Director of Network Services

Job Description:
The Director of Network Services reports to the Director of Converged Services. The Director of Network Services oversees a division with highly complex technical and administrative functions. This position oversees the network backbone, WAN (Wide Area Network), selected LAN (Local Area Network), and network security for over 60, users statewide, within HHS agencies and external partners.

The Director of Network Services leads and oversees an extensive network which provides critical services to all HHS (Health and Human Services) agencies, programs, sites, and to citizens of Texas who receive services through programs such as Medicaid, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) assistance programs. The Network Services division serves over 60, customers located at + sites across the State of Texas 24x7x, including: State Hospitals, Health Service Regions, HHSC (Health and Human Services Commission) and DSHS (Department of State Health Services) Regional Field Offices, DFPS (Department of Family Protective Services) Statewide Intake, and State Supported Living Centers. This position oversees a large, highly technical, and specialized workforce with a staff of over 23 FTEs (Full Time Equivalents), Staff Augmentation contractors, and numerous highly skilled and certified vendor contractors. The Director of Network Services is responsible for a large annual budget, including: several large capital projects which require regular reporting to HHS Executives and the State of Texas Legislature and staff.

The Network Services Director has a key responsibility for requirements analysis, design, development, monitoring, and change management activities across the technologies and entities of the Network. The Network Services Director ensures incidents are mitigated and the root-cause of the incident is resolved; engages internal/external entities, including: the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to resolve problems; ensures rule changes and configuration designs are completed and documented in accordance with Change Management procedures and in compliance with service level agreements (SLA); ensures system level configuration changes to network devices and appliances are created in accordance with established Change Management procedures and in compliance with SLAs (Service Level Agreements); ensures standards are met for the automation of HHS tools to perform scheduled maintenance functions across all network devices; ensures objectives, agency requirements, and resolution requirements are defined and followed; ensures incident management, escalation, and dispatch processes are standardized and consistent with HHS policies and procedures; ensures complex network designs encompass multiple technologies within the HHS enterprise network; ensures new network technologies are evaluated and makes recommendations to stakeholders regarding the integration of these technologies into the existing network; and ensures effective integration and optimal network performance for new configurations and systems being added to the network.
Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for initiative and independent judgment. Essential Job Functions:
1) Oversees the daily operations, activities, and budget for Enterprise Network Services. Provides vision, leadership, and strategic direction essential to ensuring efficient, effective, and secure IT (Information Technology) Network service to over 60, users statewide, within HHS (Health and Human Services) agencies and external partners, + locations supporting over 5, network devices state-wide. Directs the overall planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of Network Services for the largest State of Texas Agency. Responsibilities include establishing goals, ensuring plans are in place and properly executed, organizing the work based upon best practices, and overseeing day-to-day operations.
2) Develops and directs the implementation of strategic and tactical planning of Network infrastructure, Local Area Network (LAN)/Wide Area Network (WAN), Core, On-premises Data Centers, and Perimeter Security Service environments for internal and external customers, including: discovery and documentation of user requirements before development design and programming. This includes evaluating network technologies for potential acquisition; and directs the evaluation of various hardware and software resources to identify strengths, weaknesses, and potential benefits to the agency. Provides a standardized, consolidated, reliable and secure enterprise level network delivering converged services for voice, video and data supporting HHS programs. Adds geolocated network redundancy where needed to support critical services preventing interruptions in services in the event of equipment failure. Data Center Network planning includes support of the agency's largest application, Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System (TIERS), the portal providing critical services to the citizens of Texas.
3) Establishes priorities, manages resources to achieve unit, division, enterprise goals, and coordinating, evaluating, and managing the unit’s activities and budgets. Develop/follow procedures for LAN/WAN, Core, On-premises Data Centers, and Perimeter Security Service administration. (e.g., security, reliability)
4) Manages and directs complex implementation of network hardware devices, including: routers, switches, firewalls, security appliances and systems software; troubleshoots, maintains, upgrades, and provides solutions to complex hardware/software problems; alerts management, help desk team, and other IT (Information Technology) groups when sensitive issues arise or a major problem is suspected; minimizes client productivity loss caused by technology outages, and provides necessary infrastructure for clients to meet their benefit needs. This includes determining operational, technical, and support requirements for the location, installation, operation, and maintenance of agency network systems and supporting technologies.
5) Identifies solutions through constant interfacing with appropriate management levels, clients, agencies, and vendor organizations to ensure a cost-effective, efficient, and secure infrastructure environment is available to provide the essential communications to agency operations. Includes integration of LAN/WAN, Core, On-premises Data Centers, and Perimeter Security Service network requirements into the agency's information resources and business plan. Designs network services to support emerging technologies, including cloud-based solutions, zero trust technologies, and a more mobile workforce. Modernize the network via technologies, including Software Defined Networking (SDN) which creates a more flexible and manageable network for enhanced performance, visibility, and control.
6) Advises, consults, and negotiates with HHS customers in providing services and evaluating performance to meet customer needs for Network Services functions, consistent with HHS and DIR (Department of Information Resources) plans, standards, and guidelines. Provides leadership to internal and external teams/committees across the agency and HHS enterprise for the HHS System consolidation/transformation. Leads and oversees the consolidation/standardization of environments to become a true enterprise level network service and achieve cost reductions/containment, transparency, and/or improved services via Network Modernization. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of other HHS agencies systems plans and negotiates sharing of resources to achieve service levels across agencies.
7) Oversees multimillion dollar budget and human resources for Network Services. Budget includes participation in the legislative appropriations process. Requests Legislative Exceptional Item (EI) and capital every biennium as needed to modernize the agency network. Determines funds needed to maintain the agency network via lifecycle replacement. Manages various issues related to planning of and limitations to the operating budget for Network Design, Engineering and Modernization. Oversees staff supporting fiber design and network supporting camera/security systems managed by facilities staff at locations outside of Austin. Human resource elements include staffing, job classification, interview and selection, supervision, coaching, counseling, developing staff, and handling adverse personnel actions, problem solving and conflict resolution. Also, includes participation in the performance evaluation process, review of performance data, encouraging and recommending appropriate training/development opportunities, and providing accurate and timely feedback to managers and employees.
8) Ensures compliance with appropriate Federal, State of Texas, and agency laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and Texas procurement regulations. Serves as Network Services SME (subject matter experts) in Security Audits supporting program audit compliance. Serves as backup for Converged Services Director IV in their absence.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:
-In-depth knowledge of network security, command and control architecture and enterprise monitoring methodologies.
-Experience in oversight and management of network contracts, purchasing, budgets and ensuring vendor contract compliance and service delivery.
-Experience with managing network security related audit requests.
-Ability to manage assigned department activities; to establish goals and objectives; to devise solutions to complex technology problems; to develop and evaluate network infrastructure policies and procedures; to prepare reports; to communicate effectively; and to plan, assign, and supervise the work of others.
-Ability to effectively develop, support, and manage an Enterprise Services Model to deliver reliable and network infrastructure solutions.
-Knowledge of State of Texas procurement practices and DIR contracts.
-Knowledge of IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) cloud security environments in support of DevOps environments.

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