How to hire a network services project manager

How to hire a network services project manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step network services project manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a network services project manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new network services project manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The network services project manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   Hiring the perfect network services project manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents network services project manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Network Services Project Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Network Services Project Manager	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$28-48
   Administrator	Administrators are administrative professionals who oversee the whole office or department. They manage office activities and supervise administrative functions in the office... Show more	$22-54
   Systems Administrator	Systems administrators are employees who oversee information technology infrastructures in the office. They are skilled information technology professionals who are knowledgeable about the company's network systems and other technology-related infrastructures... Show more	$28-48

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Plan
   • Network Infrastructure
   • Project Management
   • Network Operations
   • VoIP
   • Project Scope
   • IP
   • Switches
   • Service Delivery
   • ITIL
   • Network Equipment
   • Lan
   • T-1
   • NOC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and manage the procurement process for Telecom HW orders.
   • Manage a bank ATM re-branding project (change ATM signage and associate items to reflect new bank name).
   • Manage project to maximize available bandwidth and throughput by implementing QOS technologies including compression, traffic shaping and priority/custom queuing.
   • Coordinate ISDN line migration projects from remote telephone switches to their host switch.
   • Plan a Cisco base VoIP solution to establish cost savings.
   • Transform and expand three APAC contact centers to VoIP enable domestic (standardize) design.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your network services project manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A network services project manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, network services project managers' average salary in montana is 36% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level network services project managers earn 41% less than senior-level network services project managers.
   • Certifications. A network services project manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a network services project manager's salary.

   Average network services project manager salary

   $78,468yearly

   $37.73 hourly rate

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   Entry-level network services project manager salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a network services project manager job description

   A network services project manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a network services project manager job description:

   Network services project manager job description example

   GovCIO is a team of transformers-people who are passionate about transforming government I.T. We believe in making a difference by developing digital strategies and delivering the technology-related innovation that improves governmental operations each day.
   
   But we can't do it alone. We welcome and nurture an inclusive and diversified work culture. Because different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives make us better decision-makers, problem solvers, and creators. We're changing the face of I.T. - from our diverse staff to the end-products we develop. And we're excited to expand our team. Are you ready to be a transformer?
   Responsibilities
   
   We are seeking a Network Services Senior Project Manager (Project Manager III) to lead the delivery of network engineering projects. This role is part of a large network services engineering team who will provide 24x7 mission-critical network operations services to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in support of more than 45,000 users. As a member of our team, you will help to ensure the reliability and security of this FIPS security categorized "High" network.
   
   In this role, you will manage an array of network architecture, network security, and/or network operations projects. These projects of varying duration will be staffed with engineers from the program's Operations, Security, and Architecture Sections. You will work with a team of project managers under the direction of the Program Manager.
   
   The nature of projects under your direction may include:
   Network Operations projects such as upgrades or major retooling of within enterprise network services, facilities network, wireless services, data center network services, and colocation network services Network Architecture projects including deployment of new enterprise network architecture and design Network Security projects to improve enterprise network security through new tooling or monitoring protocols
   The Senior Project Manager's responsibilities include but are not limited to:
   Manage all aspects of Network Services project delivery including scope, schedule, financials, risk, staffing, quality, change, and reporting Develop and execute a Project Management Plan Provide Agile servant leadership to optimize performance and remove impediments for engineering teams consisting of a technical lead, engineers, and supporting roles Facilitate communication and collaboration across government and internal stakeholder groups Conduct recurring internal and client status reviews Ensure successful team delivery of technical network services projects that meet project objectives Maintain detailed project schedules Large projects may involve supervision of more junior project managers Lead risk identification and mitigation planning sessions, and manage risk remediation efforts Plan and manage resource and budget plans Maintain information currency and accuracy within a highly visible project dashboard Collaborate with the Quality Manager to collect and analyze project deliverable quality Maintain a motivated and high-performing team Deliver accurate project reports that include scope, status, risk, and budget information
   Required Qualifications
   Bachelor's with 8+ years (or commensurate experience) At minimum 7 years of experience in a Project Manager role leading project teams responsible for delivering mission-critical network services Knowledge in the field of network services including operations, architecture, and security Current PMI PMP Certification Outstanding written and oral communications skills, and the demonstrated ability to convey technical concepts to non-technical audiences. Must be able to gain a government Public Trust clearance
   Desired Qualifications
   Current ITIL Certification Experience with and knowledge of the NIH operational environment and network infrastructure Possess current basic network certifications Knowledge of technical tools such as Science Logic One, RedSeal, LiveNX, AlgoSec, NetLine Dancer, Graphana, StealthWatch, ZEN (Government-Off-The-Shelf), PerSonar, Cisco ISE, Cisco APIC/ACI Cluster Management, Cisco AnyConnect, Cisco DNA, SecureCRT, Infoblox, TACACS, Riverbed, Gigamon, VMWare VSphere, Struxerware, xMatters, NetScout Air Magnet, Cisco Sourcefire, Palo Alto Wildfire, F5 Big IP, RedHat, Radware DDOS, Tenable, Active Directory, and Splunk
   #cjpost
   
   COVID Policy: New employees will be required to adhere to the Company's and its clients' COVID-19 safety procedures. In the event that the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for Federal Contractors is enforced, you must become fully vaccinated or request and be approved for an exemption. Employees working onsite at a client location must comply with our client's COVID-19 requirements.
   
   GovCIO is a team of professionals who want to make a difference. And that can only happen with a diverse, happy, and cared-for team. So, we prioritize your well-being, equity for all and look for ways to make work a better place for each of us every day.
   
   We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability status. EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disabled

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right network services project manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   To find network services project manager candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with network services project manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   If your interviews with network services project manager applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new network services project manager

   Once you've found the network services project manager candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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