architecture, operational design, resiliency, and data security
Experience overseeing and guiding the use of diagnostic and testing tools (e.g., packet capture analysis, Fluke meters, Wireshark) in support of troubleshooting and advanced analysis efforts

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or equivalent experience supporting senior‑level leadership responsibilities in enterprise network services
Demonstrated experience providing architectural leadership and oversight for enterprise network platforms, including solutions from Extreme Networks and HPE/Aruba
Experience leading or governing the use of enterprise network management, access control, and monitoring platforms
Industry‑recognized certifications reflecting advanced technical and architectural expertise

Responsibilities

Responsible for the planning, design, governance, and reliable operation of the University’s enterprise network services.
Provide strategic direction, architectural authority, and operational oversight for all wired, wireless, and network‑adjacent services that support the University’s academic, research, athletic, residential, and administrative missions.
Lead the Network Services organization with accountability for service reliability, scalability, security, and long‑term sustainability.
Maintain a broad and deep understanding of the University’s network environment and the institutional priorities that depend on it, ensuring that network services evolve in alignment with business, academic, and research needs.
Manage a team composed of highly experienced network engineers as well as early‑career and junior staff.
Establish a high‑performing, collaborative, and resilient organization.
Mentor and develop staff with the goal of advancing technical depth, expanding leadership capacity, and preparing employees for progression into more senior roles.
Implement intentional succession planning, development of internal career pathways, and preparation of senior engineers for future managerial or advanced technical leadership roles within the Network Services team.
Serve as the highest internal escalation point for complex and high‑impact network‑related issues.
Provide expert guidance during critical incidents, major initiatives, and architectural decisions.
Ensure effective delegation and operational ownership across the team.
Collaborate with IT peers and campus stakeholders to ensure that the University’s network services remain reliable, adaptable, and positioned to meet both current and future institutional demands.