What does a senior network consultant do?
Senior network consultants manage office infrastructure expansions, relocations, and establishing disaster recovery sites. They should be their clients' contact, advisor, and primary advocate with the help of their peers and the entire organization. They help clients understand implementations while encouraging them to focus on their business goals using modern technology to gain an advantage over their competitors. A senior network consultant should have the capability to see beyond technical expertise, ensure their client's needs are met to the best of their abilities, and involve them in coming up with solutions.
Senior network consultant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior network consultant resumes:
- Manage design of DNS gTLD architecture.
- Lead and supervise team of 15 staff members through complex-wide efforts to port-map network switches in over 100 residential dormitories.
- Excele at managing major network-wide upgrades; improve speed and predictability of multicast and order-routing data.
- Configure NAT solution's on Cisco IOS routers.
- Monitor and troubleshoot the protocols EIGRP, OSPF and MPLS.
- Implement Infoblox DDI (DHCP, DNS & IPAM) for proof of concept and migration in corporate environment.
- Work in Microsoft Visio to create existing network diagrams and to visualize how new network infrastructure would look for customers.
- Create and draft documentation for existing network infrastructure to include copies of configurations and Visio diagrams depicting physical and logical connections.
- Install and setup DHCP server.
- Maintain and enhance the company LAN
- Train staff in OSX and IOS applications.
- Help in migration from Cisco CSS to F5 for load balancing.
- Create and deploy enhanced support processes for this new enterprise EIGRP network.
- Perform VoIP network readiness assessments to analyze the capabilities of enterprise networks.
- Correlate existing DHCP workstation and DHCP printer reservations with site assign IP scopes.
Senior network consultant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Senior Network Consultants are proficient in Visio, Firewall, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Network Consultants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Visio, 10%
Worked in Microsoft Visio to create existing network diagrams and to visualize how new network infrastructure would look for customers.
- Firewall, 4%
Provided configuration and deployment of security management station to control separate firewall engines.
- Project Management, 4%
Involved in network consulting and project management on multiple network infrastructure and network management engagements.
- BGP, 4%
Designed and implemented Internet-facing BGP architecture.
- Nexus, 3%
Planned, configured, deployed, and managed Cisco Nexus 7ks for several clients.
- Switches, 3%
Implemented and configured two sets of 6500 switches with Virtual switching system(VSS) and integrated into the Data Center.
"visio," "firewall," and "project management" are among the most common skills that senior network consultants use at work. You can find even more senior network consultant responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a senior network consultant to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "administrators need to evaluate networks and systems to make sure that they perform reliably and to anticipate new requirements as customers’ needs change." Additionally, a senior network consultant resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "experienced in installing and troubleshooting data circuit problems (mpls, t1). "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling senior network consultant duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "administrators must describe problems and their solutions to non-it workers." According to a senior network consultant resume, here's how senior network consultants can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "participate in multi-discipline design teams to provide technical solutions, capacity planning of network and telecommunication equipment. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of senior network consultants is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday senior network consultant duties, as "administrators must quickly resolve problems that arise with computer networks." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "helped develop and document canned bgp solutions for dual-homed offerings for clients to include igp, ibgp, and ebgp configurations. "
The three companies that hire the most senior network consultants are:
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Compare different senior network consultants
Senior network consultant vs. Information engineer
An information engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency of computer systems and network infrastructure, performing configuration to boost the optimal performance of the technology systems. Information engineers assist end-users in resolving network issues, identifying the source of inconsistencies, and create resolution reports for reference to avoid reoccurrence. They also design new network systems according to business needs and client specifications, running multiple diagnostic tests to ensure effectiveness before the release of final deliverables. An information engineer should have excellent technical skills, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior network consultant are more likely to require skills like "firewall," "project management," "bgp," and "nexus." On the other hand, a job as an information engineer requires skills like "customer service," "data analysis," "mac," and "c++." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Information engineers really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $107,435. Comparatively, senior network consultants tend to make the most money in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $103,374.On average, information engineers reach similar levels of education than senior network consultants. Information engineers are 3.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior network consultant vs. Network/server administrator
A Network Administrator ensures an organizations' network is operational and up to date. They solve problems that arise within computer networks, maintaining computer networks, interacting with clients, and consulting with them to determine their system requirements.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that senior network consultant responsibilities requires skills like "visio," "firewall," "project management," and "bgp." But a network/server administrator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "windows server," "powershell," and "server administration."
On average, network/server administrators earn a lower salary than senior network consultants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, network/server administrators earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $84,609. Whereas senior network consultants have higher pay in the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $103,374.network/server administrators earn similar levels of education than senior network consultants in general. They're 4.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior network consultant vs. Network administrator
A network administrator is responsible for managing an organization's computer systems, ensuring its smooth operations and highest efficiency. Network administrators' duties include inspecting network malfunctions, troubleshooting unresponsive programs, improving system processes, analyzing client's specifications, upgrading existing applications, coordinating with the technology department, and creating a report of network issues resolutions. A network administrator should display a strong command of programming languages. Extensive knowledge in the technology industry and analytical and problem-solving skills to manage network problems immediately is also necessary.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a senior network consultant is likely to be skilled in "visio," "project management," "nexus," and "servers," while a typical network administrator is skilled in "windows server," "network hardware," "routers," and "vpn."
Network administrators earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $74,936. Senior network consultants earn the highest pay from the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $103,374.When it comes to education, network administrators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to senior network consultants. In fact, they're 3.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior network consultant vs. Network security engineer
A network security engineer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of all the organization's network systems, conducting regular configuration and maintenance to avoid unauthorized access and suspicious activities that may pose risks for the company's integrity. Network security engineers manage security threats and strategize resolutions to mitigate the reoccurrence of security issues. They also develop security enhancement recommendations, update network infrastructure, and monitor system activities. A network security engineer should have excellent communication and technical skills, as well as a strong command of programming languages and system codes.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between senior network consultants and network security engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a senior network consultant might have more use for skills like "firewall," "project management," "catalyst," and "f5." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of network security engineers require skills like "network security," "windows," "routers," and "intrusion detection. "
In general, network security engineers earn the most working in the retail industry, with an average salary of $95,160. The highest-paying industry for a senior network consultant is the telecommunication industry.network security engineers reach similar levels of education compared to senior network consultants, in general. The difference is that they're 4.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of senior network consultant
Updated January 8, 2025
