Central Michigan University · 1 day ago
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR/NETWORK
Mount Pleasant, MI
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$105K/yr - $125K/yr
5+ years expCentral Michigan University is dedicated to preparing students to become leaders and changemakers. The Associate Director of Network oversees the design, implementation, and management of secure campus networks, ensuring they meet the needs of learning, research, and operations while providing leadership in network strategy and performance.
E-LearningEducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
Directs daily operations of the network engineering team by analyzing workflow, establishing priorities, developing standards, and setting deadlines to ensure efficient service delivery
Collaborates with campus stakeholders to align network services with academic, administrative, and research priorities
Leads the planning, design, implementation, and monitoring of campus network architectures, coordinating with internal and external partners to define requirements, select platforms, and ensure alignment with institutional standards, strategic goals, and performance targets
Oversees network service operations end-to-end, engaging stakeholders, directing escalations, implementing durable fixes, and using monitoring data to detect issues early and plan capacity
Fosters a culture of continuous improvement, recruiting, hiring, training, and supervising staff
Reviews and evaluates requests from engineers, managers, and technicians for system modifications, ensuring adherence to the department’s change management policies
Oversees vendor partnerships, coordinates contract renewals, and budget forecasting for network initiatives, balancing performance, cost, and long-term sustainability
Participates in enterprise disaster recovery and business continuity planning efforts, providing network expertise and ensuring alignment with security and systems teams
Leads design, configuration, and governance of network integrations with external organizations, cloud platforms, and SaaS providers, overseeing secure inter-organization connectivity including VPN/IPSec tunnels, private peering, and domain ownership validation
Ensures network documentation and standard operational procedures are maintained and accessible to support continuity, onboarding, and compliance with institutional policies
Pursues ongoing professional development to evaluate emerging technologies and recommend innovations that enhance network availability, reliability, and security in support of the university’s academic and operational mission
Ensure 24Ч7 network availability through staff coverage and escalation process
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree, preferably in Computer Science or Information Systems
Five years of relevant job and management experience
Expert understanding of enterprise routing, switching, and WAN technologies, including dynamic routing protocols and high-availability connectivity across campus and cloud environments
Strong understanding of connectivity, authentication, and security considerations across diverse client platforms in a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) environment
Demonstrated ability to maintain meaningful preventive maintenance schedules
Strong understanding of network performance management and QoS practices for supporting real-time and high-bandwidth applications on converged networks
Understanding of emerging automation and programmability practices for enterprise networking, including the use of APIs, templates, or scripts to integrate on-premises and cloud-managed systems
Demonstrated ability to apply exceptional troubleshooting and communication skills, as well as the ability to interact successfully with community members
Proven ability to lead teams within an ITIL-aligned service management framework, ensuring effective ticket handling, SLA adherence, major incident coordination, and a strong commitment to customer service excellence
Demonstrated positive interpersonal skills
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and project a positive attitude
Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
Preferred
Graduate-level coursework in Computer Science or a related field
Specialized training in project management, cybersecurity, or IT service delivery
Demonstrated ability to create and maintain accurate technical documentation, including network diagrams, procedures, and best-practice guidance for internal and cross-team communication
Experience designing and maintaining secure network architectures leveraging NGFW, VPN connectivity, and access segmentation aligned with zero-trust principles
Experience in architecting and managing data center network fabrics using VXLAN and spine-leaf topologies
Experience designing, implementing, and managing dual-stack (IPv4/IPv6) environments, including addressing strategy, routing, and migration planning
Proven ability to deliver results under tight deadlines and changing priorities
Knowledge of cybersecurity and compliance frameworks, including CMMC, NIST, CJIS, FERPA, HIPAA, GLBA, SOX, and PCI
Benefits
Access to a nationally recognized wellness program
Health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms
Company
Central Michigan University
Welcome to Central Michigan University, a nurturing institution that fosters the transformative power of advanced learning.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Central Michigan University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (20)
2024 (16)
2023 (15)
2022 (13)
2021 (7)
2020 (6)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$31.5M2018-07-06Grant· $31.5M
Leadership Team
John Veilleux, MBA
Vice President for University Communications & Chief Marketing Officer
Alison Arnold
Director Community Partnerships College of Education & Human Services
Recent News
2025-11-04
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