Network and Communications Manager

Network and Communications Manager

Salary

$151,587.53 - $184,230.08 Annually

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

26/09-0143-O

Department

Information Systems Department (ISD)

Opening Date

09/04/2026

Closing Date

9/22/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

50

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Information

The Information Systems Department (ISD) is seeking a talented Network and Communications Manager to join their team.

Starting salary up to $88.27/hour ($184,230/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

About the Position

The Network and Communications Manager leads the Countys Network Infrastructure Team within the Information Systems Department and oversees enterprise networking, telecommunications, unified communications, and network security services. This position provides technical and operational leadership while supervising staff, managing resources, and vendor relationships. In addition, this position will be responsible for:

• Coaching, directing, and scheduling the work of staff, including staff development, training, and performance management
• Leading the modernization and lifecycle management of the Countys network, telecommunications, unified communications, security, and cloud connectivity infrastructure
• Managing expenditures and contributing to budget planning, forecasting, and purchasing for infrastructure operations and modernization initiatives
• Overseeing network and communications services, including security, performance, availability, disaster recovery, and business continuity
• Managing vendor and carrier relationships, contracts, service agreements, expenditures, and infrastructure purchasing
• Providing leadership during emergency events, major outages, service disruptions, and security incidents
• Assessing infrastructure performance and risks and recommending improvements to support reliable, secure, and resilient technology services
• Communicating project status, operational priorities, risks, and infrastructure needs to senior leadership and key stakeholders

The ideal candidate is an experienced technical leader who will bring strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills to effectively manage complex technology operations and initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess many of the following:

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing technical staff and complex infrastructure projects, including coaching, mentoring, and performance management
• Broad technical knowledge of enterprise and data center networking, including LAN/WAN, wireless, Software Defined Networking, routing protocols, and network automation
• Extensive experience designing, implementing, and modernizing complex voice and data networks, including VoIP and cloud-based unified communications platforms
• Knowledge of cloud networking, hybrid infrastructure, and network security principles, including Zero Trust, segmentation, monitoring, vulnerability management, and incident response
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex technical information to various audiences, collaborate with diverse stakeholders, and build effective working relationships
• Superb analytical and organizational skills, with the ability to exercise sound judgment, manage competing priorities

This position is also required to have access to the Sheriff's Office or Probation Department facilities. This requires a more extensive "Security Clearance" that will be performed after hire. Successful completion of the probationary period may be contingent upon passing the security clearance, which may include completion and review of a Personal History Statement packet, Live Scan fingerprint-based criminal history checks, warrant checks, written reference checks, etc. If you are offered a position that requires a security clearance, the job offer letter will clearly specify this as a condition of the probationary period.

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing youre working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• Staff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Incentive Retirement Savings Plan (IRSP) and 457 Voluntary Deferred Compensation - 3% of salary County contribution to a 401(a), in addition to the County matching up to 1% of base salary in 401(a), based upon employee contribution
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education
• Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

This recruitment is being conducted to fill a Network Communications Manager position in the Information Systems Department. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title of the position is Information Systems Project Manager.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Any combination of training and experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, four years of technical professional experience involving systems analysis, programming, systems support, systems engineering, or similar field in a multi-platform information systems environment, including two years of experience either supervising other employees or functioning as a team leader on various projects. Specific experience related to the work of the assigned division may be required.

Education: Any combination of education and training which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in computer science, information systems, electrical engineering or a closely related field would provide this opportunity. Additional highly relevant experience, formal training, and/or certifications directly related to area of assignment may be substituted for the required education.

License: Possession of a valid drivers license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

The position advertised on this announcement requires possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge and understanding of: the inter-relationship of mainframe, PC, LAN, Network and telecommunications systems including hardware components, software applications, operating systems, and documentation; methods to analyze and recommend business solutions to meet customer needs and requirements; principles, methods, and techniques of systems analysis; techniques, tools, and principles of project management.

Depending on assignment: database design; structured coding and analysis; application development products; specific programming techniques and languages; computer operations, including operating systems and software products; local and wide area network design, management, and operation; methods and techniques of troubleshooting hardware, software and inter-connectivity problems; principles of data security; methods and techniques of providing support to users; design and maintenance of wireless communication systems; telecommunications systems and applications including voice, data, video, fiberoptics, and other components.

Working knowledge and understanding of: requirements and methods of procurement, contract negotiation and preparation; principles and practices of personnel supervision and management; budgeting principles and procedures.

Ability to: plan, organize and manage the activities of assigned staff; design, coordinate, and manage complex projects, systems, and/or operations; adapt to and plan for changes in technology and work environment; analyze customers problems, develop effective business solutions, and prepare cost estimates; work cooperatively and effectively with staff, customers, vendors, and the public; perform a variety of tasks in a consistent and accurate manner; analyze and evaluate information, problems, and situations and develop an effective course of action; prepare clear, concise and accurate oral and written reports.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicants application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate's personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant's name, former last name, address, phone number, email, drivers license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.

For positions that are required to have access to the Sheriff's Office or Probation Department facilities, a more extensive "Security Clearance" will be performed after hire. Successful completion of the probationary period may be contingent upon passing the security clearance, which may include completion and review of a Personal History Statement packet, Live Scan fingerprint-based criminal history checks, warrant checks, written reference checks, etc.* If you are offered a position which requires a security clearance, the job offer letter will clearly specify this as a condition of the probationary period.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job announcement must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: CA

HR Technician: VH

Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits: Management*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired.

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution. For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonomacounty.gov or (707) 565-2900.

• Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

01

How did you first learn about this opportunity?

• Careers in Government
• College or University
• County of Sonoma Human Resources Office
• DiversityJobs
• Employee of Sonoma County
• Facebook
• Glassdoor
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Indeed
• Instagram
• Job Fair
• Latino Service Providers
• LinkedIn
• Los Cien
• Press Democrat
• sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
• Start Here!
• X (Twitter)
• Veterans Services Office
• Womens Organization or Group
• Other Internet Site
• Other Publication

02

Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.

• I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
• I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
• I am only interested in full-time positions

03

This eligible list may be used for future bilingual (English/Spanish) positions. Please indicate if you are interested in bilingual positions and your level of proficiency.

• Yes, I have basic (conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
• Yes, I have fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
• No, I do not have English/Spanish bilingual skills, and/or I do not wish to be considered for a bilingual position

04

For this question and all subsequent questions, please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using specific criteria and may be reviewed by hiring managers.

Please describe how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, which normally include:

Four years of technical professional experience involving systems analysis, programming, systems support, systems engineering, or similar field in a multi-platform information systems environment, including two years of experience either supervising other employees or functioning as a team leader on various projects AND Academic coursework equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in, computer science, information systems, electrical engineering, or a closely related field.

05

Please describe your experience leading the design, implementation, and/or modernization of a complex network, telecommunications, or communications infrastructure project. Include the purpose and scope of a project, your role and responsibilities, the technologies involved, and the outcome.

06

Please provide an example of a major network outage, security incident, service disruption, or other critical infrastructure event you were responsible for addressing. Describe your role, how you prioritized and coordinated the response, the decisions you made, and the outcome.

07

Please describe your supervisory or team lead experience. Include the length of your experience, the number and types of staff or team members you supported, and your role in assigning work, providing guidance, and monitoring performance or project progress.

Required Question

Employer County of Sonoma (CA)

Address 575 Administration Drive, Suite 116B

Santa Rosa, California, 95403

Phone (707) 565-1701

Website http://www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org