Associate Director, Network Operations

The Associate Director for Network Operations provides leadership and direction to the Network Operations team and has overall accountability for all services supported by those teams. Services include wired, wireless, remote access, restricted network access services, data center, core, border, and wide area networks. Working closely with the Director of Operations, the Associate Director is responsible for all services and products in their respective program. All NI&S Associate Directors will be highly engaged with each other, exhibiting a shared commitment to deliver operational excellence across the organization. The position will ensure that program services receive strategic attention and appropriate resources in support of the university and NI&S missions. The Associate Director is expected to:

• Provide effective leadership, mentorship, coaching, and direction to the team, ensuring all staff are engaged and productive
• Develop staff performance plans, conduct performance evaluations, and provide
  purposeful, objective frequent feedback to employees
• Promote and apply principles of change, risk, and resource management to ensure the continued reliability, performance, and security of systems and services
• Maintain the program portfolio of hardware and software products, utilizing lifecycle management to remain current with industry and vendor standards for supportability and security
• Develop, implement, and review operational policies and procedures
• Proactively recommend innovative and modern technology solutions based on industry best practices
• Champion and promote service improvements on an ongoing basis to continually improve quality and customer satisfaction.
• Develop and understand key service metrics and make recommendations for improvement
• Assist in the development of annual funding plans and budgetary forecasts
• Provide IT Leadership with reports and presentations to convey project status, initiatives, and operational activities
• Manage procurement and resource allocations
• Assist in establishing short and long-term strategic direction, goals, and objectives, and developing measurable goals and metrics
• Collaborate with peer associate directors to ensure the successful development,
  operation, and support of products and services and organizational projects
• Establish alliances and relationships with vendors and partners
• Maintain intimate knowledge of technology and industry trends through research of professional and technical resources, professional networks, and societies. Conduct research and consult with peer institutions on issues related to services with a focus on operations, system design, maintenance, security, and system integrity

• Master’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, STEM, or a related field or training and work experience that equates to a master's degree
• Experience leading and managing technical teams
• Basic knowledge of networking principles and technologies
• Customer-focused attitude with a desire to learn and serve
• Excellent organization and planning skills
• Effective communicator with the ability to work in groups and to motivate staff
• Ability to effectively delegate tasks
• Self-motivated, with the ability to produce results given only high-level direction.
• Demonstrate a high level of professionalism
• Experience diagnosing, isolating, and resolving complex issues, and recommending and implementing strategies to resolve problems
• Experience with and proven abilities in communicating situational awareness and service outage information to a wide variety of stakeholders, including senior managers and end-users
• Experience designing, testing, deploying, and maintaining large-scale networks
• In-depth knowledge of the seven layers within the OSI model and detailed familiarity with industry network protocols.
• Knowledge of agile methodologies and practices

• Experience collaborating with service providers and vendor partners to coordinate troubleshooting and incident response activities
• Experience with and proven abilities in communicating situational awareness and service outage information to a wide variety of clients, including senior managers and end-users
• Experience developing and managing departmental operating and capital expense budgets
• Experience with managing projects and associated budgets, and schedules
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of Ethernet and Routing technologies through one or more of the following certifications: CCNP, JNCIP, or equivalent

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Regular

121,000 - 128,000

40

6/13/2025

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

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