New

Network Administrator

Amherst College
United States, Massachusetts, Amherst
6 East Drive (Show on map)
Mar 18, 2025
Network Administrator Amherst Campus Full Time JR5907 Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff. Job Description: Amherst College invites applications for the Network Administrator position. The Network Administrator is a full-time, year-round position, starting at $85,000 per year - commensurate with experience. Given Amherst's distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community. The Network Administrator is a mid-level position within the Systems and Networking team at Amherst College, designed to bridge the gap between junior and senior network administrators. The primary purpose of this role is to ensure the stability, security, and efficiency of the college's enterprise network infrastructure by managing day-to-day network operations, troubleshooting complex issues, and assisting in network upgrades and optimizations. Key responsibilities include maintaining Layer 1 networking infrastructure, administering and configuring Juniper switches and routers, managing Aruba wireless networks, and supporting Passive Optical Network (PON) technology. The Network Administrator collaborates with IT staff and other college departments to design and implement network improvements, respond to performance issues, and ensure compliance with security policies, including firewall management and network access controls. This position plays an integral role in Amherst College's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by ensuring reliable network access for a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. The Network Administrator will work collaboratively across teams, documenting solutions and sharing knowledge to create an inclusive and supportive technical environment. Additionally, the role requires participation in an on-call rotation (one week every 8-10 weeks) to address urgent networking issues outside of normal business hours. Summary of Responsibilities: Maintain and Troubleshoot Layer 1 Networking Infrastructure Manage fiber optic networks, cabling, patch panels, and related hardware Perform routine inspections and repairs to ensure optimal network performance Administer and Configure Juniper Switches and Routers Manage Juniper QFX and MX series switches and routers in an enterprise environment Implement and maintain VLANs, QoS, and other network configurations Monitor and Maintain Aruba Wireless Networks Administer Aruba ClearPass for network access control (NAC) and Aruba Central for centralized network management Troubleshoot and optimize wireless network performance Assist in the Design and Deployment of Passive Optical Networks (PON) Support the planning, implementation, and maintenance of PON infrastructure Troubleshoot Complex Network Issues and Ensure Performance Work with IT personnel to diagnose and resolve network performance issues Use tools like Wireshark and SolarWinds for network monitoring and packet analysis Enhance Network Security and Compliance Support network security initiatives, including firewall management (Palo Alto) and access controls Ensure compliance with organizational security policies and best practices Provide Technical Support and Documentation Assist junior network administrators and other IT staff with technical guidance and troubleshooting Maintain clear and thorough documentation of network architecture and procedures Support Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Ensure equitable access to a stable and secure network for all members of the college community Foster a respectful and inclusive work environment by collaborating with diverse teams and departments Qualifications: Required Bachelor's Degree (Technical Degree) 5+ years of IT experience in enterprise networking environments 3-5+ years of experience with Layer 1 networking, including cabling, infrastructure setup, and fiber optic management (Cat5e/6, single- and multi-mode fiber) 3-5+ years of experience administering Juniper switches and routers, specifically QFX and MX series 3-5+ years of experience managing Aruba ClearPass (NAC) and Aruba Central for network access and centralized management In lieu of minimum education and related experience, specialized skill training/certification (Aruba and/or Juniper Certification) Experience troubleshooting complex networking issues and providing timely resolutions Experience working in a cross-functional IT team supporting enterprise network infrastructure Strong understanding of network protocols, including TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, and VLANs Proficiency in network troubleshooting tools, such as Wireshark and SolarWinds Ability to implement and manage network security measures, including firewall management (Palo Alto) Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in maintaining network documentation and configurations Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with a collaborative approach to supporting IT operations Commitment to working with a diverse and inclusive community Successful completion of required reference and background checks An acceptable criminal offender records information (CORI) check Successful completion of pre-employment physical and lift test Preferred Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, or a related technical field Juniper Networks Certifications: JNCIA (Juniper Networks Certified Associate) or JNCIS (Juniper Networks Certified Specialist) Aruba Certifications: Aruba Certified Mobility Associate (ACMA) or Aruba Certified ClearPass Associate (ACCA) Palo Alto Networks Certifications: Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) (preferred for firewall management) ITIL Certification: ITIL 4 Foundation (preferred for understanding IT service management best practices) Experience with Passive Optical Networks (PON) and fiber-based networking technologies Proficiency in network monitoring and troubleshooting tools, such as SolarWinds, Wireshark, or similar Experience with network security protocols and firewalls (Palo Alto preferred) Familiarity with network automation and scripting, such as Ansible, Python, or Bash, to improve efficiency in network administration Experience working in a higher education IT environment, understanding the unique challenges of supporting a large and diverse academic community Amherst College offers many opportunities for professional growth and development, continued learning, and career advancement. Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for Benefits Information. Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Amherst_Jobs. Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Jobs Hub icon from their Workday home screen) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. To apply, visit https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Amherst_Jobs/job/Amherst-Campus/Network-Administrator_JR5907 jeid-720fbe04297a014eb7ad48972db0cf08