Head of Digital Infrastructure

School of Computer Science and Engineering, Bangor University; Bangor; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in Wales seeks a Head of Digital Infrastructure. You will provide strategic and operational leadership for core digital services, manage significant infrastructure and cybersecurity solutions, and ensure support for over 10,000 users. Ideal candidates will hold a postgraduate degree in Computer Science or related fields and have substantial experience in IT infrastructure management, preferably within higher education.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior infrastructure leadership role in a complex organisation.
• Proven experience designing, deploying, and managing enterprise IT infrastructure at scale.
• Experience working with 350+ servers is essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the University’s infrastructure strategy.
• Oversee the operation and lifecycle of network services and server environments.
• Lead cybersecurity function ensuring compliance with regulations.

Skills

Leadership skills

Problem-solving abilities

Communication skills

Technical knowledge of networks and cybersecurity

Education

Postgraduate degree in Computer Science or STEM

Tools

VMware

Azure

AWS

Job description

Overview

Applications are invited for the above permanent, full time post working in Digital & Estates Infrastructure and Development. Providing strategic and operational leadership for the University’s core digital infrastructure services, the postholder is responsible for all aspects of infrastructure delivery—including networking, server and storage platforms; on-prem, cloud and virtualised environments; endpoint management; cybersecurity; and high-performance computing. This role plays a critical part in enabling digital innovation, ensuring business continuity, and maintaining academic and research excellence.

Candidates should be educated postgraduate degree (or near completion) in Computer Science, STEM subject or equivalent professional experience and have significant experience in a senior infrastructure leadership role in a complex organisation (10,000+ users), preferably in higher education or public sector. Proven experience designing, deploying, and managing enterprise IT infrastructure at scale, including 250+ servers (physical, virtual, containerised) is essential. The successful candidate will be expected to commence as soon as possible. The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 382646. Informal enquiries can be made by contacting: Graham Worley, Head of Digital Solutions & Deputy Director, e-mail: [e-mail] Tel: [phone].

Committed to Equal Opportunities.

Purpose of the Job

The Head of Digital Infrastructure provides strategic and operational leadership for the University’s core digital infrastructure services, ensuring resilient, secure, and high-performing platforms both on-prem and in the cloud which support over 350 servers, 10,000+ users across teaching, research, and administrative environments.

The postholder is responsible for all aspects of infrastructure delivery—including networking, server and storage platforms; on-prem, cloud and virtualised environments; endpoint management; cybersecurity; and high-performance computing. This role plays a critical part in enabling digital innovation, ensuring business continuity, and maintaining academic and research excellence.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Infrastructure Leadership

• Develop and deliver the University’s infrastructure strategy, ensuring alignment with institutional goals across teaching & learning, research, and professional services.
• Lead the design and deployment of scalable, secure, and high-availability infrastructure solutions serving over 10,000 users and supporting 250+ physical and virtual servers.
• Provide strategic direction across on-premises and cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS), including containers and virtual environments.

Infrastructure Operations

• Oversee the operation and lifecycle of network services (LAN, WAN, wireless, VPN), server and storage environments, directory and identity systems, and disaster recovery.
• Lead the University’s high-performance computing (HPC) and e-research infrastructure, ensuring reliable access for computational and data-intensive research disciplines.
• Direct endpoint management and digital workplace support for academic staff, researchers, professional services, and students, across physical and virtual learning and work environments.

Cybersecurity and Compliance

• Lead the cybersecurity function, overseeing endpoint protection, intrusion detection, vulnerability management, and threat intelligence.
• Ensure compliance with security frameworks, data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, Cyber Essentials Plus), and sector-specific guidance (e.g., Jisc).

Incident Management and Emergency Response

• Act as the technology lead for major IT incidents and service outages, coordinating cross-functional response and recovery efforts.
• Participate in the 24/7 on-call emergency incident response rota, including out-of-hours and occasional weekend availability.
• Provide expert-level troubleshooting and technical direction during critical events and lead post-incident reviews.

Solution Architecture and Innovation

• Evaluate and implement infrastructure solutions at scale, leveraging automation, orchestration, containerisation, and modern monitoring tools.
• Act as the senior infrastructure solution provider and technical authority for new service rollouts and systems upgrades across enterprise environments.

People and Financial Management

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of network engineers, system administrators, cybersecurity specialists, and research computing staff.
• Promote a collaborative, customer-focused culture with strong emphasis on service quality, innovation, and professional development.
• Manage infrastructure budgets, contracts, supplier relationships, and licensing arrangements to ensure value for money and sustainability.

Key Focus Areas

• Teaching & Learning Environments: Ensure robust digital infrastructure to support hybrid and in-person delivery, including VDI, lecture capture, and access to learning resources.
• Office and Administrative Support: Enable a reliable, secure, and flexible IT environment for staff across faculties, professional services, and leadership offices.
• Research Enablement: Provide advanced computational platforms, secure storage, and scalable data solutions that support interdisciplinary research and innovation.

Other Duties And Responsibilities

• This role includes participation in a 24/7 on-call rota and may require occasional out-of-hours or weekend work.
• The postholder will be expected to represent the University in national and sector-wide infrastructure and cybersecurity forums (e.g. UCISA, Jisc).
• The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Policy and the Welsh Language Standards.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Person Specification

Essential

Qualifications/Training

• Postgraduate degree (or near completion) in Computer Science, STEM subject or equivalent professional experience.
• Member of a professional body, for example, BCS, CITP, IET, IEEE.

Essential

Experience/Knowledge

• Significant experience in a senior infrastructure leadership role in a complex organisation (10,000+ users), preferably in higher education or public sector.
• Proven experience designing, deploying, and managing enterprise IT infrastructure at scale, including 350+ servers (physical, virtual, containerised).
• Demonstrable success leading large infrastructure projects across cloud, on-prem, and hybrid environments.
• Strong technical knowledge of networks, storage, identity systems, cybersecurity frameworks, and HPC systems.
• Experienced in system services management, implementation and configuration such as: TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, NTP, M365, TLS, etc.
• Hands-on experience of hypervisors such as VMware or AHV.

Desirable

• Experience working in a research or academic environment, including support for e-research and HPC.
• Understanding of sector-specific challenges, including regulatory, funding, and operational complexities in UK higher education.

Essential

Skills/Abilities

• Able to develop software in a modern framework to enhance, automate or improve infrastructure services.
• Outstanding problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities, especially in high-pressure incident scenarios.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong planning, budgeting, and resource management acumen.

Desirable

• Essential

Other

• Commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and inclusive team leadership.
• Strategic thinker with hands-on technical expertise.

Desirable

• The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role.

General

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.

We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us. When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful. If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa. The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas. If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University's Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.

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