1560 Director, Networking

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

TITLE Director, Networking

CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1560

GRADE 38

CLASSIFICATION Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Chief Information Officer

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Director of Networking plans, organizes, and manages the administrative and technical aspects of the University’s data networks at all Missouri State University campuses and locations. Duties include installation, maintenance, monitoring, and planning for the network infrastructure to support both academic and administrative responsibilities. The Director of Networking supervises the networking staff in their support of the University’s networking environment, develops goals and objectives conducive to ongoing and enhanced computing capabilities, and assists in the formulation of strategic planning for both short- and long-term activities.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field is preferred. An equivalent combination of years of experience and education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.

Experience: A minimum of five years of experience in network analysis and design of a major multi-vendor network environment is required. Demonstrated successful experience managing complex network-based projects is required. A minimum of three years of supervisory experience is required. A minimum of three years of comprehensive management experience involving project management, planning, preparing project cost estimates, budget oversight and development is preferred.  Work experience in a higher education environment is preferred.

Skills: Must be able to effectively manage multiple, complex network-based projects concurrently. Effective interpersonal, customer service, organizational, and team-building skills are required. The ability to maintain confidentiality regarding information processed, stored, or accessed by the systems is required. Excellent verbal and written communication skills and proficiency in writing technical specification documents is required. Strong technical skills and current technical knowledge are required. The ability to work effectively with a variety of constituencies possessing a wide range of technical knowledge is required. A thorough understanding of network protocols including TCP/IP and networking equipment including routers, switches, classic firewalls, and next generation firewalls is required. The ability to solve network-related problems by using diagnostic techniques and protocols is required. 

Effort: The position requires working at computers for extended periods of time, occasionally lifting and carrying objects weighing up to fifty pounds and requires sufficient mobility to replace networking equipment and connect cables in ceilings and wiring centers which may require climbing ladders and working in confined spaces.

Other: The 24-hour scope of university operations requires this position to be available evenings, nights, and weekends to respond to calls regarding questions or problems with the University’s networks. Occasional travel to remote sites to provide support or engage in professional development opportunities is required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ensures a high-quality program of support in network services by coordinating and managing the efforts of the Networking Department by assigning duties and objectives, supervising the maintenance of University networks within the Missouri State system, and providing technical assistance in networking issues to faculty, staff, and students.

2. Ensures the hiring and continued employment of quality personnel by directly or indirectly supervising the selection, training, and evaluation of the Networking Department’s staff.

3. Develops proposals, presentations, plans, timelines, and budgets for complex projects and manages priorities, equipment, and staff resources to ensure completion of projects within budgets and timelines.

4. Ensures operational integrity and continuity of the network services by providing leadership in the development of objectives for the Networking Department to support both academic and administrative networking within the University through reliability, responsiveness, documentation, and currency of software/hardware.

5. Provides the highest level of effectiveness and support in network operations by obtaining and maintaining an in-depth knowledge of any network-related hardware and software utilized within the University through both vendor-supplied training and individual effort.

6. Provides proper scheduling of downtime when upgrading campus networking components and ensures effective communication to the campus community concerning networking outages.

7. Ensures appropriate security measures and components are in place to protect campus networks and computer systems from intrusion attacks.

8. Coordinates activities such as assignment of software/hardware installations, upgrades, maintenance, and any associated training which is designed to accomplish the departmental mission.

9. Increases departmental effectiveness by assisting with the evaluation of software and hardware products regarding acquisition and development and making appropriate recommendations to the CIO.

10. Contributes to the overall success of the Office of Information Services by participating in the establishment of goals and standards conducive to the successful development of ongoing and enhanced capabilities and by assisting in the formulation of strategic planning for both short- and long-term activities.

11. Ensures the availability of network and computer resources by managing disaster prevention and recovery efforts caused by events like power outages, hardware failures, etc.

12. Participates in the University's common operational objectives by assisting other departments as well as individuals with network-related questions and support.

13. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required to do so.

14. Contributes to the overall success of the Office of Information Services by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Chief Information Officer.

SUPERVISION

The Director of Networking is supervised by the Chief Information Officer and supervises the networking staff. Job functions are routinely handled independently with a limited amount of supervision.

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

REVISED JANUARY 2025

JOB FAMILY 3

Factor 1: Educational/Experience Requirements of the Job

Level 11.0 - 2167 Points: A combination of education and experience equivalent to a Level 11 as indicated by the Equivalencies Chart, when permitted by the Minimum Acceptable Qualifications.

Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility

Level 7.0 - 2093 Points: General administration of a large unit of employees where the nature of the managerial work involves providing general direction for other supervisory personnel. Managers at this level have substantial responsibility for the operation of a unit including responsibility for the budgeting process, budgetary and inventory control, purchasing, and regulatory compliance, as well as administrative authority over staffing issues and disciplinary outcomes. General administrative work, rather than direct supervision of others, takes up rather large portions of work time.

Factor 3: Skill, Complexity, and Technical Mastery

Level 8.0 - 2500 Points: Advanced professional mastery of the principles, concepts, and specialized complicated techniques of a profession. Knowledge of the principles, emerging technical advances, and method of a specialized area of information technology. Knowledge permits the employee to develop new information technology concepts or to inspire pioneering or unprecedented projects.

Factor 4: Budgetary Control

Level 4.0 - 772 Points: At this level would be jobs in which the incumbent has the responsibility for exercising primary control over a limited budget including developing budgets and distributing budgetary funds.

Factor 5: Work Environment and Physical Demands

Level 1.0 - 25 Points: The work environment has only everyday discomforts associated with an office or commercial vehicle. The work area is adequately lighted, heated or cooled, and ventilated. Work is largely sedentary involving mostly sitting with occasional walking, standing, bending, or carrying of small items. No special physical demands are required of the work.

Factor 6: Work Impact and Effect

Level 6.0 - 4500 Points: Work products or services directly impact the work of other professionals, the development and operation of programs, affect major activities across units, and/or impact the well-being of large numbers of individuals. Typically the work is complex, and while it may involve addressing conventional problems or situations with established methods, it is more likely to involve developing new processes or models involving the planning, development, and implementation of administrative programs. Work products or services are essential to the mission of the university and/or directly affect most departments, units, and programs and large numbers of individuals on a long-term or continuing basis. Improperly performed work results in courses of action that typically cannot be addressed in the short term and may require a substantial commitment of University resources to remedy in a medium to long term.