Sr IT Network Administrator

Harris Health; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Houston is seeking a Senior IT Network Administrator to manage the IT network infrastructure. The role entails overseeing network operations, implementing upgrades, and collaborating with IT teams. Candidates should have at least 6 years of network management experience and possess advanced troubleshooting skills. Required qualifications include an associate degree or relevant experience, ITIL certification, and proficiency with Cisco and Palo Alto technologies. The position aims to enhance network reliability and security.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of network management experience including LAN, WAN, WLAN, LB, and Firewalls.
• Experience with Cisco, Arista, Meraki, Avi, and Palo Alto.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations and maintenance of IT network infrastructure.
• Design secure, resilient network solutions connecting various locations.
• Collaborate with IT teams to implement network upgrades.

Skills

Network Configuration and Management

Troubleshooting Skills

Collaboration

Network Monitoring

Documentation

Education

Associate degree or 8 years of relevant experience

ITIL certification

Bachelor’s degree preferred

CCNP, ACE-4, PCNSE or equivalent preferred

Tools

Cisco

Palo Alto

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Community Health Choice, Inc. (Community) is a non-profit managed care organization (MCO), licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance. Through its network of more than 10,000 providers and 94 hospitals, Community serves over 400,000 members with the following programs:

• Medicaid State of Texas Access Reform (STAR) program for low-income children and pregnant women
• Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for the children of low-income parents, which includes CHIP Perinatal benefits for unborn children of pregnant women who do not qualify for Medicaid STAR
• Health Insurance Marketplace Plans that offer individual health coverage including preventive care, emergency services, prescription drugs, and hospitalization available to all, regardless of pre-existing conditions
• Community Health Choice (HMO D-SNP), a Medicare Advantage Dual Special Needs plan for people with both Medicare and Medicaid that includes benefits such as dental, vision, transportation, and more

Improving members’ experiences is at the heart of every Community position. We strive every day to ensure that our members have access to the high-quality health care they need and deserve. Community is accredited by URAC for its health plan operations. We offer care management programs for asthma, diabetes, and high-risk pregnancy. An affiliate of the Harris Health System (Harris Health), Community is financially self-sufficient and receives no financial support from Harris Health or from Harris County taxpayers.

Job Summary

The Senior IT Network Administrator at Community is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the organization’s IT network infrastructure, including but not limited to switch strategy, network analysis tools, wireless strategy, load balancer strategy, firewall strategy, and network environments (on-premises and cloud). This role requires an expert who utilizes advanced network analysis tools to monitor and ensure the reliability, performance, and security of Community’s IT networking systems. Architect secure, resilient, and scalable network solutions connecting corporate offices, regional locations, project sites, data centers, DR sites, and cloud infrastructure (Azure, AWS, or other platforms).

The Senior IT Network Administrator collaborates with other IT teams to implement upgrades and enhancements that align with Community’s strategic goals. The role demands a high level of technical expertise, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills to address and resolve network issues proactively.

Job Specifications and Core Competencies

• Network Configuration and Management: Plan and implement network, security, and related IT infrastructure projects.
• Design and implement multi-data-center network strategies focusing on redundancy, high availability, and disaster recovery readiness.
• Oversee the configuration and management of switches, wireless access points, load balancers, and firewalls, ensuring optimal network performance.
• Lead the management of LAN, WAN, WLAN, LB, and firewall infrastructure.
• Collaboration on Upgrades and Enhancements: Serve as the primary escalation point for complex network and security issues.
• Troubleshoot and resolve network hardware, software, and circuit-related incidents in collaboration with carriers and vendors.
• Work with IT team members to plan and implement network upgrades and enhancements to meet emerging needs.
• Lead IT Network Projects and assist with projects; IT Networking is a partner.
• Work closely with service desk personnel, infrastructure teams, and external partners to deliver high-quality IT services.
• Network Monitoring and Analysis: Manage and maintain enterprise firewalls (e.g., Palo Alto features such as WildFire, GlobalProtect VPN, threat prevention, and advanced security profiles).
• Utilize network analysis tools to monitor performance and identify potential issues before they impact operations.
• Analyze issues to determine appropriate plan of action; communicate assessment findings and action plan to appropriate stakeholders.
• Documentation and Incident Management: Maintain documentation and assessments of LAN, WAN, WLAN, LB, and firewall infrastructure; lead incident management of all LAN, WAN, WLAN, LB, and firewall issues.
• Create schedules and project timelines; present to stakeholders reports on progress, problems, and solutions.
• Other duties as assigned to achieve network excellence.

Qualifications

Education/Specialized Training/Licensure:

• Associate degree or 8 years of relevant experience in lieu of degree required.
• ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) certification required or must obtain within 6 months of hire.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred and CCNP, ACE-4, PCNSE, or equivalent preferred.

Work Experience (Years and Area):

• 6 years of network management experience including one or more of the following LAN, WAN, WLAN, LB, and Firewalls.
• Experience with Cisco, Arista, Meraki, Avi, and Palo Alto.
• Software Proficiencies: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).