Senior Staff Core Network Strategist

GCI's Senior Staff Network Strategist will develop short and long-term core network strategy that drives innovation, optimizes capacity, and aligns with broader network goals and enterprise strategy. Functional leadership role expected to perform at high levels throughout the company, interacting with directors, senior directors, and vice presidents. Serve as Subject Matter Expert (SME), technical consultant, and perform the role of Lead Architect for major and highly complex company initiatives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AT ALL LEVELS:

This position requires the following non-delegable responsibilities:

- Fully own the mission, goals, operations, and results of areas of responsibility.

- Provide strong functional leadership and demonstrate effective leadership in all interactions companywide, including generating enthusiasm and shared commitment; identifying and setting direction; teaching, growing, and empowering; owning outcomes; and leading by example.

Architecture Planning & Roadmap:

- Develop and maintain a documented 8-year vision and a 24-month to 5-year architecture plan and roadmap for GCI’s Core Network functions, including but not limited to routing, switching, NMS, addressing, and policy management, that adapts to emerging technologies and aligns with overall network and business strategy.

- Support work to optimize the efficiency and resiliency of GCI's core networks.

- Contribute to development of short-term (1-2 year) core network strategy, project selection, and long-term CTO strategy.

Support research into current and emerging technology trends to determine how these may add value to the business and provide appropriate briefings to technical and non-technical audiences.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

- Foster strong partnerships with stakeholders to ensure strategic alignment and accelerate technology adoption.

- Collaborate with Planning & Engineering, Product, SMO and senior leadership to ensure strategy alignment and address evolving business needs.

- Collaborate with Planning, Engineering, and Application Technology to plan for appropriate migration to shared infrastructure environments (SDN, NFV).

- Work with Planning & Engineering to integrate capacity forecasting and new technologies to enhance network performance and scalability with plan & roadmap.

- Ensure core network capacity aligns with expected customer demand.

- Collaborate with stakeholders to prioritize & reduce technical debt within the core network, ensuring modernization and future scalability.

- Ensure core network strategy is integrated with broader network strategy to maintain cohesive technological evolution across GCI.

Guide and mentor junior staff.

Industry Standards & Innovation:

- Stay ahead of industry trends, contribute to standards creation, and pilot emerging technologies to position GCI as a market leader.

- Act as internal advocate and SME for standards and emerging technologies.

Maintain thorough understanding of market, competitors, and technology developments.

Platform Decommissioning:

- Plan the efficient decommissioning and/or replacement of outdated platforms, coordinating efforts across teams to ensure smooth transitions.

- Advocate regularly and assist in making the business case for prioritization of critical decommissioning and technical debt retirement activities.

COMPETENCIES:

- ACCOUNTABILITY- Takes ownership for actions, decisions, and results; openly accepts feedback and demonstrates a willingness to improve.

- Maintain professional skillset by advancing credentials, participating in training, continuing educational opportunities, and technical organizations.

- BASIC PRINCIPLES - Interacts with people in a way that builds mutual trust, confidence, and respect; adheres to GCI’s Code of Conduct for Employees – the Basic Principles.

- COLLABORATION - Works effectively with others to accomplish common goals and objectives; maintains positive relationships even under difficult circumstances.

- Demonstrated superior diplomatic and interpersonal communications skills including experience managing and coordinating project teams and interfacing with engineering staff members and other SMEs.

- Strong influencing, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills – able to convince and obtain commitment when dealing with business stakeholders and third-party suppliers.

- COMMUNICATION- Conveys thoughts and expresses ideas appropriately and professionally.

- Ability to accurately communicate information virtually (i.e., Teams), over the phone, and in-person in a clear and concise manner to a range of audiences.

- Ability to accurately read, write, and respond to business correspondence such as emails, chat messages, policies, procedures, reports.

- Must be able to translate complex technical details and solutions into language consumable by technical and non-technical audiences.

- Must be able to articulate technical information in both report and presentation formats.

- Experience presenting to a variety of audiences varying from senior management to junior engineers, technicians, and other internal and external customers.

- COMPLIANCE - Follows internal controls; protects confidential information; abides by GCI’s Code of Business Conduct & Ethics.

- CUSTOMER FOCUS - Demonstrates commitment to service excellence; gives high priority to customer satisfaction.

- Strong customer/client focus with the ability to manage expectations appropriately, provide superior customer/client experiences, and build long-term relationships.

- RELIABILITY - Consistently follows through on assigned tasks as expected; demonstrates timely attendance at meetings, training, and other work obligations.

- RESULTS - Uses a combination of job knowledge, initiative, sound decision making, innovation, adaptability, and problem solving.

- Demonstrated knowledge maintaining organizational effectiveness and efficiency by defining, delivering, and supporting strategy development to align organizational technology strategies and long-range plans.

- Strong business acumen to understand enterprise strategy, desired outcomes, opportunities, and risks.

- Strong knowledge of current methodologies and system technologies and standards.

- Strong architectural background.

- Good project and program management skills.

- Ability to organize and manage large sets of data and many simultaneous tasks while continuing to deliver work products to stakeholders.

- Ability to operate autonomously and complete complex tasks with little direction.

- Subject matter expertise and broad technical knowledge of the telecommunications industry.

- Basic knowledge of financial models and budgeting with the ability to estimate the financial impact of technical architecture alternatives.

- SAFETY & SECURITY - Supports a safe work environment by following all workplace safety rules and guidelines; complies with applicable Security policies and procedures.

- CHANGE MANAGEMENT: champions and supports department and company change.

- DECISION MAKING: uses sound, logical judgment based on data, research, and experience to choose an appropriate course of action.

- Ability to make significant strategy decisions collaboratively as well as independently.

- PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION: analyzes workload and establishes appropriate priorities; sets measurable and achievable goals and objectives for the team.

- Ability to analyze complex problems and technical situations leading to optimal solutions.

- MENTORING & DEVELOPMENT: utilizes interpersonal skills to guide, direct, and influence others to achieve results.

- PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT: sets clear performance expectations for team.

- Strong leadership abilities, with the capability to guide project team members and work with minimal supervision.

- Ability to review and “redline” teams work product, design packages, and other project artifacts for technical content, clarity, and quality in a constructive manner.

Proficient computer skills and MS Office knowledge (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, SharePoint) to complete job duties effectively, such as using the company intranet and to accurately retrieve and input information into database or equivalent.

Additional Job Requirements:

This is a senior staff level position within the discipline that accomplishes organizational objectives by overseeing multiple complex projects and activities. Provides high level alignment and direction within a specific program as well as those that may span the entire enterprise. Required to have advanced knowledge of multiple architecture disciplines and technical telecommunications knowledge. Leads highly complex projects, technical assignments, company initiatives, and unique special work assignments. Has profit and loss responsibility.

Minimum Qualifications:

Required: A combination of relevant work experience and/or education sufficient to perform the duties of the job may substitute to meet the total years required on a year-for-year basis*

- High School diploma or equivalent. - Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, mathematics, physics, or related field. * - Minimum of fifteen (15) years of experience in at least two relevant technology disciplines including technical architecture, network design, servers and storage, operations, or related background. *

Preferred:

- Master’s degree or PhD in relevant field.

- Project management experience.

- Telecommunications experience.

Relevant telecom industry or job specific certifications.

DRIVING REQUIREMENTS :

- This position may require access to reliable transportation for occasional travel between retail store locations, offices, worksites, or other locations as needed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS and WORKING CONDITIONS:

- Work is primarily sedentary, requiring daily routine computer usage.

- Ability to work shifts as assigned, work in standard office/home office setting, and operate standard office equipment.

- Ability to accurately communicate information and ideas to others effectively.

- Physical agility and effort sufficient to perform job duties safely and effectively.

- Ability to make valid judgments and decisions.

- Available to work additional time on weekends, holidays, before or after normal work hours when necessary.

- Must work well in a team environment and be able to work with a diverse group of people and customers.

- Virtual workers must comply with remote work policies and agreements.

The company and its subsidiaries operate in a 24/7 environment providing critical services to Alaskans and may need to respond to public health and safety matters or other business emergencies. Due to business needs employees may be contacted outside of the core business hours to respond to the immediate emergency. As such, you will be requested to provide emergency after hours contact numbers, to include your home and cell phone numbers if you have those services.

Culture, Engagement, and Connection: At GCI, we foster an environment where the unique perspectives of our employees, customers, and fellow Alaskans are celebrated. We add value to our community by nurturing and empowering each member of our workforce, ensuring equal opportunities for every Trailblazer.

EEO: GCI is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, veteran status, or any other status or classification protected under applicable state or federal law.

DISCLAIMER: The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

All employees of GCI work in support of the GCI Mission Statement and Declaration of Principles which are located on the GCI Career page and Employee portal.