IT Specialist - End User Platforms

East Lothian Council; Haddington; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Scotland is looking for an IT Specialist to enhance its desktop and service desk capabilities. You will lead the design and management of IT environments, collaborating with multiple teams and ensuring the security and efficiency of systems. The role offers hybrid working options and is suitable for candidates with strong technical expertise in corporate IT settings.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Professional growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of digital transformation in public sector.
• Ability to manage diverse hardware estate.
• Proven experience in educational IT environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of end user computing environment.
• Provide expert guidance to staff and service teams.
• Manage procurement and upgrade projects for hardware/software.
• Collaborate with cross-functional project teams.

Skills

Broad technical expertise in IT environments

Experience with Microsoft 365

Knowledge of endpoint management

Security best practices

Excellent communication skills

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft 365

Google Workspace

VDI

AutoDesk Product Suite

Adobe Creative Cloud

Job description

Location: Council HQ John Muir House Brewery Park Haddington, EH41 3HA

Salary: £46,006 - £51,371 per year

Contract Type: Permanent

Position Type: Full Time

Hours: 35 hours per week

Work From Home: Hybrid

Vacancy Information

Hourly rate of pay: £25.21 - £28.15

Days and Hours of Work:
Monday - Friday, 09:00-17:00
Flexi time is applicable, and starting and finishing times are flexible.
To start asap.

Are you an experienced IT professional with a passion for delivering excellent customer service and driving innovation? East Lothian Council is seeking a skilled IT Specialist to join our Desktop & Service Desk Team, supporting one of Scotland’s fastest-growing regions.

About the Role

Reporting to the Team Manager: Desktop & Service Desk, you’ll lead the design, development, and support of our end user computing environment across both corporate and educational settings. You’ll manage a diverse hardware estate—primarily Windows endpoints in corporate environments and a mix of Windows and Chrome devices in schools—ensuring systems are secure, efficient, and aligned with user needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and evolve personal computing hardware, software, and support infrastructure.
• Provide expert technical guidance to staff and service teams.
• Lead complex procurement and upgrade projects for hardware, software, and systems.
• Plan and implement robust cyber security and resilience measures.
• Collaborate with cross-functional project teams and engage stakeholders at all levels.

You’ll support and administer a wide range of platforms and tools, including:

• Microsoft 365 (including CoPilot and Power Apps)
• Google Workspace
• Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
• AutoDesk Product Suite
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Modern endpoint management and MDM solutions

We’re seeking a candidate with:

• Broad technical expertise in corporate or enterprise IT environments.
• Proven experience with Microsoft 365 and enterprise platforms.
• Strong knowledge of endpoint management, MDM, and security best practices.
• Understanding of Data Protection and Information Security in public sector or enterprise contexts.
• A proactive mindset and commitment to continuous learning.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Experience in educational IT environments, particularly supporting classroom technologies and managing school devices, is highly desirable. Project management training or certification (e.g. PRINCE2, Agile) would also be advantageous.

Why Join Us?

At East Lothian Council, you’ll play a vital role that supports our values of Enabling, Leading, and Caring. We offer a flexible, inclusive, and collaborative working environment that values individuality and supports professional growth. Flexible working options are available, including home, hybrid, or office-based arrangements. However, you should be willing and able to attend our HQ in Haddington or other council sites as required.

Home / Hybrid Working Consideration
Applications for home or hybrid working will be considered for this post in accordance with East Lothian Council’s Home Working and Worksmart Policies which can be found here . Home or Hybrid working options can be discussed with candidates invited for interview.

Please Note:
All home/hybrid workers must live in the UK. Where an application for home-working is supported, it will be subject to a satisfactory trial period. Employees will be expected to attend Council offices for the duration of induction, and be on site in East Lothian workplaces, as required. Employees with a hybrid working arrangement in place will be office based and able to work from home, with permission, on an ad hoc basis.

To work as a senior member of the IT Service Desk & Desktop Services team with a primary focus on leading the day to day development of the Council’s desktop and mobile device facilities to enable Council wide digital transformation.

The key areas of responsibility are:
• Providing specialist high level IT advice and guidance to Council management, services and colleagues on all aspects of digital transformation.
• Designing and developing the Council’s desktop, mobile and personal computing hardware, software and support infrastructure.
• Supervising and organising the day to day development work of the team.
• Working with Service Departments to bring about transformational change.
• Creating specifications of requirements and running procurement exercises.
• Providing Level 3 IT support.
• Plan and organise development sprints for the team.
• Ensure appropriate policies and procedures are developed and applied.

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job. You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form. You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ‘East Lothian Way’ – values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work. Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours. Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Job Requirements

Relevant Qualifications
Relevant degree and/or able to demonstrate equivalent extensive knowledge, skills and competencies gained through relevant experience.

Driving Licence
As the duties of this role require you to effectively travel to successfully undertake the full remit of the role, you must hold a current driving licence and have access to a vehicle.*
(*Where a disability precludes you from obtaining a driving licence, ELC will take into account its responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to allow for your disability.)

Level 1 Disclosure Clearance
This role requires Level 1 Disclosure Clearance to allow access to the Public Sector Network. ELC will submit a Police Act Disclosure application on behalf of the preferred candidate and receipt of the subsequent certificate will be required prior to commencement.

Please note:
If you have spent more than 3 months working or living outwith the UK in the last 5 years then you will also be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail). All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form. Although there is an ‘import data from my CV’ function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form. If, for example, due to a disability, you are unable to complete the on-line application form you can contact us for a paper application via the telephone number or email address above.