Head of Network & Infrastructure

Job responsibilities

Skills & experience Actively manages hardware refresh lifecycles including forward looking budget forecasting Effectively manages people by building a high-quality working relationship and providing a blend of support, development and performance management that enables individuals to work at their best. Effectively recruits and selects staff in line with the UKHSAs recruitment and selection processes, ensuring that their individual values and behaviours align with the values of UKHSA. Leads and supports the agency's multi-cloud network strategy. Oversees the networking requirements of IACS and laboratory environments. Champions the establishment and integration of unified fabric networking. Directs the design and management of the organisation's enterprise network topology. Cultivates strong relationships with external suppliers and consultancy partners. Produces and oversees a robust patching strategy for all physical and virtual environments in line with UKHSA security requirements Actively promotes the use of cloud-based infrastructure where appropriate supporting the agencies multi-cloud strategy Ensures that relevant systems are in place to maintain effective communication within the Technology team, with stakeholders and with others across UKHSA. Ensures that the organisations business and information systems are utilised for the benefit of the team, directorate and UKHSA. Manages the assigned budgets in compliance with related policies and procedures. Effectively manages project/business performance by planning, co-ordinating, delivering, evaluating and communicating as appropriate. Other Actively learns and develops to stay up to date with developments in area of expertise and to meet the changing needs of the job, team and organisation by participating in appraisal and appropriate learning activities. Encourages and supports the development of others, your team and the organisation by engaging in and contributing to UKHSA as a learning organisation and to its positive culture. Represents the team and UKHSA in a professional and positive manner with both internal and external stakeholders and in doing so reflects the values of the organisation. Supports the network requirements to transition from traditional data centre centric models to cloud-based operations, highlighting the journey of software-defined infrastructures as they align with contemporary cloud architectures. Undertakes any other duties that may reasonably be required, and are commensurate with the grade of the job, in furtherance of the objectives of UKHSA. Ensures compliance with the UKHSAs policies, procedures and contract of employment. We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all. Compliance DBS People working with government systems must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which includes a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed for this role is SC Cleared We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Its important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following: life sentences arson sexual offences hate and terror offences Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role Application Process You will be required to complete an application form. As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a 750 word Personal Statement/Statement of Suitability explaining how you meet the essential criteria It should detail what you and your experience can bring to the role. Please note, only information provided within the stated word count will be considered. You will be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history. This will be used in sifting process and will be scored. All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on behaviours through Success Profiles and technical skills via a Teams interview. You will be expected to deliver a 5-10 minute presentation, the topic will be decided at a later date When assessing strengths, we want to find out whether you and the job role are a good fit. We will look at what you enjoy doing and what you do well and often. By ensuring that the role is the right fit for you, you are more likely to enjoy it and perform well. The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be: Leadership Communicating and Influencing Managing a Quality Service Changing and Improving Benefits Alongside your salary of £65,302 UK Health Security Agency contributes £17,631 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27% Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity Range of health and wellbeing support Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Reserve List: Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available. If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.

Experience

Essential

• Essential Criteria:
• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• ITIL certification
• Project management
• Health & safety awareness
• Substantial experience of working in a similar role managing networks, network security and infrastructure
• Experience of working as a part of a wider, multidisciplinary team in the delivery of projects
• Ability to design technical solutions based upon business requirements
• Extensive experience of Network and Firewalls Technologies , Virtualisation technologies, Clustering and Load Balancing, Windows Server, VMware
• Experience in transitioning networking to cloud-aligned architectures (Secure Access Edge, SD-WAN).
• Experience of delivering network modernisation in support of cloud adoption.
• Able to work collaboratively and sustain effective working relationships with diverse colleagues, partners and clients
• Able to organise their own work and time productively
• Understands the qualities and processes of excellent people management
• Understands the UKHSAs values and their application to this role
• Has an appreciation of the work of the UKHSA and the contribution of this role
• Committed to providing a high standard of work and continuous improvement
• Appreciates the value of diversity
• Has a proactive approach to addressing challenges
• Committed to continued learning and supporting the learning of others
• Willing to accept responsibility and opportunities appropriate for the role
• Has a flexible approach to their role and to change
• Desirable Criteria:
• Security qualification
• Security clearance
• Experience of managing and developing people
• Experience of implementing change
• Experience with Azure VMware Solution (AVS) in cloud/data centre resilience architectures.
• Able to influence at all levels
• Understands the principles of leadership
• Able to prioritise and plan the work of others
• Able to coach and provide feedback to others
• Has a good level of self awareness

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).