IT Network AND Telecommunications - Manager

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally and educationally, nurtured by family and community."

Job Title: IT Network and Telecommunication Manager (Network Operations Manager)

Location: Olympia WA, Thurston County (Flexible/Hybrid)

Closes:May 10th, 2026

Salary:$102,264.00 - $137,520.00 Annually

The Opportunity:

The Network Operations Manager leads a team of IT professionals responsible for the agency’s enterprise network infrastructure, including LAN/WAN, firewalls, VoIP, DNS, DHCP, and data/voice circuits. This role provides technical leadership for mission-critical, high-impact projects while ensuring the reliability, security, and availability of network systems. The position works closely with internal teams, vendors, and external stakeholders to design, implement, maintain, and optimize network services, and has decision-making authority over infrastructure needs. Responsibilities include capacity planning, resource coordination, and cost management across statewide systems, as well as mentoring staff and overseeing network monitoring and reporting. The role requires advanced expertise in network design and troubleshooting, including routing, switching, DNS, IP addressing, and traffic analysis, along with strong communication and collaboration skills to support a diverse customer base.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Recruiting, training, coaching, and leading a professional team of system analysts and technicians.
• Provides leadership and guidance to mentor and lead technical staff of the collection, analysis and reporting of Network monitoring data for network services.
• Coordinates configuration, support, enhancements and monitoring of high risk and impact, mission-critical network infrastructure systems and equipment.
• Participates in the strategic design and architecture of the agency's network infrastructure to ensure enterprise network redundancy and continuity.
• Ensure Network Security controls and architectures align with DCYF and OCIO security standards.

Required Qualifications:

Equivalent combination of education and experience in Information Technology, totaling ten (10) years.

OR

An Associate's degree or completion of an accredited vocational training program in an information technology or related program AND eight (8) years of progressively more complex Information Technology experience such as consulting, analyzing, design, programming, installing and/or maintaining computer software applications, hardware, telecommunications, or network infrastructure equipment.

OR

Bachelor's degree in computer science, networking, information systems or a related field AND six (6) years of progressively more complex Information Technology experience such as consulting, analyzing, design, programming, installing and/or maintaining computer software applications, hardware, telecommunications, or network infrastructure equipment.

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Additional Qualifications:

• Two (2) years of experience within the last 5 years preparing network design plans, acquisition plans, and preparing acquisition orders coordinating with network/software vendors and telecommunications carriers for medium or large Network (WAN/LAN) infrastructure.
• Two (2) years of recent experience within the last 5 years working across a multiple customer base in a large, decentralized organization with Cisco IOS, Linux, Microsoft Windows, IPSEC, EIGRP, OSPF, LACP, HSRP, LDAP, Spanning Tree, SNMP, NetFlow, IP protocols and VoIP.
• Experience with layer 2 and layer 3 network devices, protocol and related software or hardware solutions
• Expert knowledge managing multivendor networks.
• Expert knowledge in managing multiple monitoring tools, including but not limited to SolarWinds Engineer tool kit.

*Experience may be gained concurrently.

How do I apply?
Complete your applicant profile on careers.wa.gov and attach the following documents:

• Current resume detailing experience and education.
• Letter of Interest that details how you meet the qualifications for the position.

Supplemental Information:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact Cole Alford (Talent Acquisition Specialist) at cole.alford@dcyf.wa.gov. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or emailsupport@neogov.com.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUSTattach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22 or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD form 214, NGB form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact)the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.