Network Administrator
Danville, VA (Hybrid)
About the Role:
As a member of the IT leadership team, the Network Administrator will collaborate with IT leaders and partners to ensure the delivery of network services to the staff, tenants, and students throughout our growing campus. You are responsible for IALR’s LAN, WLAN, WAN, firewall, and Azure GCC PaaS. You will also monitor network performance and perform necessary maintenance to support network availability and security, and assist with network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Network Management:
- Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of IALR’s Cisco-based LAN and WAN infrastructure, including Catalyst and Nexus switching platforms, firewalls, and Azure GCC PaaS environments.
- Ensure network availability, reliability, and security for staff, tenants, and students across the campus.
- Manage IP addressing with DHCP, DNS, and VLAN/subnet planning across a multi-site Cisco environment.
Performance Monitoring:
- Monitor network performance, identify issues, and perform proactive maintenance to prevent downtime and optimize performance.
- Analyze network traffic and resolve bottlenecks or other issues affecting network speed and efficiency.
- Implement and manage VRF, HSRP, EtherChannel, and Spanning Tree (RSTP/MSTP) for high availability and redundancy.
- Monitor network health using SNMP, NetFlow, and Syslog, integrating with tools like Auvik network monitoring
Security Management:
- Implement and manage firewall configurations, including Palo Alto next-generation firewalls, to safeguard the network from unauthorized access and threats.
- Ensure compliance with security protocols and policies to protect sensitive data and network integrity.
- Monitor and analyze security alerts and incidents to identify and respond to threats.
- Conduct vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify security weaknesses.
- Assist with network segmentation, security audits, and compliance initiatives.
Network Modeling and Planning:
- Assist with network modeling, analysis, and planning to support IALR’s current and future infrastructure needs.
- Collaborate with IT leadership and partners to develop and execute strategic plans for network expansion and upgrades.
- Leverage Aruba Central for wireless performance monitoring, client analytics, and centralized configuration management.
System Integration:
Manage and integrate Microsoft Windows Server products, Office365, Active Directory, and Group Policy within the network infrastructure.
Oversee the configuration and management of VMware vSphere environments to ensure virtualization solutions meet organizational needs.
Wireless System Management:
- Administer and maintain managed wireless systems, with a preference for Aruba systems, ensuring seamless wireless connectivity across the campus.
- Leverage Aruba Central for wireless performance monitoring, client analytics, and centralized configuration management.
- Leverage ClearPass for 802.1X authentication and network access control.
Storage Management:
- Oversee the operation and management of storage area network (SAN) equipment, with a preference for NetApp systems, ensuring data storage solutions are robust and reliable.
Collaboration and Support:
- Work closely with IT leadership, partners, and other stakeholders to deliver high-quality network services and support.
- Provide technical guidance and support to team members, fostering a collaborative and solutions-oriented work environment.
Continuous Improvement:
- Stay updated with the latest network technologies and best practices and continuously seek opportunities to improve network infrastructure and performance.
