Network Telecom Specialist

Network Telecom Specialist

Sweet Briar is a liberal arts college for women with a long history of forging female leaders. After a near closure in 2015, the College was saved by its alumnae and underwent dramatic transformation. Today Sweet Briar College is repeatedly named by the US News and World Report as one of the most innovative liberal arts colleges in the nation. Sweet Briar College is financially stable and actively growing again, attracting students who are drawn to it for its excellent liberal arts program, coupled with distinctive programs in women leadership, engineering, sustainability, arts and its legendary equestrian program.

Located in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains approximately 12 miles north of Lynchburg and 54 miles south of Charlottesville. Its campus is one of the nation’s most spectacular, replete with nature sanctuaries, lakes, forests, trails, and most recently, vineyards, apiary and greenhouses.

The College boasts a modern core curriculum focused on women's leadership in the 21st century and undergraduate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. It is one of only two women’s colleges in the United States with an ABET-accredited engineering degree. The women’s leadership core curriculum is innovative and energizing.   When students graduate, they are persuasive communicators who know how to think on their feet and bring people together. No matter what they study or where they go, Sweet Briar women are prepared to lead. The campus community is a family of faculty, staff, coaches, and alumnae who support and encourage students and each other. With an average class size of eight students, students lead research, ask questions and forge supportive relationships with faculty that can last for decades.

Job Title: Network Telecom Specialist

Classification: Exempt

Reports to: Chief Technology Officer/Director of Technology Services

Job Summary/Objective: The Network Technician is responsible for managing and maintaining the college’s network infrastructure, phone systems, cable TV systems, including Cisco Meraki solutions, structured cabling (including fiber optics, Cat 5, and RJ45 cabling), and surveillance systems, including Meraki cameras. This position ensures the efficient operation, security, and reliability of the wired and wireless networks, provides technical support for the college’s cable TV services, and ensures seamless communication through the college's phone system. The ideal candidate will have technical expertise, strong troubleshooting skills, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service.

Position Type/Expected Work Hours: Full-time, M-F 8:30 – 5:00

• This position requires the applicant’s willingness to work after hours and on weekends as needed.
• Availability for on-call support during network, phone system, cable TV, or cabling emergencies.
• Occasional evening or weekend work for upgrades or repairs.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

• Student workers

Essential Responsibilities: 

• Working after hours and weekends as needed.
• Install, configure, and maintain Cisco Meraki networking equipment, including switches, access points, firewalls, and routers.
• Monitor and troubleshoot network performance using Meraki’s cloud-based dashboard tools.
• Manage VLANs, network segmentation, and IP addressing for efficient network operation.
• Assist with Wi-Fi optimization and troubleshoot connectivity issues for students, faculty, and staff.
• Perform regular network assessments, including security checks, updates, and patches.
• Install, maintain, and troubleshoot the college’s cable TV systems, including head-end equipment and distribution systems.
• Collaborate with service providers to address outages or issues.
• Ensure signal quality and compliance with applicable standards.
• Respond to service tickets and provide prompt technical support to users.
• Work closely with IT team members to implement new technologies and upgrades.
• Document network configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting steps.
• Provide input for network planning and future expansions.
• Maintain the college’s phone systems.
• Monitor and troubleshoot phone system performance, including call quality and connectivity.
• Collaborate with service providers to address issues and perform upgrades as needed.
• Maintain detailed documentation of network, Cable TV, and phone system configurations and changes.
• Install, terminate, and test fiber optic cables, Cat 5, and RJ45 cabling to ensure reliable connectivity.
• Maintain and organize structured cabling systems, including patch panels and cable management.
• Troubleshoot and repair cabling issues to maintain network and system reliability.
• Respond to and resolve service tickets related to network, phone systems, cable TV, and cabling issues.
• Document configurations, maintenance activities, and troubleshooting processes.
• Provide input for planning and implementing infrastructure upgrades.
• Install, configure, and maintain Cisco Meraki security cameras, including camera placement, mounting, and connectivity.
• Monitor and manage camera feeds through the Meraki cloud-based dashboard to ensure proper functionality and security.
• Troubleshoot issues related to camera hardware, software, or network connectivity.
• Collaborate with campus security teams to ensure effective coverage and resolution of incidents.
• Document camera placements, configurations, and maintenance activities.
• Collaborate with the IT team to support campus-wide technology initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards for cabling installation and documentation.
• Stay informed about emerging networking technologies, industry trends, and best practices in network infrastructure, security, and system administration. Identify opportunities to optimize network performance, improve reliability, and enhance the overall efficiency of the college’s networking operations, Cable TV and phone systems.

Required Qualifications: 

• Associate’s degree in Information Technology, Networking, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• Proficiency in configuring and managing Cisco Meraki devices and dashboards.
• Solid understanding of networking topologies, concepts, including TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, and VLANs.
• Knowledge of VoIP phone systems and related hardware.
• Experience with structured cabling, including fiber optics, Cat 5, and RJ45 cabling.
• Experience with cable TV systems, including head-end equipment and distribution systems.
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills.
• Ability to work in a team-oriented environment and communicate technical concepts effectively.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Minimum of three years working experience and knowledge with networks and cable TV and analog/digital phone system.  
• Cisco Meraki certifications (e.g., Meraki Solutions Specialist).
• Experience managing phone systems in an enterprise or campus environment.
• Familiarity with structured cabling standards and fiber optic splicing techniques.
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology or a related field.
• Experience with network management in an educational or campus environment.
• Familiarity with fiber optic cabling and structured cabling standards.
• Knowledge of multimedia systems and video signal processing.

Work Environment: Primary Help Desk area, and faculty/staff offices as needed. 

Physical Demands: Considerable need for frequent walking (indoors or between buildings) and climbing of stairs with the ability to lift and carry equipment up to 50 lbs. Ability to drive the department golf cart for carrying equipment to distant parts of the campus.

Travel: Some travel may be required for professional development

Deadline for Submission: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until filled. 

Other Duties: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

How to Apply: If applying for a faculty or staff position, please ensure you have attached a cover letter, résumé and three professional references to your online application, and that you have fully completed the online applicant profile information.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Sweet Briar College is committed to enhancing our community and encourages applications from qualified individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences and ideas who would increase the diversity of the College.