IM&T Operations Engineer

UHNM; Stoke-on-Trent; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust seeks an experienced lead IT professional to manage the Trust's server, SAN, and cloud infrastructure. You will provide third-line support and cascade expert technical knowledge through training and documentation.

Responsibilities include ensuring security, data protection, backups, and compliant IT operations while leading small to medium projects and collaborating with stakeholders across the Trust IM&T Services.

Qualifications

• Degree level IT knowledge required.
• MCSE/MCSA or equivalent IT qualification preferred.
• Experience in NHS or healthcare IT is advantageous.
• Ability to manage senior stakeholders and communicate clearly.
• Hands-on experience with Windows/Linux servers, SAN and storage.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Trust's SAN, server, and cloud infrastructure.
• Provide third-line IT support and consulting.
• Ensure data security and compliance with GDPR/FOI.
• Lead small to medium IT projects.

Skills

IT leadership

Server & SAN management

Cloud technologies

Security & backups

Troubleshooting complex issues

Stakeholder communication

Education

Degree in IT

MCSE / MCSA or equivalent

Tools

Windows Server

Linux/Unix

Firewall configuration

SAN storage

Cloud platforms

Job description

• Provide authoritative IT professional advice & guidance to Trust staff
• Be a lead IT expert with regards to the support, build, configuration & deployment of the Trust’s business critical server, storage area network (SAN) & Cloud technologies
• Manage & resolve diverse & at most times complex technical issues
• To own & close out Business as Usual supports tickets escalated from the service desk quickly & efficiently.
• To investigate infrastructure problems that have been escalated by second level support staff (Desktop Team) & after analysing the impact on the Trust users, take the necessary steps to ensure that all loss of IT services especially those of a clinical nature, are resolved within as short a time span as possible.
• Be responsible for the security, optimisation, availability, storage, backup & retrieval & general safe keeping of all the Trusts electronic data in line with the IT Security Policy, the General Data Protection Regulations, Data Protection Act & the Freedom of Information Act.
• Manage the design, specification, installation & configuration of new server, storage. network security and Cloud technologies to the Trust standard
• Direct, attend & participate in project meetings & related activities & play a role in ensuring that infrastructure aspects of projects are actively managed

Main duties of the job

The post holder will have responsibility for the Trusts business critical server, storage area network (SAN) infrastructure and Cloud technologies for the University Hospitals of North Midlands. Using their extensive knowledge of IT systems to deliver a third line of support for all Trust IM&T Services and to cascade high level specialist technical knowledge and advice to a wide range of people at all levels within the Trust in the form of training, documentation and Trust wide procedures. The post holder will provide infrastructure consultancy services as needed across all areas of IM&T to ensure operational effectiveness of systems, and to enhance systems in line with the needs set out in the Trusts IM&T and NHS Digital strategies, ensuring that adequate security and safeguards for Trust information and infrastructure are in place at all times. There is a responsibility to perform research into new and upcoming technologies in order to determine their impact or possible enhancement of planned or existing IT Services. The post holder will manage small to medium sized projects and provide technical input to large scale IT projects.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. We serve around three million people and we’re highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. The Trust has around 1,450 inpatient beds across two sites in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. Our 11,000 strong workforce provide emergency treatment, planned operations and medical care from Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital in Stafford.

We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales. We have put together a wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Our goal is to be a world-class centre of achievement, where patients receive the highest standards of care and the best people come to learn, work and research

Investing in the health and wellbeing of our staff is really important to us. We offer a range of options for our staff to help maintain a good work-life balance including full time, part time hours and bank hours. We are also committed to offering flexible working wherever we can and where relevant to the role and the service, agile working. You can select your preferences upon application.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more information on working for the Trust, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

For more details on the post, please contact Mohammed Waeed (see contact details)

Person specification

Knowledge

• The ability to handle detailed, diverse and at times highly complex technical issues by yourself, including researching of a solution via the Internet where required
• The ability to maintain and repair a server and storage investment of some 1,000,000 pounds plus, ensuring a front line service is provided to over 7000 online users 24 hours, 7 days a week 365 days a year
• An understanding of the interactions between server systems and networking systems
• General knowledge and understanding of LAN WAN networking and associated devices
• Experience of configuring Network Firewall devices in order to protect confidential Trust and patient data from security breaches
• Routine monitoring,maintanance and configuration of server and application Software
• The physical Installation and configuration of Servers from operating systems from the ground up, including Windows,2008 , 2012 , 2016 ,Linux and Unix.
• Experience in supporting a mixed IT enviroment,incorporating servers,PC'S,storage devices,network equipment and thin client technologies
• Committed to providing a customer focused IT service into Trust and other relevant parties
• Ability to relate to system users at all levels and communicate technical uses in a non - technical manner
• Responsible for back- ups of Terabytes of critical patient user data.
• Logical approach to Problem Solving
• Able to adapt to changing technologies
• Linux administration and support

Experience

• In-depth specialist knowledge of IM&T systems and procedures (expert in their field)
• Exposure to a server environment including building server systems from scratch. This includes clustered Email, database, web servers, Network Attached Storage devices and storage area network equipment
• Experience of building and configuring server systems
• Experience of working within a mission critical IT service
• Familiarity with current computing technologies.
• Configuration of all versions of Microsoft Platforms.
• Good understanding og NHS working Practices and Standards.

Skills

• Excellent Analytical skills in order to investigate and resolve complex issues
• Good planning skills in order to implement projects on time
• Ability to relate to system users at all levels and communicate technical issues in a non-technical manner
• Logical approach to problem solving
• Able to think clearly and work under pressure and to deadlines
• Good general communication and telephone skills
• Excellent customer relations skills
• Ability to manage own time and priorities

Education and Qualifications

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent IT experience
• MCSE and or MCSA qualification or equivalent specialist IT training
• masters Degree or Vendor qualifications obtained by short courses or self study.
• Professional IT qualifications in relevant subject, willingness to study for specialist qualifications

Important information about your application

• We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from everyone regardless of ethnicity, disability, gender, age, faith or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.

We will communicate with you regarding your job application via email. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee the security of any emails sent/received via non encrypted format.

If you would like support completing an application form, please contact the recruitment department on 01782 675533 where one of our trained assistants will be able to help

If you obtained your qualifications overseas, you will be required to provide an official government translation through ECCTIS (formerly known as NARIC). Please note, this is in addition to any professional registration requirements and not a replacement for your qualifications.

If you are currently in the UK on a visa, you must have at least six months remaining on your visa at the time of your start date to ensure sufficient time for the operational and training process associated with the role. The requirement of at least six months remaining on your visa does not apply to a Skilled Worker Visa, as a new Skilled Worker Visa would be required for a new role.

In line with the change of Immigration rules on 8th January 2026 if you require Sponsorship through the Skilled Worker Visa you must be able to provide B2 English evidence before a Certificate of Sponsorship can be issued.

Visa eligibility notice:
The UK Home Office has imposed an emergency brake on specific visa routes.

• Skilled Worker visas cannot currently be issued to Afghan nationals.
• Study visas cannot currently be issued to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar or Sudan.
  As a result, we are unable to progress applications requiring sponsorship under these routes.

UHNM supports the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist in preparing your supporting statement. However, we reserve the right to reject applications where AI has been used in a misleading manner, for example, by implying experience or understanding that the applicant does not possess or where its use is excessive or unfair. If AI has been used to support your application, you must declare this within your submission.

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