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Network Operations Manager Jobs in Creston, IA (NOW HIRING)

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Network Operations Manager information

See Creston, IA salary details

$22.7K

$105K

$151.3K

How much do network operations manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for network operations manager in Creston, IA is $105,007.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $87,800.00 and $117,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by network operations managers, and how can they be effectively addressed?

Network Operations Managers often encounter challenges such as minimizing network downtime, managing multiple priorities, and ensuring rapid response to incidents. Balancing proactive maintenance with reactive troubleshooting requires strong organizational skills and close collaboration with IT teams, vendors, and sometimes clients. Effective communication, implementing robust monitoring tools, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement can help address these challenges and maintain network reliability.

What is a network operations manager?

Network Operations Managers are professionals responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations, maintenance, and performance of an organization's computer networks. They manage teams of network engineers and technicians, ensure network reliability and security, and handle incidents or outages. Their role includes planning for future network needs, implementing upgrades, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. They also coordinate with other departments to align network services with business goals.

What is the difference between Network Operations Manager vs Network Engineer?

AspectNetwork Operations ManagerNetwork Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in IT or related field, with certifications like Cisco CCNA, CCNP, or CompTIA Network+Requires similar certifications such as Cisco CCNA, CCNP, or CompTIA Network+; often more technical focus
Work EnvironmentOversees network teams, manages operations, and ensures network reliability in enterprise settingsDesigns, implements, and troubleshoots network infrastructure, often working hands-on with hardware and software
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly employed by large corporations, service providers, and government agenciesFound in various industries, including IT firms, telecom, and corporate IT departments

The main difference is that Network Operations Managers focus on overseeing network performance, managing teams, and strategic planning, while Network Engineers are more involved in the technical design, implementation, and troubleshooting of network systems. Both roles require similar certifications and work environments but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a network operations manager, and why are they important?

To excel as a Network Operations Manager, you need a solid background in network administration, troubleshooting, and IT management, typically backed by a relevant degree and experience in network operations. Familiarity with network monitoring tools (such as SolarWinds or Nagios), ITIL frameworks, and certifications like CCNP or CompTIA Network+ are commonly required. Strong leadership, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for managing teams and responding to network issues. These competencies are essential to ensure network reliability, minimize downtime, and drive operational efficiency in business-critical environments.
What job categories do people searching Network Operations Manager jobs in Creston, IA look for? The top searched job categories for Network Operations Manager jobs in Creston, IA are:
What cities near Creston, IA are hiring for Network Operations Manager jobs? Cities near Creston, IA with the most Network Operations Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Network Operations Manager job openings in Creston, IA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 86% In-person, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,007 per year, or $50.5 per hour.

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Re-posted 12 days ago


Job description

Position Summary:

Big River Steel is seeking a highly skilled Network Administrator to design, implement, operate, and continuously improve our enterprise networking environment. This role is hands-on and mission-critical, supporting data center, office IT, and process control (OT) networks that underpin modern steel manufacturing.

This position places a strong emphasis on Cisco-based networking technologies, including Cisco ISE, DNA Center, TACACS+, Nexus, Catalyst, and enterprise routing architectures, with a security-first mindset. The Network Administrator will work closely with cybersecurity, infrastructure, OT, application, and support teams to ensure the network is resilient, scalable, and aligned with business and manufacturing objectives.

In addition to core enterprise networking, this role supports Big River Steel's big data and industrial modernization strategy, delivering reliable LAN and WAN services that enable analytics, automation, and operational insight across the organization.

This role demands deep technical expertise, strong collaboration skills, and the discipline to operate in a fast-moving industrial environment where uptime matters.

Key Responsibilities:

Network Design, Engineering, and Operations

Design, implement, and support complex enterprise network architectures across data center, campus, WAN, wireless, and process control environments

Engineer and maintain Cisco-based infrastructure including Nexus, Catalyst, ASR, ISE, DNA Center, and Meraki

Design and support high-availability switching architectures, including 802.1AX (LACP), port-channeling, and redundant network paths

Design, implement, and support dynamic routing protocols, including BGP and OSPF, for campus, data center, and WAN environments

Support LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, and wireless networks, ensuring high availability, performance, and fault tolerance

Design and maintain secure access control solutions using Cisco ISE and TACACS+

Provide Tier 3 support for next-generation firewalls and advanced network security incidents

Serve as escalation point for complex connectivity, performance, and security issues

Security and Network Services:

Implement and support network segmentation, access control, and zero-trust-aligned designs

Support VPN technologies, remote access, and secure partner connectivity

Collaborate closely with cybersecurity and OT teams to ensure compliance with industrial security requirements

Support secure client, server, application, cloud, and OT communications across local and wide-area networks

Data Center and Industrial Networking:

Support data center networking including Cisco Nexus, VRF, VLANs, routing, VPNs, and network virtualization

Implement 802.1AX (LACP) for server, storage, firewall, and industrial system connectivity

Design and support OSPF-based internal routing and BGP-based external and WAN routing, including route filtering, summarization, and policy control

Work alongside server and virtualization teams supporting VMware vSphere

Support industrial and process control networking with an understanding of availability, latency, and safety constraints

Monitoring, Automation, and Process Improvement:

Collect, analyze, and leverage network performance and telemetry data for troubleshooting and optimization

Develop and document repeatable, scalable processes for common network operations

Improve operational efficiency through standardization, automation, and improved tooling

Maintain accurate and up-to-date technical documentation, diagrams, and standards

Collaboration and Operations:

Work effectively with infrastructure, cybersecurity, OT, application, and support teams

Coordinate project activities, including planning, scheduling, change management, and reporting

Participate in a rotating on-call schedule and provide after-hours support as required

Act as a self-directed problem solver, owning issues from identification through resolution

Required Skills and Experience:

Technical Expertise:

Strong understanding of TCP/IP networking, including subnetting, routing, and advanced troubleshooting

Strong understanding of Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking, including VLANs, STP, 802.1AX (LACP), BGP, and OSPF

Hands-on experience designing and operating resilient switching and routing environments using redundancy and dynamic routing protocols

Experience with:

o Cisco Nexus, Catalyst, ASR, ASA, ISE, DNA Center, Meraki

o BGP and OSPF in enterprise, data center, or WAN environments

o Routing protocols, MPLS, NAT, DNS, SD-WAN, VPN technologies

o Network security, QoS, wireless, and network monitoring tools

Experience designing and implementing LAN/WAN/Wi-Fi solutions in large enterprise or industrial environments

Proven ability to engineer, deploy, and support enterprise-grade networking solutions at scale

Experience with Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, and F5 enterprise platforms

Professional Skills:

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams

Self-starter with strong ownership mentality and attention to detail

Adaptable to organizational change and evolving technical requirements

Comfortable working independently in high-impact environments

Nice-to-Have Skills:

Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls

GlobalProtect VPN

BeyondTrust or SecureLink experience

Industrial or OT network security experience

Education and Certifications:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, MIS, or equivalent combination of education and experience

Preferred certifications:

o CCNP or equivalent

o CISSP or other industry-recognized certifications

Experience Requirements:

7-10 years of progressive experience in enterprise or industrial networking roles

Demonstrated experience supporting complex, mission-critical network environments

Compensation and Benefits:

Big River Steel offers a comprehensive total rewards package including:

Competitive base salary

401(k) with company match

Medical, dental, disability, and wellness programs

Strong work-life and family support programs

,

Since 1901, U. S. Steel has been a recognized leader in steel production. Today, as the first North American steel company to have declared a 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal, we remain as innovative as ever, leading transformation across our industry while continuing to make products for everyday life - from industries as far ranging as automotive, construction, containers and packaging, appliances, and energy.
Underneath it all is our Culture of Caring, which shows up in our community partnerships, charitable contributions, company-sponsored employee volunteer initiatives, scholarship programs, leadership training, and much more. And of course, it takes shape in a steadfast commitment to safety first in our workplaces and respect for our employees, who are United by Steel.
We are honored to have earned accolades and awards from well-regarded organizations, including the following:

  • Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies 2022, '23, '24
  • Disability: IN's Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion 2021, '22, '23, '24
  • Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Equality 100 Award 2020, '21, '22, '23-24, '25
  • Military Times' Best for Vets: Employers 2023, '24


Conducting business with integrity and with the highest ethical values has underpinned U. S. Steel's success for over 100 years, and it remains critical to our company's success in the future. U. S. Steel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) according to job qualifications without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, genetics, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, disability status or status as a protected Veteran or any other legally protected group status. (California residents may visit www.ussteel.com/CANotice regarding collection of personal information and U. S. Steel's privacy practices.)