Manager, Network Cable Plant

Manager, Network Cable Plant Manager (ITS)

Location: Los Angeles, California – CAL Building (Onsite)

Department: Information Technology Services – Network Infrastructure

About the Department

Information Technology Services (ITS) at the University of Southern California provides critical technology infrastructure and services that support the university’s academic, research, and administrative missions. ITS partners with faculty, staff, and students across the university to deliver secure, reliable, and innovative technology solutions that enable teaching, learning, research, and collaboration.

The Network Infrastructure team is responsible for designing, maintaining, and evolving the physical and operational backbone of USC’s campus network environment. This includes the planning, installation, service, and support of the university’s cable plant infrastructure that powers connectivity across campus facilities.

Position Summary

The Manager, Network Cable Plant leads the planning, coordination, installation, service, and repair of USC’s network cable plant infrastructure, ensuring reliable and scalable connectivity across the university’s campus environment.

This role provides leadership for cable plant services, overseeing a team responsible for delivering high-quality infrastructure solutions that support academic, research, and administrative operations. The manager works closely with engineering teams, campus stakeholders, and external vendors to ensure infrastructure is designed, implemented, and maintained to meet current operational needs and future growth.

In addition to core network infrastructure responsibilities, this role supports cable plant requirements associated with campus projects and infrastructure initiatives, partnering with stakeholders and vendors to ensure alignment with university standards and long-term technology strategy.

As part of the ITS leadership team, the Manager contributes to strategic and operational planning, drives service excellence, and fosters a collaborative, high-performing team environment aligned with USC’s values and mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Manages implementation of network maintenance, administration, releases, upgrades, and changes into the environment, working closely with data and voice engineering teams and leadership to minimize service disruptions.

• Ensures the availability, performance, and operational integrity of network operations by managing and supporting network assets across campus.

• Collaborates with ITS departments and a broad range of stakeholders in administrative and academic units, providing consultation and support for incident, problem, and change management processes for network-related services.

• Provides leadership and direction to engineers, technicians, and support staff responsible for network infrastructure services, fostering a high-performing and collaborative team environment.

• Builds and maintains strong relationships with ITS leadership, campus partners, and stakeholders to support infrastructure initiatives and operational improvements.

• Works closely with ITS leadership to identify, implement, and support cost-effective, leading solutions for network, wireless, and field services, maintaining awareness of industry innovations.

• Oversees departmental budget planning, monitoring, and resource management related to network infrastructure initiatives.

• Partners with campus stakeholders and external vendors to support cable plant infrastructure requirements associated with campus projects and infrastructure initiatives.

• Oversees vendor and contractor performance, including adherence to university standards and industry best practices for structured cabling systems.

• Provides strategic direction and operational oversight for cable plant services, ensuring systems are scalable, reliable, and aligned with the university’s long-term technology and infrastructure needs.

• Models and promotes USC’s values and ITS culture, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment that supports professional development and service excellence.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree. Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.

• Six (6) years in information technology.

• Four (4) years supporting large campus network environments.

• Three (3) years in a management role.

• Experience with IT infrastructures — network LAN, WAN, wireless, data centers, disaster recovery facilities, telecommunications, and various third-party applications including CRM, internal reporting, database management, and IT help desks.

• Proven track record of establishing strong customer relationships and delivering consumer-focused solutions within a large IT enterprise.

• Experience with budget planning and management, business case development, project management and organizational change practices.

• Demonstrated experience leading a multifunctional team, developing and managing varied, high-performing teams with positive working relationships and strong rapport.

• Experience managing vendor relationships to establish contracts, statements of work, maintenance and service agreements, and to address service delivery issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, or related field(s).

• Eight (8) years in information technology and/or higher education.

• Five (5) years supporting large-scale network implementations and upgrades.

• Five (5) years in a management/leadership role.

• Demonstrated experience implementing ITIL-based methods using ServiceNow software.

• Exemplary communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to present the business side of technical topics to non-technical audiences, and persuasively and effectively interact with various stakeholders, individuals and groups.

• ITIL V3 certification.

• BICSI ICT certifications.

• Demonstrated experience managing infrastructure-related projects in complex organizational environments.

• Knowledge of formal project management methodologies (e.g., PMI, Agile, or equivalent).

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent.

• Experience working within higher education or similarly complex institutional environments.

• Familiarity with structured cabling standards and industry best practices.

In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, community, well-being, open communication, and accountability.

Salary and Benefits

The annual base salary range for this position is $151,088.43 to $168,631.08. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

To support the well-being of our faculty and staff, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of perks to help protect their and their dependents’ health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package. You can learn more about USC’s comprehensive benefits here.

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Addtional Education Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Preferred Certifications: ITIL V3 certification.