General Information


Job Description COMM AND NETWORK TCHL MGR 1 Working Title Associate Director of Network Engineering and Operations
Job Code 000672 Grade 26
Department Name Network Operations - D01138 Department Head Matthew Gunkel
Supervisor Michael Kennedy Effective Date 09/19/2022
Position(s) Directly Supervised
Job Code Title FTE
000545 COMM AND NETWORK TCHL ANL 4 5.0
000527 COMM AND NETWORK TCHL SUPV 2 1.0

Generic Scope
Spends the majority of time (50% or more) achieving organizational objectives through the coordinated achievements of subordinate staff. Establishes departmental goals and objectives, functions with autonomy. Manages the accountability and stewardship of human, financial, and often physical resources in compliance with departmental and organizational goals and objectives. Ensures subordinate supervisors and professionals adhere to defined internal controls. Manages systems and procedures to protect departmental assets.

Custom Scope
Receives assignments in the form of objectives and determines how to use resources to meet schedules and goals. Reviews and approves recommendations for functional programs. Provides guidance to subordinates to achieve goals in accordance with established policies. Erroneous decisions or failure to achieve goals results in additional costs and personnel, and serious delays in overall schedules.

Department Custom Scope
The Associate Director of Network Engineering and Operations supports the overall architecture, design, implementation, and operations of the UCR campus network infrastructure. The Associate Director of Network Engineering and Operations delivers leading-edge expertise to manage critical incidents and problems and delivers consistent and reliable network operations. The Associate Director, Network Engineering and Operations is responsible to lead the engineering and design, planning, implementation, and establishment of operational and maintenance programs to deliver best-in-class next generation network infrastructure. This includes optimizing all aspects of network eco-system, including performance, resiliency, availability, resource utilization and innovation. This position will drive implementation of standards and lifecycle processes. This role will be responsible for leveraging automation, software-defined networking (SDN) technologies, and deliver a robust, scalable, network eco-system. The Associate Director of Network Engineering and Operations will work with various leaders across the campus to coordinate network solutions to meet challenges of technology, regulatory, and security. This position will directs all network related services and activities, including strategic planning, design, implementation, administration and support of network applications and services including data infrastructure, voice, LAN/WAN data networks, call center technologies, VoIP, wireless, network security and cloud configurations. This will role prepares the analysis of the short-term or long-term capacity needs for switching, routing fiber backbone, data and ISP connectivity as well as conducts network architecture design, feasibility and cost analysis. This position will direct several IT Lead Engineers and the Network Operations manager.

Education & Experience Requirements

Education Requirements
Degree Requirement
Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training. Required
Advanced degree in related area. Preferred

Experience Requirements
Experience Requirement
8 - 13 years of related experience. Required
Typically 2 - 5 years of experience managing an information technology organization. Preferred
Direct, hands-on experience with network transport, design, planning, and implementation. Required
IT management experience involving planning, design and management of IT voice and data communications, server and data center support, end-user support, service delivery and network support. Preferred
Experience with DNS, DHCP, and other routing and switching fundamentals; experience with firewalls and encryption. Preferred
Proven experience supporting large-scale network implementations and upgrades and delivering reliable and quality network service within a higher education environment or large private-sector organization with federated operations. Preferred

License Requirements
License Requirement
Valid Drivers License Required

Certification Requirements
Certification Requirement
IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundations Preferred
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Preferred
Project Management Professional (PMP) Preferred

Educational Condition Requirements
Condition Requirement

Key Responsibilities

Description % Time
Manages, through subordinate supervisors, the coordination of activities of a department with responsibility for results in terms of costs, methods and employees.
  • Leads, motivates, grows, coaches, monitors and develops subordinates to maintain a knowledgeable, goal driven, responsive and highly-qualified staff. Utilizes appropriate interpersonal styles and methods in guiding individuals/department (subordinates, peers, superiors) or groups toward task accomplishment. Exercises well-balanced interpersonal skills. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with all levels of management, employees, customers, and outside vendors. Clearly and effectively communicates both orally and in writing, using good grammatical form, both in general correspondence, as well as on technical issues.
 15
Reviews costs/benefits of installing in-house communications systems versus common carriers.
10
Evaluation, installation and maintenance of all new and upgraded systems.
10
May develop long-range plans for communications systems.
  • Provides enterprise network support and recommendation of long and short-range changes to the communications and network services systems. Establishes and implements network services policies, procedures, and standards and ensuring their conformance with information systems goals and procedures. Develops and coordinates the implementation of policies and procedures, process controls, performance metrics, and service level agreements for network services. Manages and reports on network services metrics and measures the effectiveness and efficiency of IT network services.
 10
Has billing responsibility to users, monitors cost effectiveness, and recommends upgrading of appropriate systems.
5
Establishes and recommends changes to policies which affect the department.
5
Communicates status of communications projects to senior management.
  • Analyzes and projects network services resource requirements including personnel, equipment, and network facilities; makes recommendations to senior leadership based on assessments of emerging technical standards, and the university's network needs.
 5
Position may have responsibility for making recommended upgrades/changes to voice and data network systems.
  • Keeps abreast of new developments and emerging technologies in the telecommunications field based on standards, technical advances, and IT frameworks.
 5
May have responsibility for negotiating contracts with vendors.
  • Works with vendors to define and negotiate IT service agreements. Directs vendor selection processes and manages vendor relationships in coordination with IT procurement standards and in collaboration with other company/IT leaders. Defines and negotiates outsourced service agreements as required.
 5
May assume project management responsibilities on initiatives relating to voice and data network systems for the campus, medical center or Office of the President.
  • Manages the activities and projects of a diverse technical staff and must have the ability to effectively interact with end-users, technology partners, vendors and ITS internal management and senior leadership.
 5
Develops and administers schedules and performance requirements; may have budget responsibility.
5
Often must lead a cooperative effort.
  • Uses analytical and problem solving skills to identify problems and/or cause-effect relationships. Identifies key issues; secures relevant information from all appropriate sources; identifies possible root causes of problems and develops and implements corrective actions for resolution of problems. Establishes a course of action for self, others and the department to accomplish specific goals. Plans and prioritizes proper assignments of personnel and/or appropriate allocation of resources.
 5
Develops and monitors operational and budget processes, staff FTE, finance, human resources and space planning.
5
Has responsibility for results, including costs, methods and staffing.
  • Is accountable for the development of team members by helping them set and achieve goals for their career growth; fosters an inclusive environment that values differences and creates a sense of belonging and appreciation for team members.
 5
May be called upon to initiate changes by modifying and altering existing operating procedures and methods.
  • Ensures the proper training of the network service department staff and end-users. Ensures all network configurations are documented, backed up and controlled via an effective change management process.
 5

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge/Skill/Ability Requirement
Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks are essential. Required
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively present technical topics to individuals and groups with potentially varied levels of technical sophistication. Required
Ability to thrive in a cross-functional environment, often under stressful and rapidly changing conditions. Required
Must have excellent teamwork and customer service skills, and a proven track record in a service-oriented environment. Required
Ability to develop positive working relationships and a strong rapport with team members; demonstrated experience in leading a multi-functional team. Required
Experience of analyzing buy vs. build procurement for products for effective and efficient technology use. Required
Ability to understand the process involved to adapt, integrate, and modify existing programs or vendor-supplied products for use within the technical environment. Required
Extensive background (and commitment to) enabling inter-departmental teams that identify, assess, evaluate, resolve and document complex problems that span traditional departmental boundaries (especially relating to security, wireless networks, core network functions eg. DNS, DHCP, etc.) Required
Knowledge of pressing security issues facing voice, data, and converged networks, and the ability and skills to provide timely solutions, standards, etc. to prevent and solve security challenges Required
Experience in the management of ongoing technology infrastructure acquisition and expansion, to include the identification and integration of suitable emerging technologies. Required
Thorough knowledge of subject area sufficient for strategic planning, technology assessment and direction. Required
Experienced in leading change management activities and managing their impact across the unit or department. Required
Demonstrated skill in managing technical staff. Required
In-depth understanding of routing protocols, LAN technologies, WAN technologies, Ethernet VPN, dark fiber and Ethernet delivery, firewall technologies, QoS, load balancers, forward/reverse proxies. Required
Requires in-depth knowledge of own area of functional responsibility, with a broad knowledge of the IT organization. Required
Must have knowledge of operating policies and procedures and the ability to determine a course of action based on these guidelines. Required
Thorough knowledge of technical concepts and basic operating principles of data communications, computer hardware, vendor IT products, and software. Required
Strong knowledge and understanding of service delivery principles. Required
Has thorough knowledge of voice and data network systems. Required
Knowledge of the UCR network environment and architecture. Preferred

Special Requirements & Conditions
Special Condition Requirement
Must pass a background check. Required
Must possess or obtain a Valid CA Drivers License in accordance with the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Required
Occasional travel for university related business meetings, conferences and/or professional development. Required
Public Driving Record Required
Travel Outside of Normal Business Hours Required

Other Special Requirements & Conditions

Level of Supervision Received
General Direction

Environment

Working Environment
Campus

Other Requirements

Items Used
  • Personal/University Vehicle
  • Standard Office Equipment

Physical Requirements
  • Bend : Occasionally
  • Sit : Frequently
  • Squat : Occasionally
  • Stand : Occasionally
  • Crawl : N/A
  • Walk : Occasionally
  • Climb : N/A

Mental Requirements
  • Read/Comprehend : Constantly
  • Write : Frequently
  • Perform Calculations : Occasionally
  • Communicate Orally : Constantly
  • Reason & Analyze : Constantly

Environmental Requirements
  • Is exposed to excessive noise : No
  • Is around moving machinery : No
  • Is exposed to marked changes in temperature and/or humidity : Yes
  • Drives motorized equipment : Yes
  • Works in confined quarters : No
  • Dust : Yes
  • Fumes : No

Critical Position

Is Critical Position: Yes

More Information

General Campus Information

University of California, Riverside
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Riverside, CA 92521
Tel: (951) 827-1012

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Department Information

Human Resources
1160 University Ave.
Riverside, CA 92521

Fax: (951) 827-6493
E-mail: jobshelp@ucr.edu

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