IS Manager II - Network Services (Open and Promotional)

Job Description:

IS Manager II - Network Services (Open and Promotional)

Description

Description

The County of San Mateo's Technology Services Department (ISD) seeks a qualified and forward thinking IS Manager II to lead the County's enterprise Network Services Division. This position manages a large-scale, mission-critical network environment that supports County operations across more than 80 locations, delivering secure, high-speed connectivity for internal systems, public services, and community access.

This is a senior technical leadership role responsible for the strategic direction, operational reliability, and modernization of the County's wired, wireless, WAN, LAN, cloud connectivity, and public Wi-Fi infrastructure.

Under general direction, the IS Manager II - Network Services plans, organizes, and manages the County's enterprise network infrastructure in both centralized and decentralized operational environments. The position ensures the performance, security, scalability, and resilience of the County's network ecosystem while balancing innovation, customer service expectations, and industry best practices.

This role supervises professional technical staff and oversees core technologies including routing, switching, SD-WAN, cloud connectivity, and enterprise wireless systems. The County operates an Arista and Aruba (HPE) environment.

Distinguishing Characteristics:
This is a management-level classification responsible for enterprise-level technology infrastructure and facility operations across multiple departments and remote sites. The position requires technical expertise in enterprise networking, and public safety technology, as well as strong skills in vendor management, cross-departmental coordination, and emergency response planning.

The IS Manager II will have experience in project managing complex technical projects. They need to have experience planning, scheduling, and leading Information Technology (IT) projects. Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal are critical to success in this position.

The IS Manager II will plan, coordinate, and implement comprehensive Countywide automation and enterprise level systems, lead operations efforts, develop Countywide information services operational policies and programs; coordinate, direct, and/or evaluate the work of staff and/or County employees engaged in configuration, support and analysis work or policy/program implementation; assist in the planning, deployment, implementation as well as evaluation of goals, objectives, policies and procedures related to the functions of the department; may select, train and provide direction to the subordinate professional and technical staff; and provide highly complex staff support to senior level management within assigned area of specialization.

The IS Manager II will also have full line and functional management responsibilities for staff involved in operations and advanced technical support for a major system or set of systems, which have County-wide impact. This level is responsible for developing and planning along with implementing programs, divisional goals, objectives, policies, and priorities. Activities are based on direct consultation with user department staff and management to assess their information processing needs including shortcomings in their current automated systems and opportunities for new automation support.

The ideal candidate will have the:

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of enterprise network management, including OSI Layer 1-3 operations and Arista (or comparable) technologies.
• Hands-on expertise with:
  • Enterprise routing and switching
  • SD-WAN technologies
  • Wireless networking
  • Large-scale WAN/LAN environments
  • Multi-site network management
  • Experience in Arista, Aruba/HPE and cloud computing configuration requirements highly desirable
• Vendor management, contract administration, and cross-departmental coordination.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.

Ability to:

• Manage complex, enterprise-wide infrastructure projects and operations.
• Manage large, complex, distributed network environments.
• Balance innovation with stability.
• Strong in interpersonal communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
• Able to serve internal customers while upholding enterprise standards and operational integrity.
• Coordinate across multiple departments, vendors, and external partners.
• Prepare clear reports and recommendations for management and stakeholders.
• Direct and evaluate the work of staff and contractors.

Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Project manage medium and large Operational IT Projects.
• Lead two or more Technology teams.
• Writing and evaluating Request for Proposals (RFP) for IT projects.
• Plan, direct, monitor and evaluate comprehensive Countywide information services programs or policy, including needs assessment, program design and planning, implementation, evaluation, and regulatory enforcement.
• Direct, coordinate, and participate in the development and implementation of program goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and priorities that balance both customer needs and professional standards and practices.
• Maintain an effective working relationship with a variety of public and private organizations, including other department staff, County departments and agencies; consult with other managers on relevant program issues, develop alternative strategies for dealing with information system needs and assist in the implementation of solutions, as necessary.
• Conduct or participate in negotiating contracts with outside vendors, consultants, or organizations; monitor and evaluate fiscal and legal liability of same.
• Oversee supported systems to understand the requirements for upgrades, improvements, new systems, and preventive maintenance and act promptly to resolve issues if any.
• Other operational and related duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Three years of increasingly responsible experience in systems development or programming including one year in a project lead capacity.

Knowledge of:

• Advanced principles and practices of program management, including planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Job planning and prioritizing techniques.
• Information management platforms and systems.
• Principles and techniques of advanced systems analysis and design.
• Supervisory principles and practices, including work planning and evaluation, project management, scheduling, and training.
• Principles of budget preparation and monitoring.
• Principles of personnel training, supervision, and evaluation.
• Data processing principles, concepts, and terminology.
• Methods and practices of computer system design, programming and implementation.
• Structuring techniques for efficient program construction and maintenance.
• Tools and methods used to standardize and facilitate system design and project management.
• Current technologies for systems design and delivery.
• Phases of software life cycles.
• PERT and/or CPM or other project scheduling methodology.
• Cost estimating and cost/benefit analysis.
• Principles of personnel training, supervision and evaluation.

Skill/Ability to:

• Plan, organize and coordinate programs and services on a comprehensive, county-wide level to meet customer needs.
• Coordinate program area activities with other County departments, programs and/or outside agencies.
• Integrate a variety of activities and services to achieve program goals, objectives and priorities.
• Work cooperatively with other County departments and public and private organizations.
• Analyze problems accurately, develop recommendations and take appropriate action to resolve them.
• Prepare complex and detailed written reports, procedures, grant applications and contracts.
• Use initiative and sound independent judgement within established procedural guidelines.
• Maintain accurate records and file.
• Organize work, set priorities, and meet critical deadlines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Utilize appropriate interpersonal style and methods of communication to gain acceptance, cooperation, or agreement of a plan, activity, and/or program idea.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Analyze complex operational, programming and systems problems, evaluate alternatives and reach sound conclusions.
• Plan, schedule and manage large-scale projects.
• Identify critical paths and jeopardies.
• Negotiate agreement between differing individuals and groups of individuals.
• Supervise, evaluate and train assigned personnel.

Application/Examination

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

A supplemental application form must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. Resume or CV will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification . All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online . If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button . If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
Screening: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Combined Panel Interviews: Wednesday, April 1, 2026

About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

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HR Contact: Arlene Cahill (IS Manager II - D115)

Salary:

$162,593.60 - $203,216.00 Annually