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Job summary

Main area
Digital
Grade
Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
265-6839638
Employer
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
Town
Northampton
Salary
£46,148 - £52,809 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
07/01/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust logo

Infrastructure Specialist

Band 7

Job overview

In July 2021 we formed the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group, bringing together the constituent organisations of Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. We have agreed an ambitious Group Strategy ‘Dedicated to Excellence’ which sets out our strategic ambitions and priorities for the next five years and we have also launched our Group Digital Strategy, which sets out our ambitions to become the most digital hospital in England.

The post holder will be responsible for the ICT infrastructure through proactive maintenance and operations of the Group’s data centres, cloud tenancies, communications rooms and wiring rooms.

The post holder will be responsible for line management of Lead Infrastructure Engineers or Principal Infrastructure Technicians with support from the Infrastructure Manager.

The post holder will provide specialist 3rd line support, resolving complex IT incidents, across multiple platforms and networks.  They are responsible for assisting all ICT teams to achieve the service levels required (e.g., fault response and fix times).

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that effective infrastructure monitoring is in place.

There will be a requirement to be part of an on-call 24*7 rota

Main duties of the job

·         The post holder will be a senior member for the Group’s technical support function that provides 3rd line technical support and consultancy.  Additionally, the post holder is responsible for ensuring the optimum and cost-effective use of the Group’s ICT systems including managing capacity, proactively monitoring error conditions and alerts, and ensuring that all the policies and procedures relating to security and best practice are adhered to.

The post holder will be responsible for the allocation of IP Subnets, Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANS) and network fabric throughout the Group’s LAN.

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that all infrastructure elements have appropriate patch and software management applied to them. 

To work with the Cyber Security team to resolve identified issues or high severity CareCert notifications. 

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring the safe use of expensive ICT equipment by them and other members of the department and Trust.

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that scheduled infrastructure checks are taking place and recorded centrally.

The post holder will be required to physically configure and install infrastructure components, this will include cabling and patching.

Working for our organisation

Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.

Our Excellence Values

Compassion

Accountability

Respect

Integrity

Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.

We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners.

The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. 

We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. 

We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

          The post holder will be required to physically configure and install infrastructure components, this will include cabling and patching.

The post holder will be responsible for maintaining the Group’s Server / Client management platform and base image.

The post holder will be responsible for maintaining & developing the Group’s Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).

The post holder will be responsible for managing Avaya / Extreme networks and Cisco technologies, include on-premises, remote and cloud services.        

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that daily backups are completed and ensure the validity of those backups in accordance with policy and procedure.

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the Group’s data centres (on-site and remote) are run at optimum performance level to deliver the Group’s requirements and maintained to a high level so that the environment remains secure, robust, and effective.

The post holder will contribute to technical discussions for architectural configuration, security, and infrastructure to ensure best practice solutions for the Group are in place, fit for purpose for the Group.

The post holder will contribute to technically complex ICT projects utilising Agile methodologies and working with the project team to collectively delivery the department’s agreed projects. The post holder will take responsibility for the technical aspects of all major infrastructure initiatives and programmes.

The post holder will be work closely with the Infrastructure Manager to ensure that support and maintenance, security controls, documentation for all infrastructure elements, are in place and ensuring that they are monitored and kept up to date.

Participate in a rota for your team to ensure that the Service Desk has the 3rd line team available during the agreed hours, and that there is a 3rd line on-call service available to the Group. 

Resolve 3rd Line infrastructure problems and queries which have been escalated by the Service Desk or other Digital Departmental Teams through analysis and use of their specialist knowledge, expertise, and experience.    This will include, but is not limited to, technical systems problems, server security, network security issues, complex application issues, and the interpretation of user requirements to effectively implement solutions.

Ensure that calls are prioritised in accordance with SLA’s and departmental OLA’s for Incidents, Service Requests and RFC’s.  Act as an escalation point for 3rd line Infrastructure team related calls.

Responsible for logging of faults/warranty claims with system and hardware support vendors.

The post holder will work closely with the Infrastructure Manager to ensure that all risks and issues relating to ICT infrastructure are fully documented, risk assessments undertaken and recorded on the Group’s risk management systems as well as the departmental risk register.

Management and Leadership

Proactively and positively contribute to the ICT leadership team by taking part in appropriate planning & development and providing digital services & solutions leadership. 

Work closely with the Clinical Systems team and Digital Transformation and Innovation team on upgrades and policies/procedures.

Contribute to the development and implementation of the Group Digital Strategy, in line with Group, National priorities and initiatives, and leading digital techniques.

Support individuals and teams that are highly skilled, effective, engaged and highly motivated.

Ensure best practice in managing staff is adopted and maintained, including regular performance appraisal, effective two-way communication, and implementation of processes to ensure personnel work in a responsible, safe manner and have due regard for health & safety regulations.

Contribute to the financial performance of Infrastructure Team, including achievement of financial targets, balancing potentially conflicting demands of budgetary requirements and service requirements. 

Deputise for the Infrastructure Manager as necessary and where appropriate.

Technical Service Delivery

The post holder will have a broad understanding of ICT and specialist knowledge in several key technologies such as servers, storage, networks, security and cloud.

The post holder will be responsible for expensive ICT equipment and contributing to the configuration, testing, software, repair, and maintenance.

Contribution to the delivery of ICT Infrastructure technical and infrastructure services to the Group.  

Ensure that progressive solutions, which consider models of best practice, are incorporated into service plans.

Manage own team and their budgets and relevant project / capital budgets ensuring excellent financial control and forward planning.

Review service needs with users and other stakeholders. Evaluate and continuously improve performance and ensure all service KPIs are met or exceeded. Resolve complex service issues and conflicting priorities. Work within available resource to achieve optimum performance.  

Ensure that routine maintenance and remedial work is appropriately scheduled and undertaken so that it does not adversely impact the availability of business-critical systems. 

Ensure that all digital systems & services that are managed by the ICT Infrastructure team have an appropriate degree of robustness, and disaster recovery plans in line with agreed priorities based upon likelihood and impact.

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that all infrastructure changes are processed through the change management process.

Ensuring that standard changes are documented and have annually updated communication plans attached and that change schedules are pre-approved at CAB as appropriate annually.

Ensure that all emergency changes relating to ICT infrastructure are presented at either an emergency convening of CAB where appropriate or as a retrospective change request at a scheduled CAB meeting.

Report back on successful, deferred, or failed changes to CAB.

Ensuring that ICT infrastructure Configuration Management Data Base (CMDB) is kept accurate and up to date throughout the asset life cycle and ensure that all capital assets are recorded on the Capital Asset Register.

Ensure that the ICT Service Catalogue and other ICT infrastructure configuration documentation, procedures and processes are kept up to date with regular reviews.

Contribute to ensure that the Infrastructure team has in place appropriate and up to date policies, guidelines, standard operating procedures, and standards covering the use and management of all ICT services, resources, and assets (physical and data). Ensure that policies are kept up to date, are in line with National policy, standards, and guidance, and comply with all relevant legislative requirements.

Ensure that a full and current inventory of all IT assets is maintained and utilised appropriately.

Work closely with the Infrastructure Manager to ensure the security of ICT assets (physical and data). Identify and evaluate risks, formulate plans / contingencies to mitigate risks, and agree plans with stakeholders.

Ensure that appropriate disaster recovery and business continuity procedures are in place for critical systems within the responsibility of the Infrastructure team and that disaster recovery testing is performed in line with scheduled plans.

 

Person specification

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Effective verbal and written communication and presentation skills suitable for a range of audiences
  • Able to clearly manage priorities for self and contribute to those of team in order to meet targets
  • Ability to perform well under pressure and manage unpredictable workload with conflicting priorities
  • Quality focused with an innovative approach and ability to solve complex problems

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of continuing professional development
  • Knowledge of Cloud and on-premises security standards
  • Technical Specialist knowledge in data centre infrastructure
  • Knowledge of wired and wireless network installation, configuration, and management.
  • Experience of delivering ICT Infrastructure, preferably in the public sector
  • Experience in building and managing ICT service delivery functions at a senior level (preferably in an NHS environment)
  • Significant professional experience providing technical support for ICT infrastructure.
  • Experience of digital/ICT operational change/project management while also developing and maintaining high standards of quality
  • Experience in contributing to the success of a multi-disciplinary team as effective team member
  • Ability to contribute to the effective performance and budgetary management and control in the Infrastructure Team.
  • Sufficient knowledge of NHS/Government policies, strategies, and organisational relationships in relation to ICT infrastructure and be able to be able to advise stakeholders and develop proposals for the ICT infrastructure.
  • Knowledge & experience of a variety of technology platforms (e.g. server virtualisation, datacentres, desktop virtualisation, client-server architecture, data networking, TCP/IP & internet, cloud services & solutions, messaging, Storage Area Networks, security and mobility)
  • Experience of managing enterprise class platforms such as Azure, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, WSUS, System Centre, Citrix, VMware and Veeam.
  • Experience of contributing to the development of policies and procedures
  • Experience of working within multi-disciplinary teams
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working within the agile methodology

Education, Training & Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to Post Graduate Degree level education or equivalent level or equivalent experience delivering Digital services
Desirable criteria
  • Azure Cloud Certified Administrator or equivalent experience
  • MCSE: Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert or equivalent experience
  • VMWare Certified Professional or equivalent experience
  • Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or equivalent experience
  • Sufficient knowledge of the provision of health services

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleJob share policyDisability confident leaderPathway to excellenceDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.ENEI Gold '22NHS Rainbow badgeAccessAbleNHS 75th BirthdayHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingNHS Rainbow Badge - BronzeArmed Forces Covenant111 Help Us Help YouCycle to Work

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Lee Faulkner
Job title
UHN Infrastructure Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01604 523162
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