Deputy Chief Networking Officer
Leading Government Organization
Location: Philadelphia, PA — Fully Onsite
Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Rounds of Interview: Two onsite
Salary: Up to $175,000 per year, commensurate with experience
Classification: Exempt
Position Overview
Our client is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking Deputy Chief Networking Officer to provide strategic and operational leadership for its enterprise networking infrastructure.
Reporting to senior technology leadership and working closely with the Chief Information Officer, the Deputy Chief Networking Officer will develop and execute networking strategies aligned with the organization’s broader technology roadmap. This individual will oversee network architecture, infrastructure operations, cybersecurity, disaster recovery, vendor management, budgeting, and the leadership of large, cross-functional technical teams.
This is a permanent, full-time direct-hire position with our client. It is not a contract or temporary assignment.
Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership
- Collaborate with the Chief Information Officer to develop and implement networking strategies aligned with the organization’s technology roadmap and operational goals.
- Lead the design and deployment of innovative networking solutions that support current and future organizational needs.
- Monitor emerging technologies and trends in networking, infrastructure, cloud connectivity, and network architecture.
- Provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership regarding network modernization, scalability, security, and performance.
Network Design and Architecture
- Design, implement, maintain, and modernize enterprise network infrastructure, including LAN, WAN, VPN, data-centre, and cloud-based networking solutions.
- Evaluate networking technologies, systems, and tools to improve security, scalability, availability, and performance.
- Plan and oversee network expansions, upgrades, replacements, and modernization initiatives.
- Ensure network architecture supports organizational growth, business continuity, and critical public services.
Network Operations and Performance
- Ensure the continuous and reliable operation of enterprise network systems.
- Monitor network availability, bandwidth usage, traffic patterns, capacity, and overall performance.
- Identify and resolve network bottlenecks, service degradation, and infrastructure issues.
- Optimise network configurations for redundancy, efficiency, load balancing, resiliency, and high availability.
- Maintain current network documentation, including architecture diagrams, configurations, standards, procedures, and operating instructions.
Network Security and Risk Management
- Implement and enforce network security controls, including firewalls, encryption, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and access controls.
- Oversee network security audits, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and risk assessments.
- Lead or support the response to network security incidents and service disruptions.
- Develop mitigation strategies for cybersecurity, operational, vendor, and infrastructure risks.
- Ensure network systems comply with applicable regulatory requirements, policies, standards, and organisational procedures.
Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
- Develop and maintain network disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
- Ensure appropriate backup, replication, redundancy, and failover capabilities are in place.
- Coordinate regular testing of disaster recovery procedures and network recovery protocols.
- Update continuity plans based on test results, organisational changes, emerging risks, and technology developments.
Vendor and Contract Management
- Evaluate and select vendors providing networking hardware, software, telecommunications, and professional services.
- Develop vendor evaluation criteria covering technical capability, reliability, support, pricing, security, and service-level commitments.
- Negotiate vendor pricing, contract terms, and service-level agreements.
- Monitor vendor performance against contractual obligations, key performance indicators, and service-level agreements.
- Build productive vendor relationships and serve as a senior point of contact for escalated vendor matters.
- Identify and mitigate cybersecurity, operational, financial, and continuity risks associated with vendor relationships.
Budget and Financial Management
- Assist with the preparation and administration of the networking budget.
- Analyse current and projected costs for networking equipment, software, maintenance, services, staffing, and upgrades.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and recommend efficient allocation of resources.
- Monitor expenditures and report budget variances to senior leadership.
- Develop financial forecasts and budget justifications for proposed projects and technology initiatives.
- Report on vendor expenditures, network investments, and return on investment.
Team and Stakeholder Leadership
- Lead multiple large, cross-functional teams, projects, and infrastructure initiatives.
- Establish priorities, performance expectations, policies, and operating procedures for network teams.
- Collaborate with technology leaders, departments, vendors, and business stakeholders to understand and support organisational networking needs.
- Communicate networking strategies, plans, risks, policies, and performance information to executive and operational stakeholders.
- Serve as a subject-matter expert and trusted adviser on networking, infrastructure, resilience, and related technology matters.
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in network operations, team performance, service delivery, and technology utilisation.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Information Technology, Public Administration, Communications, or a closely related field.
- JNCIP certification or at least five years of measurable equivalent professional experience with network systems.
- Ten to fifteen years of infrastructure and data-centre experience.
- At least three years of leadership experience managing multiple large, cross-functional teams or projects.
- Demonstrated experience influencing senior management and key stakeholders.
- At least five years of managerial or supervisory experience planning, developing, managing, or implementing a comparably sized or larger data centre.
- Extensive knowledge of enterprise networking technologies, network architecture, infrastructure operations, cybersecurity, and emerging networking trends.
- Strong experience with vendor management, contract negotiation, budgeting, risk management, and business continuity.
- Excellent leadership, communication, analytical, organisational, and stakeholder-management skills.
Compensation and Benefits
- As per the client standard policy.
Pay: Up to $175,000.00 per year
Application Question(s):
- Are you willing and able to establish residency within the City of Philadelphia within six months of your hire date?
- Are you willing and able to establish residency within the City of Philadelphia within six months of your hire date? If yes, please provide your current city and state of residence.
- Do you have at least 10 years of professional experience in IT infrastructure and data-centre environments?
- Do you hold a current JNCIP certification, or do you have at least five years of measurable professional experience working with network systems?
- Do you have at least three years of experience leading large, cross-functional teams or projects and at least five years of managerial or supervisory experience planning, developing, implementing, or managing a comparably sized or larger data centre?
- If shortlisted are you willing to attend an onsite interview?
Work Location: In person
