IT Network Administrator III

Position Overview

IT Network Administrator III reports to the Director of Infrastructure and serves as a key member of the Network team. The role focuses on advanced networking, communications, cabling, network security, research infrastructure, and collaboration with IT Systems and Security teams to ensure alignment with campus policies and standards.

• Assist in developing the strategy for services, technical roadmap, and design for campus infrastructure, cloud infrastructure, and virtualized systems.
• Participate in strategic direction and oversight for the design, development, operation, and support of IT infrastructure to fulfill business needs, including full life cycle of technical architecture, network engineering, infrastructure operations, and IT service support.
• Work with IT Systems and Security teams on ongoing management and support of security of university technology systems and data.
• Partner with IT Systems and Security teams to ensure networking services support campus policies and standards.
• Inform infrastructure strategy and standards, develop infrastructure network standards for data center and cloud technologies.
• Use critical thinking and problem‑solving to troubleshoot, perform and delegate tasks.
• Stay abreast of information technology regulatory changes and emerging technologies; communicate with campus leadership.
• Ensure professional development and growth opportunities for the network team.
• Supervise and develop network team in collaboration, networking, firewalling, cloud, and related areas.
• Examine impacts of new technologies and establish processes for their implementation.
• Serve as primary contact for assessing enterprise‑level infrastructure needs and developing plans.

• Ability to work with IT and non‑IT leaders to balance operational, project, and planning priorities.
• Leadership and responsibility in network infrastructure and cloud technologies.
• Experience managing and architecting enterprise firewalls.
• Knowledge of network/virtualization upgrades, project management, policies, and procedures in higher education.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to a broad audience.
• Exhibit maturity, reliability, composure under pressure.
• Give and receive constructive criticism.
• Experience with enterprise networks and virtual infrastructure on‑premises and cloud.
• Knowledge of securing a network, incident response, infrastructure redundancy.
• Experience with Cisco routing and switching, firewalls, VMware networking, AWS/Azure networks, NAC, network management.
• Knowledge of VRFs and Cisco enterprise wireless networks.
• Working knowledge of Cisco ISE, DNA Center, Prime Infrastructure, SIEM solutions.
• Working knowledge of Cisco licensing and Smartnet/Smart licensing.
• Ability to interact with vendors and resellers.
• Experience assisting ITS security in policy and regulatory environment of information security.

• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, information systems, business administration, or related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Ten or more years of progressive IT experience.
• Three or more years of leadership responsibilities.
• Preferably five or more years of similar role in higher education.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, infrastructure design, and staff development.
• Preferably proven experience in leading IT transformational initiatives in complex environments.

North Carolina Central University is a committed equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, or veteran status. All personnel matters will be administered in accordance with this policy.

Fully on‑site (dedicated office at duty station).