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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Network Project Specialist

💰 $75,000 - $115,000

Information TechnologyProject ManagementNetworkingTelecommunications

🎯 Role Definition

A Network Project Specialist is a critical hybrid role that blends hands-on technical network expertise with disciplined project management methodologies. This individual acts as the central point of contact and coordination for all initiatives related to an organization's network infrastructure. They are responsible for translating business requirements into technical project plans and overseeing the entire project lifecycle, from initial conception and design through to implementation, testing, and final handover. Success in this position requires not only a deep understanding of network architecture and technologies but also exceptional organizational, communication, and leadership skills to navigate complex technical challenges, manage stakeholder expectations, and ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the specified quality standards.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Network Administrator / Network Engineer
  • IT Project Coordinator
  • Senior Help Desk or NOC Technician

Advancement To:

  • Network Project Manager / Senior Project Manager
  • IT Infrastructure Manager
  • Network Architect

Lateral Moves:

  • Security Analyst / Engineer
  • Cloud Network Engineer
  • IT Vendor Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead the end-to-end planning, execution, and closure of complex network infrastructure projects, including LAN/WAN upgrades, data center migrations, wireless deployments, and new site build-outs.
  • Develop comprehensive project plans, charters, and work breakdown structures, clearly defining scope, deliverables, timelines, resource allocation, and budget estimates.
  • Serve as the primary liaison between technical engineering teams, business stakeholders, vendors, and executive leadership to ensure clear and consistent communication.
  • Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues, developing contingency plans to maintain project momentum and achieve objectives.
  • Coordinate and manage third-party vendors, suppliers, and telecommunications carriers, overseeing procurement, contract adherence, and service delivery quality.
  • Create and maintain detailed project documentation, including network diagrams, configuration guides, status reports, risk logs, and post-deployment summaries.
  • Conduct site surveys and assessments to gather technical requirements and evaluate existing infrastructure for future network deployments or upgrades.
  • Manage project budgets meticulously, tracking expenditures, processing invoices, and providing regular financial reporting to leadership.
  • Facilitate project meetings, including kick-offs, regular status updates, and post-mortems, ensuring agendas are clear and action items are tracked to completion.
  • Oversee the scheduling and coordination of network changes, ensuring adherence to change management policies and minimizing impact on business operations.
  • Develop and execute test plans to validate network performance, functionality, and security post-implementation, ensuring all systems meet or exceed specifications.
  • Translate high-level business needs into specific technical requirements and user stories for network engineering teams.
  • Provide technical guidance and oversight during the implementation phase, assisting with troubleshooting and problem resolution as needed.
  • Ensure all project deliverables comply with corporate security policies, industry regulations, and architectural standards.
  • Manage the transition of completed projects to operational support teams, providing thorough documentation and training to ensure a smooth handover.
  • Report on project status, milestones, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to program managers and the Project Management Office (PMO).
  • Develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal clients and stakeholders to understand their ongoing and future networking needs.
  • Participate in the evaluation and selection of new networking hardware, software, and services to support project goals and technological advancement.
  • Drive continuous improvement by analyzing project outcomes and incorporating lessons learned into the organization's project management processes.
  • Coordinate with cross-functional IT teams, such as server, security, and application teams, to ensure holistic and integrated project delivery.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis related to network performance and project metrics.
  • Contribute to the organization's overall IT infrastructure strategy and technology roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate their strategic goals into tangible network engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies if the project methodology requires it.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Project Management Methodologies: Proficiency in both traditional (Waterfall) and Agile (Scrum, Kanban) project management frameworks, with demonstrated ability to apply the appropriate methodology.
  • Project Management Software: Advanced skills in tools like MS Project, Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, or similar project planning and collaboration platforms.
  • Core Networking Protocols: Deep understanding of the TCP/IP suite, including routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP) and switching concepts (VLANs, Spanning Tree, LACP).
  • Network Hardware: Hands-on experience with enterprise-grade routers, switches, and wireless access points from vendors like Cisco (Catalyst, Nexus), Juniper, or Arista.
  • Network Security: Strong knowledge of firewall and security appliance configuration and management (Palo Alto, Fortinet, Cisco ASA) and VPN technologies (IPsec, SSL VPN).
  • SD-WAN Technologies: Experience with planning and deploying Software-Defined WAN solutions from vendors such as VeloCloud, Silver Peak, or Cisco Viptela.
  • Network Monitoring & Analysis: Proficiency with network monitoring tools (SolarWinds, PRTG, Nagios) and packet capture/analysis software (Wireshark).
  • Cloud Networking: Familiarity with networking concepts within major cloud platforms (AWS VPC, Azure VNet, Google Cloud VPC), including hybrid connectivity.
  • Technical Documentation: Ability to create clear and detailed technical documentation, including Visio diagrams, runbooks, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Budgeting and Financial Tracking: Competence in creating project budgets, tracking costs against baselines, and performing financial forecasting.

Soft Skills

  • Stakeholder Management: Exceptional ability to identify, engage, and manage the expectations of diverse stakeholders, from technical engineers to senior executives.
  • Communication: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
  • Leadership & Influence: Proven ability to lead project teams and influence others without direct authority to achieve common goals.
  • Problem-Solving: A systematic and analytical approach to identifying problems, evaluating solutions, and making decisive, well-informed decisions under pressure.
  • Organizational & Time Management: Meticulous attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, prioritize tasks effectively, and meet tight deadlines.
  • Negotiation: Strong negotiation skills for managing vendor relationships, contracts, and resource conflicts.
  • Adaptability: The flexibility to adapt to changing project requirements, priorities, and technologies in a fast-paced environment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant technical or business field.

Preferred Education:

  • A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field of study.
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification.
  • Relevant technical certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, or similar.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Information Technology
  • Computer Science
  • Telecommunications
  • Business Administration with an IT focus

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3-7 years of combined experience in IT infrastructure/networking and project coordination/management. At least 2-3 years should be in a role with direct responsibility for managing technical projects.

Preferred:

  • Experience managing network projects in a large, multi-site enterprise environment.
  • Demonstrated experience managing projects involving data center technologies, cloud connectivity, and enterprise-wide hardware refreshes.
  • A proven track record of successfully delivering multiple IT projects from inception to completion.
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