Position Title: Network Manager
Department: IT Infrastructure
Location: BML Munjal University, Sidhrawali, Gurugram, Haryana
Reports To: IT Head
Role Summary
The Network Manager is accountable for the design, management, and ongoing maintenance of BML Munjal University's campus-wide network infrastructure. This position ensures uninterrupted, secure connectivity for academic, administrative, research, and residential services. The role requires extensive hands-on proficiency with next-generation firewalls, campus switching, wireless networks, and network security.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee end-to-end operations of the campus network, maintaining a minimum of 99.9% uptime for critical services.
- Plan, configure, and maintain enterprise-level firewalls, routers, switches, wireless controllers, and access points.
- Sophos
- Palo Alto
- Cisco Meraki
- Cisco Catalyst
- Ruckus
- Juniper
- Implement and manage SD-WAN or comparable technologies for branch and remote connectivity as required.
- Monitor network performance, availability, and security utilizing NMS, SIEM, and other monitoring solutions; produce regular uptime and utilization reports.
- Lead incident analysis and resolution for network events, collaborating with ISPs and OEM support as necessary.
- Apply VLANs, QoS, and traffic shaping strategies to prioritize essential academic and administrative applications.
- Establish and enforce network security standards, including segmentation, access controls, patching, and configuration hardening.
- Maintain comprehensive network documentation, including topology diagrams, IP addressing schemes, device inventories, and configuration repositories.
- Plan and execute network upgrades, expansions, and technology refreshes in alignment with university growth objectives.
- Coordinate with the Data Center Manager to ensure seamless integration between campus network and data center/cloud infrastructures.
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to network engineers and support staff; develop SOPs and checklists.
- Participate in annual budgeting for network equipment, licenses, and maintenance contracts.
- Ensure compliance with institutional IT policies, audit requirements, and relevant security standards.
Qualifications & Experience
- Education: any graduate
- Experience: 10 years
Technical Skills (Must-Have)
- Extensive expertise in:
- Sophos firewalls: configuration, security policy management, VPN, HA, logging.
- Palo Alto firewalls: advanced security features, App-ID, User-ID, content filtering.
- Cisco Meraki: wireless networks, cloud dashboard management, access policies, guest Wi-Fi administration.
- Cisco Catalyst switches/routers: VLANs, STP, routing, QoS.
- Ruckus wireless: controller-based and standalone APs for high-density deployments.
- Juniper switches: configuration, VLANs, routing, and multi-vendor network integration.
- Comprehensive understanding of TCP/IP, routing protocols (OSPF/BGP), DHCP, DNS, NAT, VPN, and fundamental network security concepts.
- Proficiency with network monitoring and logging tools (e.g., SolarWinds, PRTG, Zabbix; expertise in SIEM tools preferred).
- Experience deploying redundant network architectures, link aggregation, and high-availability designs.
Preferred Certifications
- Any of the following certifications (or equivalent):
- Cisco: CCNP Enterprise / CCNA (strong hands-on experience may substitute).
- Juniper: JNCIP / JNCIS.
- Palo Alto: PCNSE / PCNSA.
- Sophos: Sophos Certified Engineer/Architect.
- Additional security/network certifications (e.g., Fortinet NSE, CompTIA Network+/Security+).
Soft Skills
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities, with a composed and methodical approach during incidents.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills for interfacing with faculty, students, and management.
- Ability to clearly document and present network status, risks, and plans to non-technical stakeholders.
- Demonstrated leadership and mentoring capabilities; able to operate in a 24/7 on-call environment as needed.
- Exceptional sense of ownership, accountability, and client service orientation.
