Infrastructure Team Lead

The Denison ITS team is a group of highly skilled professionals dedicated to supporting the technology needs of our campus. We empower students by facilitating a life-shaping education that unlocks their potential to become the architects of their own lives. Within ITS, the Digital Infrastructure Team comprises three distinct units: Infrastructure, Systems & Databases, and Endpoints. These teams collaborate closely to deliver seamless operational services for the University, and this position will work hand-in-hand with the team leads across each respective area. Specifically, this role will lead the Infrastructure team, which consists of three members total including this role, a Sr. Network & Systems Administrator, and a Network Administrator II. The Sr. Network & Systems Administrator focuses on managing our virtual server environment, storage systems, and L3 networking, while the Network Administrator II focuses on the Edge network (wired and wireless), cabling infrastructure, campus firewall, and L3 core networking support.

Core Responsibilities:

1. Network Engineering Leadership (Primary Focus) * Provides technical leadership for the campus network infrastructure, including switching, routing, wireless, firewalls (HPE/Aruba, Juniper, Palo Alto), and core services (Authentication, DHCP, DNS). * Acts as the primary escalation point for complex network issues, coordinating with team members and vendors to ensure high availability, reliability, and performance. * Implements infrastructure-specific security best practices and monitors risks, maintaining a security-minded approach that partners with the central cybersecurity team.

2. Project Leadership * Leads infrastructure projects from conception to completion, driving the entire lifecycle from initial scoping to final delivery. * Collaborates with project managers, business stakeholders, and other IT units to define clear project requirements, objectives, and timelines. * Ensures timely delivery and adherence to project scope, providing regular status updates and transparent communication to all stakeholders.

3. Infrastructure Oversight & Collaboration * Provides leadership and oversight to the Infrastructure team (including the Sr. Network & Systems Administrator and Network Administrator II) and external contracted services. * Partners closely with existing server and virtualization administrators to support the broader IT infrastructure, including virtual environments and storage systems. * Oversees vendor management, contract negotiations, and the maintenance of accurate technical documentation and performance metrics for management review.

The Infrastructure Team Lead is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the infrastructure team, ensuring the stability, security, and efficiency of the organization’s core infrastructure services. This role requires deep technical expertise in network engineering, paired with a strong foundational understanding of server virtualization, and enterprise backup and storage solutions, combined with strong leadership skills to guide a technical team. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver reliable, secure, and scalable IT solutions while contributing to the development of long-term IT strategies, architectural best practices, and continuous process improvement initiatives., * Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and experience).

Experience:

• 5-7 years of progressive experience in IT infrastructure (servers, networks, storage, and security), with at least 1-2 years of experience in a team lead, supervisory, or project leadership capacity.

Preferred Certifications & Credentials: Networking (Primary Focus): Enterprise networking credentials from Palo Alto (PCNSA/PCNSE), Juniper (JNCIA/JNCIS), or HPE/Aruba. Virtualization & Systems: Core systems or virtualization credentials, such as VMware Certified Professional (VCP). Project Management: Certification or foundational training in PMP, Agile/Scrum, or ITIL methodologies.

Pulled from the full job description

• Gym membership
• Free parking
• Paid holidays

Denison University is a leading, fully residential liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio, located just outside the Columbus metro area. Established in 1831, Denison blends a rigorous academic foundation with an award-winning approach to student mentorship and career readiness. With a vibrant campus community of 2,400 students and around 2,000 employees, Denison offers employees a supportive, forward-thinking environment dedicated to educational excellence and professional growth.

Denison provides a number of staff-focused benefits, with some highlights:

• 10% contribution to your retirement
• 22 vacation days
• 3 floating holidays
• Paid campus closure from Christmas to New Years
• Free parking and gym membership
• Free classes for employees
• Full tuition coverage for dependents