Director, Network Engineering and Operations

ECU Health About ECU Health ECU Health is a mission-driven, 1,708-bed academic health care system serving more than 1.4 million people in 29 eastern North Carolina counties. The not-for-profit system is comprised of 13,000 team members, nine hospitals and a physician group that encompasses over 1,100 academic and community providers practicing in over 180 primary and specialty clinics located in more than 130 locations. The flagship ECU Health Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center, and ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital serve as the primary teaching hospitals for the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine share a combined academic mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina through patient care, education and research. Position Summary The Director of Network Engineering and Operations at ECU Health is a senior technical leader responsible for the strategic planning, design, implementation, and operation of the organization's network systems. This pivotal role ensures the reliability, security, and efficiency of the network infrastructure, aligning it with ECU Health's goals and objectives. The Director develops and executes network strategies that support the organization's mission and objectives, oversees the allocation and management of resources to ensure optimal network performance, and ensures the network's reliability and security through proactive measures and continuous monitoring. Additionally, the Director works closely with other departments to integrate network infrastructure with organizational goals, leads project planning and execution, including design, vendor evaluation and management, and implementation across multiple systems and provides technical guidance and supervision in the development, implementation, and support of network systems and security. The ideal candidate for this role will have proven experience in managing and leading technical teams, in depth knowledge of network equipment, protocols, tools, and related infrastructure and security, and strong project management capabilities to oversee complex network projects. They should also possess the ability to work effectively with cross‑functional teams to achieve common goals and the ability to make informed recommendations in areas requiring advanced technical knowledge. Responsibilities Network Engineering & Operations Formulate strategies for network infrastructure architecture and technology upgrades, wired and wireless, that are essential for supporting business growth and operational performance. Create and manage a multi-year roadmap for Network Engineering and Operations, encompassing system upgrades, enhancements, and implementation activities that align with ECU Health's business plans, vendor product developments, and support requirements. Ensure alignment with other IS team roadmaps. Ensure the network system meets performance, security, and scalability needs. Collaborate with various departments to align system capabilities with business goals. Collaborate with different stakeholders to facilitate efficient data flow and communication across the enterprise, ensuring the network infrastructure supports organizational objectives. Provide infrastructure and capabilities to support secure, compliant device access to applications. Implement appropriate network connectivity to internal data centers, co‑location data centers, and cloud services. Manage and coordinate with outside vendors in the selection of products and services. Create, develop, and implement policies & procedures for standardizing network services activities. Maintain inventory, drawings, and other documentation to represent the network infrastructure. Establish and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) for network performance and reliability. Monitor and analyze network metrics to identify areas for improvement and optimize network performance. Develop reporting mechanisms to provide insights into network performance to stakeholders. Oversee tests and breach simulations that help determine vulnerabilities within network engineering. Regularly test firewalls and data encryption technologies. Deploy new security software and hardware based on existing weaknesses and current cybersecurity trends. Identify opportunities to automate network provisioning, monitoring, management and incident response tasks. Implement network automation tools and frameworks to streamline operational processes and enhance efficiency. Drive continuous improvement through the adoption of automation technologies and practices. Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to develop and implement network solutions for cloud environments (such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud). Ensure seamless integration of on‑premises and cloud‑based network system. Implement robust network security measures and protocols to safeguard data and systems. Stay abreast of emerging security threats and industry best practices to proactively address potential vulnerabilities. Collaborate with the cybersecurity team to ensure the network infrastructure complies with security standards and regulations. Service Delivery Champion the adoption of IT Service Management (ITSM) by promoting team participation in IS governance, encouraging the adoption of ITSM processes, and fostering the development of ITSM subject matter expertise within the team. Cultivate an agile and collaborative work environment within the Network Engineering and Operations team and across Information Services enabling rapid responses to changing business requirements and evolving network technologies. Apply rigorous testing and quality assurance techniques to all system changes, strictly adhering to Change Control processes. Continuously evaluate network system performance and security to ensure high availability and reliability. Participate in the development and annual testing of ECU Health's disaster recovery plan to ensure the plans are current and effective. Promote a culture of service excellence by providing responsive and effective support, developing solid working relationships with end‑user customers and other Information Services staff, and delivering high‑quality, value‑added services that exceed customer expectations. Financial Management. Effectively utilize resources by developing and monitoring capital and operating budgets and a multi‑year financial plan to support the IS and Network Service Strategic Plan. Identify opportunities to leverage economies of scale and drive efficiencies to manage overall operating costs balancing business requirements with health system financial targets. Develop a total cost of ownership (TCO) for all new and replacement systems securing business commitment to the one‑time and on‑going costs and identifying budgetary implications in the current and future fiscal years. Periodically benchmark network services to healthcare peers and identify opportunities to improve value. Minimum Requirements Bachelor's Degree in computer science, electrical engineering, information technology, or related field is required. 3(+) years of management experience required. History of successfully managing enterprise network systems and services in a large, multi‑site, geographically diverse organization (15k+ network nodes, 10,000+ employees). At least one current professional certification such as CCNP, CCIE or equivalent. Extensive experience in network design and implementation with expert level knowledge of network architecture, protocols and technologies. Experience with cloud networking, virtualized environments, and data center operations. Strong understanding of network security principles. A skilled diplomat with excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal, listening, written) who is tactful and diplomatic, and able to interact effectively with people throughout the organization. Able to translate information technology jargon into terms understandable by all audiences. A persistent and tenacious individual, who has a high tolerance for ambiguity, which can provide strong and steady leadership within a changing and emerging environment. A leader with conviction who is receptive to suggestions from others, yet able to take a stand and provide direction. Other Information On‑call rotation with other members of the Network team. May require work outside of M‑F 8 am ‑ 5 pm based on projects, maintenance, or critical incidents General Statement It is the goal of ECU Health and its entities to employ the most qualified individual who best matches the requirements for the vacant position. Offers of employment are subject to successful completion of all pre‑employment screenings, which may include an occupational health screening, criminal record check, education, reference, and licensure verification. We value diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Decisions of employment are made based on business needs, job requirements and applicant’s qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, genetic information and testing, family and medical leave, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other status protected by law. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint. #J-18808-Ljbffr