Executive Director, Network & Telecommunications

Core Responsibilities

• Define and execute the enterprise networking and telecommunications strategy in alignment with organizational objectives and advances in the industry.
• Develop a forward-looking strategy for adopting emerging technologies in ways that advance and enable enterprise priorities.
• Partner with executive leadership to ensure networking and voice/data services support business continuity, growth, and digital transformation.
• Oversee design, implementation, optimization and management of high-performing, large-scale enterprise networks (LAN, WAN, WLAN, Cellular, VoIP, CCaaS).
• Ensure robust network security through firewalls, intrusion prevention, segmentation, and NAC (Network Access Control).
• Lead initiatives to further key objectives for operating a high-performing and secure environment.
• Direct enterprise voice and data infrastructure, including VoIP, SIP trunking, PBX systems, and collaboration platforms.
• Ensure high availability and quality of service for voice and video communications across the organization.
• Oversee telecommunications planning, engineering, and lifecycle management of infrastructure.
• Lead design, deployment, and optimization of DAS to ensure reliable cellular and wireless coverage across facilities.
• Work closely with mobile carriers to expand and optimize mobile network coverage at UM campuses.
• Oversee enterprise wireless infrastructure, ensuring secure, scalable, and high-performance connectivity.
• Develop and execute on wireless technology roadmap that enhances and strengthens performance, security and stability across the enterprise.
• Establish and enforce operational policies, standards, and best practices for networking and telecommunications.
• Drive automation and monitoring to improve efficiency, reduce downtime, and enhance incident response.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and procurement for networking and telecom services.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of network engineers, telecom specialists, and security professionals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Department Specific Functions

• Lead a large-scale organization responsible for enterprise networking, telecommunications, wireless, and cellular infrastructure across a distributed, high-availability environment.
• Enterprise Connectivity Strategy (Health System + Academic): Define and execute a multi-year connectivity strategy supporting Clinical systems and patient care environments, Research computing and data-intensive workloads, and Academic and campus digital experiences.
• Technical Authority & Architecture Leadership (Non-Delegable): Serve as the final technical authority across all network domains, with the ability to personally engage in complex design and troubleshooting scenarios.
• Operational Excellence at Scale: Lead a multi-disciplinary organization of 70–80 engineers, architects, and operations professionals, Drive: Automation and observability across network operations, Reduced mean-time-to-resolution (MTTR), Proactive performance monitoring, Implement clear SLAs tied to clinical and research service expectations, Operational KPIs and accountability frameworks.
• Network Security in a Regulated Environment: Align network architecture with healthcare regulatory requirements and security frameworks, Partner with cybersecurity leadership to implement: Zero-trust network access, Segmentation for clinical and research environments, Secure remote and cloud connectivity, Ensure continuous improvement of network security posture and risk mitigation.
• Telecommunications, Mobility & Campus Connectivity: Lead enterprise voice, video, and collaboration platforms across health system and university, Oversee DAS and carrier partnerships to ensure reliable cellular coverage in clinical environments, Deliver seamless, secure wireless experiences for: Clinicians and staff, Students and faculty, Patients and visitors.
• Transformation & Modernization: Own delivery of critical initiatives, including: Network modernization and technical debt reduction, Migration to software-defined and cloud-integrated architectures, Adoption of automation and AI-driven operations, Translate emerging technologies into practical, enterprise-ready capabilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field; Master’s preferred.
• Certifications such as CCNP/CCIE, CISSP, Aruba ASE, or ITIL strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership in enterprise networking and telecommunications.
• Experience leading large-scale, high-availability environments, ideally in healthcare, higher education, or similarly complex enterprises.
• Deep knowledge of enterprise networking (Cisco, Aruba, Juniper, Palo Alto, or equivalent).
• Expertise in network security, NAC solutions (e.g., Cisco ISE, Aruba ClearPass), and segmentation strategies.
• Strong background in voice/data technologies (VoIP, SIP, PBX systems) and unified communications platforms.
• Experience with DAS design, deployment, and optimization.
• Familiarity with wireless infrastructure, cloud networking, SD-WAN, and hybrid environments.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to validate architecture decisions.
• Ability to translate technical concepts into business outcomes for executive audiences.
• Ability to challenge designs, guide engineers, and lead resolution of critical incidents firsthand.