Network and Security Specialist

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state and territorial affiliates and more than seven million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

To support our mission, we are seeking a Network and Security Specialist to join our Information Technology Team in Reston, VA. The Network and Security Specialist is responsible for key areas of network and cyber security technology management, operations and strategy. The Network and Security Specialist will work closely with the Sr. Network Security Specialist to ensure the smooth operation of the voice and data network for maximum performance, security and availability. Working knowledge of technology infrastructure: hardware, software, connectivity, backup/replication, monitoring, and implementation of backend application services.

Principle Duties (major areas of responsibility):

Network and Team

• Plan and implement projects involving setup, configuration and monitoring of network devices (i.e. servers, routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, SAN, etc.) throughout NWF including offices and co-location facility 
• Perform network troubleshooting techniques to isolate, diagnose, and resolve problems. 
• Support VPN services including provisioning, monitoring and management of methods for remote users. 
• Maintain documentation and diagrams for IT-managed systems, upgrades, proposed system changes.  Keep operational documentation up to date for operational resilience.  
• Serve as a point of contact for vendors and contractors on projects which require outside support.  Ensure appropriate resolution during service/network outages or periods of reduced performance. 
• Support IT Helpdesk with system problems as a Tier3 ticket responder 
• Anticipate IT changes that both provide opportunities to stay modern and maintain operational excellence. 
• When required, work outside NWF’s normal business hours to troubleshoot, or perform maintenance and/or upgrades.  Includes on-call rotation with other IT Network team staff and external support vendor. 
• Collaborate with IT Team members to set team goals and manage tasks and communicate across Operations & Technology teams and with business users as advantageous to the organization. 
• Serve as a project team member on O&T department projects.  These can be led by other teams with tasks related to IT, or IT-driven projects. 
• Role model for living NWF values: Collaboration, Empowerment, Inclusivity, Mindfulness and Mission Focused. 

Security

• Assist with regular security audits, implement testing strategies, prepare security status reports, educate users on NWF’s security posture, create security documentation, assist in disaster recovery and perform responsibilities as outlined for this role in our Incident Response Plan.  
• Advise the Incident Response Team and other stakeholders on existing vulnerabilities and needed actions and technology/service acquisitions to resolve, also plan for where the world of cybersecurity is heading.  

Qualifications:

• Possess technology skills and hands-on experience in physical and virtual server and network infrastructure, vendor relations and acquisition of server and networking hardware/software 
• Firm grasp of current and emerging Information Technology, knowledge of IT infrastructure, networks, LAN’s, WAN’s, SAN’s, Backup/Recovery, Security and Telephony (VOIP) 
• Results Driven: Ability to understand and focus on the most important issues; comfortable with intensity of deliverables and the need for high-level decision-making 
• Time management skills to address a wide variety of projects and tasks simultaneously.  Flexibility is also necessary to reprioritize time quickly 
• Creative problem-solving skills: Owns problems and applies “can do” approach in navigating through ambiguous and unprecedented situations 
• Excellent verbal, visual and written communication; able to work effectively with different audiences, including non-technical and highly technical personnel 
• Technical Aptitude: Understanding and/or the ability to develop understanding of NWF’s lines of business 
• Advanced skills in Windows Server, VMWare, Active Directory, DNS, registering and applying SSL Certificates, Cisco Networking, Wireless Networking, Windows 10 and Windows 11
• Possess a professional industry certification or corresponding years of experience in networking systems, information technology, or network security.
• Posses or be willing to acquire security professional certification during employment 

NWF Values:

Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.  Your competencies should include:

• Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized;
• Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions;
• Being committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement;
• Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them;
• Being dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work; and
• Passion for and commitment to NWF's mission

Physical Requirements of the Job:

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example, using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about the workspace. The position requires mobility, including moving materials weighing up to 50 pounds (such as a networking equipment or servers).

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Travel Requirements: 

Travel up to 3 times per year, up to 12 nights.

Location and Work Mode: 

This position will be based in our headquarters office in Reston, VA. The National Wildlife Federation is committed to a flexible and empowered work environment with an authentic community of care for all staff. In this position, the employee may work on-site, hybrid, or remote, to be decided jointly with their supervisor in the final stages of the interview process. Must be able to travel to our Data Center Facility in Ashburn, VA for timely response to trouble tickets. This position requires availability during off-hours for planned and unplanned priority project work and troubleshooting. For more information on Work Modes, please review the benefits section of our careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers 

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $110,000-$120,000, commensurate with experience.

We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits!  We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling.  We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting.  We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week.

We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health: 

• Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets), and 10 holidays.
• We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
• Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
• Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
• Therapist available at no cost
• Pet insurance and discount perk program
• Annual wellbeing allowance

In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:

• Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
• Annual year end retirement contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
• Pet adoption stipend
• Student Loan management

Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

Application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules.  Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence.  Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at hrhelp@nwf.org  or 703-438-6244.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.