Senior Network Administrator

Senior IT Network AdministratorCommunity Health Choice, Inc. (Community) is a non-profit managed care organization (MCO), licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance. Through its network of more than 10,000 providers and 94 hospitals, Community serves over 400,000 Members with the following programs:Medicaid State of Texas Access Reform (STAR) program for low-income children and pregnant womenChildren's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for the children of low-income parents, which includes CHIP Perinatal benefits for unborn children of pregnant women who do not qualify for Medicaid STARHealth Insurance Marketplace Plans that offer individual health coverage that includes preventive care, emergency services, prescription drugs, and hospitalization available to all, regardless of pre-existing conditions.Community Health Choice (HMO D-SNP), a Medicare Advantage Dual Special Needs plan for people with both Medicare and Medicaid that combines Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, and Medicaid benefits with additional health benefits like dental, vision, transportation, and more.Improving Members' experiences is at the heart of every Community position. We strive every day to make sure that our Members have access to the high-quality health care they need and deserve.Community is accredited by URAC for its health plan operations. We offer care management programs for asthma, diabetes, and high-risk pregnancy. An affiliate of the Harris Health System (Harris Health), Community is financially self-sufficient and receives no financial support from Harris Health or from Harris County taxpayers.The Senior IT Network Administrator at Community is critical in managing the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the organization's IT network infrastructure, including but not limited to switch strategy, network analysis tools, wireless strategy, load balancer strategy, firewall strategy, and network environments, both on-premises and cloud. This role calls an expert who utilizes advanced network analysis tools to monitor and ensure the reliability, performance, and security of Community's IT networking systems. Architect secure, resilient, and scalable network solutions connecting corporate offices, regional locations, project sites, data centers, DR sites, and cloud infrastructure (Azure, AWS, or other platforms). The Senior IT Network Administrator is a team player who will collaborate closely with other IT teams to implement upgrades and enhancements that align with Community's strategic goals. The role demands a high level of technical expertise, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills to address and resolve network issues proactively.Job Specifications and Core Competencies:Network Configuration and ManagementPlan and implement network, security, and some other IT infrastructure related projectsDesign and implement multi-data-center network strategies focusing on redundancy, high availability, and disaster recovery readiness.Oversee the configuration and management of switches, wireless access points load balancers, and firewalls, ensuring optimal network performance.Lead the Management of LAN, WAN, WLAN, LB, and firewall infrastructureCollaboration on Upgrades and EnhancementsServe as the primary escalation point for complex network and security issues.Troubleshoot and resolve network hardware, software, and circuit-related incidents in collaboration with carriers and vendors.Work with IT team members to plan and implement network upgrades and enhancements to meet emerging needs.Lead IT Network Projects and assist with ProjectsIT Networking is a partner.Work closely with service desk personnel, infrastructure teams, and external partners to deliver high-quality IT services.Network Monitoring and AnalysisManage and maintain enterprise firewalls, including Palo Alto features such as Wildfire, Global Protect VPN, threat prevention, and advanced security profiles.Utilize network analysis tools to monitor performance and identify potential issues before they impact operations.Analyzes issues to determine appropriate plan of action.Communicates assessment findings and Action Plan to appropriate individuals.Documentation and Incident ManagementMaintains documentation and assessments of LAN, WAN, WLAN, LB, and firewall infrastructure.Leads incident management of all LAN, WAN, WLAN, LB, and firewall issues.Create schedule and project timelinePresent to stakeholders reports on progress as well as problem and solutionsOther Duties as AssignedTake on any additional tasks as required to achieve network excellence.Qualifications:Education/Specialized Training/Licensure:Associate degree or 8 years of relevant experience in lieu of degree required.ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) certification Required or Must obtain within 6 months of hire required.Bachelor's degree preferred and CCNP, ACE-4, PCNSE, or equivalent preferredWork Experience (Years and Area):6-years network management including one or more of the following LAN, WAN, WLAN, LB, and Firewalls.Examples include Cisco, Arista, Meraki, Avi, and Palo AltoSoftware Proficiencies: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)