Deputy Chief Networking Officer

Executive Search Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a strategy for position advertisement and marketing.
• Identify, qualify, and assess potential candidates.
• Present qualified candidates to the City of Philadelphia''s Office of Innovation and Technology Leadership Team.
• Support the Leadership Team during the negotiation phase with the selected candidate.

Work Activities / DCNO Job Description:

Strategic Leadership:

• Collaborate with the CIO to develop and implement networking strategies that align with the organization''s overall IT roadmap.
• Lead the design and deployment of innovative networking solutions to meet the organization''s current and future needs.

• Stay informed of emerging technologies and trends in networking to ensure the organization remains at the forefront of technological advancement.

Network Infrastructure Management:

· Network Design and Architecture:

• Design, implement, and maintain the organization''s network infrastructure, including LAN, WAN, VPNs, and cloud-based networking solutions.
• Evaluate new networking technologies, tools, and systems to enhance performance, scalability, and security.
• Plan and deploy network expansions, upgrades, or replacements to meet growing business needs.

· Network Operations and Maintenance:

• Ensure the continuous, uninterrupted operation of the organization''s network systems, maintaining high uptime and availability.
• Monitor network performance, troubleshoot network problems, and perform regular maintenance.
• Develop and maintain network documentation, including diagrams, configurations, and procedures.

· Security Management:

• Implement and enforce network security protocols, including firewalls, encryption, IDS/IPS systems, and access controls.
• Conduct regular security audits, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing to identify and mitigate risks.
• Respond to network security incidents, implementing incident response strategies and reporting breaches when necessary.
• Manage network security protocols, including firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and encryption technologies to protect organizational data.

· Network Performance Monitoring and Optimization:

• Use network management tools to monitor bandwidth usage, traffic patterns, and overall network performance.
• Optimize network configurations for efficiency, load balancing, and redundancy.
• Identify and address bottlenecks or performance issues, ensuring minimal downtime or degradation in network services.

· Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity:

• Develop and implement network disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
• Ensure data backup, replication, and failover systems are in place to support the recovery of network services during emergencies.
• Regularly test disaster recovery protocols and update plans as needed

· Vendor Evaluation and Selection :

• Research and assess potential vendors for networking hardware, software, and services.
• Develop evaluation criteria, including reliability, technical support, pricing, and service level agreements (SLAs).

· Contract Negotiation :

• Negotiate terms and pricing with selected vendors to secure favorable contracts.
• Ensure contracts comply with city policies and legal requirements.

· Performance Monitoring :

• Monitor vendor performance against SLAs and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Conduct regular performance reviews to ensure vendors meet expectations and address any issues that arise.

· Relationship Management :

• Foster strong relationships with vendors to facilitate collaboration and effective communication.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for vendor-related inquiries and issues.

· Risk Assessment :

• Identify potential risks associated with vendor partnerships, such as cybersecurity vulnerabilities or service disruptions.
• Develop strategies to mitigate identified risks and ensure continuity of service.

· Stakeholder Collaboration :

• Collaborate with other departments to understand their networking needs and ensure vendor solutions align with those requirements.
• Communicate vendor updates and changes to relevant stakeholders.

Networking Budget Management:

· Budget Development :

• Assist in the preparation of the networking budget, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and strategic plans.
• Identify necessary expenditures for network hardware, software, maintenance, and upgrades.

· Cost Analysis :

• Analyze current and projected costs associated with networking tools, services, and vendor contracts.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings and more efficient resource allocation.

· Budget Tracking and Monitoring :

• Monitor budget expenditures and ensure compliance with financial policies.
• Provide regular updates on budget status, highlighting any variances and their implications.

· Resource Allocation :

• Prioritize spending based on critical networking needs and strategic initiatives.
• Recommend reallocating resources as necessary to address changing priorities or unexpected challenges.

· Forecasting :

• Develop financial forecasts for future networking needs based on trends, usage patterns, and anticipated growth.
• Prepare budget justifications for new projects or initiatives to present to leadership.

· Reporting :

• Generate detailed reports on budget performance and vendor expenditures, providing insights into return on investment (ROI) for networking initiatives.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior management to support informed decision-making

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure that all network systems comply with relevant regulatory requirements and organizational policies.
• Develop and implement disaster recovery and business continuity plans related to networking to minimize downtime and data loss.
• Conduct regular risk assessments and implement measures to mitigate identified risks.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Operational Responsibilities
• Policy Implementation : Ensure adherence to organizational policies and procedures within the network teams.
• Budget Management : Oversee budgets related to team development and network operations, ensuring efficient resource allocation
• Reporting and Analysis : Analyze performance metrics and prepare reports for upper management regarding team effectiveness and network performance.

· Collaboration and Communication

• Cross-Department Collaboration : Work closely with other departments to align network goals with overall organizational objectives.
• Stakeholder Engagement : Communicate with stakeholders to ensure their needs are met and to gather feedback for continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with other IT leaders to integrate networking strategies with broader IT initiatives.
• Communicate networking plans , policies, and procedures to stakeholders across the organization.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on networking issues, providing guidance and support to other departments as needed.

· Innovation and Improvement

• Process Improvement : Identify areas for improvement in network operations and implement innovative solutions.
• Technology Utilization : Leverage technology to enhance team performance and operational efficiency.

Skills/Experience of the Assigned Staff:

Required:

• Network Systems Certification- JNCIP or measurable work experience totaling at least 5 years.
• Completion of a Bachelor''s degree program at an accredited college or university with a major course work in Public Administration, Communications, Information Technology or a closely related field

AND

• 10 to 15 years of infrastructure and data center experience, with at least 3 years of leadership experience in managing multiple, large, cross-functional teams or projects, and influencing senior level management and key stakeholders
• 5 years of managerial or supervisor experience in planning, developing, managing or implementing a comparatively sized or larger data center.

OR

Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Innovation and Technology and Human Resources.