Manager, Network Administration and Operations

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Chicago seeks a Manager of Network Administration and Operations to lead a team responsible for the university's wired and wireless networks across the campus. You will oversee configuration, monitoring, incident response, and service reliability, guiding standard operating procedures and documentation.

The role requires 7+ years in network engineering with experience in enterprise environments.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of enterprise network engineering and administration experience.
• Higher education or research IT environments preferred.
• CCNP/CCIE or JNCIP/JNCIE or equivalent certifications valued.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day configuration, operation, and monitoring of campus wired and wireless networks.
• Manage a team of network administrators and technicians and coordinate with Network Engineering.
• Develop and enforce SOPs, run-books, and change-management processes.

Skills

Campus networking

LAN/WAN routing and switching

Network security

Education

Bachelor’s or associate degree in CS/IT/EE or related field

Tools

Ansible

Python

REST APIs

Job description

## Manager, Network Administration and OperationsApply: Hybrid: 6045 Kenwood Building: Full time: Posted Yesterday: JR33609**Department**OPS ITS - Chief Technology Office**About the Department**IT Services (ITS) collaborates with campus partners to support the mission of the University of Chicago through the consistent delivery of high-quality solutions and services. We provide secure, stable, and reliable infrastructure and applications that support the mission of the University. ITS supports and enables faculty research and teaching with the effective use of technology, simplifies the technology experience for all users, and identifies, manages, and mitigates technology risks for the University.**Job Summary**The Manager, Network Administration and Operations is responsible for the day-to-day configuration, operation, monitoring, and availability of the University’s wired (Ethernet) and wireless (WiFi) campus network services. This role directly manages a team of network administrators and technicians who perform hands-on installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and maintenance of network infrastructure including switches, wireless access points, and supporting services such as DNS, DHCP, and IPAM. This position ensures operational consistency through standardized procedures, run-books, and repeatable processes, and serves as the primary escalation point for Tier 1 and Tier 2 network support operations. The Manager coordinates closely with the Senior Manager, Network Engineering to align operational activities with infrastructure priorities.**Responsibilities*** Manages network administrators and technicians who perform the configuration, installation, operation, and monitoring of the campus Local Area Network (LAN), including switches, wireless access points, and end-user connectivity infrastructure.* Oversees the performance, availability, and security of wired and wireless network services across the University campus, including monitoring, incident response, and escalation management for network-related outages and degradations.* Oversees monitoring and troubleshooting of campus network infrastructure including LAN switches, wireless access points, DNS/DHCP services, and related connectivity systems, ensuring timely resolution of incidents and accurate documentation of remediation steps.* Serves as the primary point of contact for network connectivity issues escalated from the IT Services help desk, coordinating with IT and facilities stakeholders as needed to resolve network service disruptions.* Develops, maintains, and enforces standard operating procedures, run-books, and repeatable operational processes to ensure consistent service delivery and minimize unplanned downtime.* Analyzes network usage trends and prepares operational metrics to assess service health and team workload.* Develops and documents Tier 1 and Tier 2 data network support procedures for troubleshooting, change communication, and service restoration, and evaluates operational effectiveness on an ongoing basis.* Maintains accurate records of network asset configurations, incident logs, and change management documentation in accordance with ITS standards.* Manages employee performance by establishing annual goals, allocating resources, conducting performance assessments, and supporting the professional development and career growth of network administrators and technicians.* Encourages participation from team members in improving operational processes, documentation, and ITS service delivery practices.* Maintains current knowledge of network administration technologies, tools, and best practices through professional development, vendor resources, and peer networks.* Coordinates with the Senior Manager, Network Engineering to align operational activities with infrastructure priorities, ensuring technician and administrator capacity is deployed effectively against maintenance schedules and project commitments.* Interfaces with internal IT teams and end-user stakeholders to address network connectivity needs and ensure operational service levels are maintained across the campus environment.* Manages the performance and availability of the wireless and wired University networks. Advises on the planning, executing, and operation of the campus fiber plant.* Develops plans to sustain and improve the University's Networking Services and Information Technologies (NSIT) network. Creates strategic plans for network design, implementation, and upgrades/modifications to existing networks.* Performs other related work as needed.**Minimum Qualifications****Education:**Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.**Work Experience:**Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.**Certifications:****---****Preferred Qualifications** **Education:*** Bachelor’s or associate degree in computer science, information technology, electrical engineering, or a related field. **Experience:*** 7+ years of progressive experience in enterprise network engineering and administration.* Background in higher education or research-intensive IT environments. **Certifications:*** Relevant certifications such as CCNP/CCIE, JNCIP/JNCIE, or equivalent. **Technical Skills or Knowledge:*** Expertise in campus and enterprise networking: LAN/WAN, routing and switching (Cisco and/or Juniper), wireless, and network security.* Familiarity with SD-WAN, zero trust network access (ZTNA), or SASE architectures.* Proficient in DNS/DHCP/IPAM management platforms.* Proficient at driving automation initiatives using network programmability (Ansible, Python, REST APIs). **Working Conditions*** Hybrid work schedule, onsite and remote as required. **Application Documents*** Resume/CV (required)* Cover Letter (required)* References Contact Information (3)(required)The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions. When applying, the document(s) **MUST** be uploaded via the **My Experience** page, in the section titled **Application Documents** of the application.**Job Family**Information Technology**Role Impact**People Manager**Scheduled** **Weekly Hours**37.5**Drug Test Required**No**Health Screen Required**No**Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required**No**Pay Rate Type**Salary **FLSA Status**Exempt **Pay Range**$135,000.00 - $145,000.00The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.**Benefits Eligible**YesThe University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.