The City of Philadelphia is seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Networking to lead the design, implementation, and operation of the city’s mission-critical network infrastructure. This role will be responsible for ensuring secure, reliable, and high-performance connectivity that supports public safety, city services, multiple data centers, cloud applications, and employees across multiple locations.

The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise, strong leadership skills, and the ability to translate strategic goals into operational excellence. This position offers the opportunity to shape the future of networking for one of the largest municipal organizations in the United States. Key Responsibilities Lead the planning, deployment, operation, and optimization of the city’s enterprise network, including MPLS, LAN, WAN, WLAN, SD-WAN, cloud networking, and data center interconnects. Ensure network reliability, redundancy, and security to meet the needs of public safety, emergency services, and 24/7 city operations. Oversee network engineering, architecture, and operations teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. Partner with cybersecurity teams to ensure compliance with NIST, CJIS, HIPAA, IRS1075, PCI, and other relevant regulations. Direct incident response and serve as a senior escalation point for critical network outages. Manage vendor relationships, service-level agreements (SLAs), and procurement processes for network hardware, software, and services. Evaluate and implement emerging technologies, including SASE, AI-driven network management, and 5G integration. Collaborate with city departments to understand networking needs and deliver solutions that enable digital transformation and efficient service delivery.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, Networking, or a related field. 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in enterprise networking, including at least 5 years in a leadership or management role. Demonstrated experience with large-scale, complex network environments spanning multiple sites. Strong understanding of network architecture, routing/switching, wireless, SD-WAN, network security, and cloud networking. Proven success in managing multi-million-dollar budgets and vendor contracts. Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to lead during high-pressure situations. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with executive leadership, technical teams, and non-technical stakeholders. Preferred Qualifications Experience in government, public safety, or large municipal networking environments. Professional certifications such as JNCIP/JNCIE, or equivalent a plus. Familiarity with ITIL, project management methodologies, and large-scale network migration strategies.

Additional Information

Salary: $120k-$135K Important: To be considered, candidates must provide a cover letter and resume. All applications should include the following:

•    A one-page cover letter clarifying your interest and qualifications for the role. It really helps us understand why you’re interested in this position. We read every single one!

•    Your resume or curriculum vitae.

•    Optionally, an online professional portfolio or public GitHub account. We won’t accept or review incomplete applications.

Work Setting: in-person (onsite)

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee :

•    We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents

•    Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan

•    Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays

•    Generous retirement savings options are available

•     Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.

•     Enjoy a Free Commute on SEPTA - Starting September 1, 2023, eligible City employees will no longer have to worry about paying for SEPTA public transportation. Whether you're a full-time, part-time, or provisional employee, you can seize the opportunity to sign up for the SEPTA Key Advantage Program and receive free Key cards for free rides on SEPTA buses, trains, trolleys, and regional rails.

•     Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth! *The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated. The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.