Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) – Networking

COGENT Infotech; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Cogent Infotech Pvt. Ltd.

is seeking an experienced Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) – Networking to lead enterprise networking infrastructure, network operations, and technology strategy for a large public-sector organization in Philadelphia. You will drive LAN/WAN, VPN, and cloud networking, ensure security and resilience, and partner with senior leadership to align networking services with organizational goals.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of infrastructure and data center experience.
• At least 3 years of leadership experience managing large cross-functional teams.
• At least 5 years of managerial or supervisory experience in a data center of comparable scale.
• JNCIP network certification or equivalent experience.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise network architecture, LAN/WAN, VPN, cloud networking, and security.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the CIO and senior IT leadership to develop and execute enterprise networking strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
• Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of LAN, WAN, VPN, and cloud networking solutions.
• Evaluate emerging networking technologies and recommend infrastructure improvements and modernization initiatives.
• Develop scalable, secure, and reliable network architecture to support current and future business needs.
• Oversee network operations, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, maintenance, and service availability.
• Maintain network diagrams, configurations, technical documentation, and operating procedures.
• Coordinate incident response and remediation for network security incidents.
• Develop, maintain, and test network disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, SLAs, and manage vendor relationships.

Skills

Enterprise network architecture

LAN/WAN design

VPN management

Cloud networking

Network security

Vendor management

Budgeting

Disaster recovery planning

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Communications, Information Technology, or a closely related field

Tools

JNCIP certification

Job description

Job Title: Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) – Networking

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Job Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) – Networking to lead enterprise networking infrastructure, network operations, and technology strategy for a large public-sector organization.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in network architecture, infrastructure and data center management, cybersecurity, vendor management, budgeting, and IT leadership. This individual will collaborate with executive leadership to develop and implement networking strategies that support organizational goals while ensuring high availability, security, scalability, and operational efficiency.

Must have hands-on networking expertise and prior networking management experience, with deep technical knowledge of enterprise network architecture; candidates whose backgrounds are limited to general IT leadership or infrastructure/data center support will not be a fit. Juniper/Cisco certifications are preferred, and ISP/carrier or telecommunications industry experience is a plus.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Network Architecture

• Partner with the CIO and senior IT leadership to develop and execute enterprise networking strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
• Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of LAN, WAN, VPN, and cloud networking solutions.
• Evaluate emerging networking technologies and recommend infrastructure improvements, upgrades, and modernization initiatives.
• Develop scalable, secure, and reliable network architecture to support current and future business needs.

Network Operations and Infrastructure Management

• Oversee network operations, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, maintenance, and service availability.
• Ensure high network uptime, resilience, and operational continuity.
• Maintain network diagrams, configurations, technical documentation, and operating procedures.
• Identify performance bottlenecks and implement optimization, redundancy, and load-balancing strategies.

Network Security and Risk Management

• Oversee network security controls, including firewalls, encryption, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and access controls.
• Direct vulnerability assessments, security reviews, and risk mitigation initiatives.
• Coordinate incident response and remediation for network security incidents.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and organizational security policies.

Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity

• Develop, maintain, and test network disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
• Ensure appropriate backup, replication, and failover capabilities are in place.
• Lead risk assessments and recovery planning to minimize service disruptions.

Vendor and Contract Management

• Evaluate networking vendors, technologies, products, and managed services.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, service-level agreements (SLAs), and support arrangements.
• Monitor vendor performance against SLAs and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Manage vendor relationships, resolve service issues, and ensure solutions meet business and technical requirements.

Budget and Resource Management

• Develop and manage networking and infrastructure budgets.
• Monitor expenditures, forecast future requirements, and identify cost‑saving opportunities.
• Prioritize investments in network hardware, software, maintenance, and modernization.
• Prepare financial reports, budget justifications, and recommendations for senior leadership.

Team Leadership and Stakeholder Collaboration

• Lead and coordinate large, cross‑functional infrastructure and networking teams.
• Establish operational policies, procedures, performance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with other IT leaders and business departments to align networking services with organizational needs.
• Communicate technical strategies, risks, performance results, and recommendations to executive stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Communications, Information Technology, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted by the organization.
• 10–15 years of infrastructure and data center experience.
• At least 3 years of leadership experience managing multiple large, cross‑functional teams or projects and influencing senior management and key stakeholders.
• At least 5 years of managerial or supervisory experience planning, developing, managing, or implementing a data center of comparable or larger scale.
• JNCIP network certification or at least 5 years of measurable relevant work experience, as specified in the position requirements.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise network architecture, LAN/WAN, VPN, cloud networking, network security, and infrastructure operations.
• Experience with vendor management, contract negotiations, budgeting, risk management, and disaster recovery.
• Excellent leadership, communication, strategic planning, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience leading enterprise networking and data center modernization initiatives.
• Experience managing complex network environments and large‑scale infrastructure operations.
• Familiarity with cloud networking, high‑availability architecture, network security frameworks, and business continuity planning.
• Experience managing technology vendors, service‑level agreements, and infrastructure budgets.
• Experience working in government, public‑sector, or similarly complex enterprise environments.