Network Manager

Allen Lane; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Allen Lane is seeking an experienced network leader for a London-based Local Authority to design, implement and oversee a cloud-on-premise network strategy, with emphasis on security.

You will lead the Network Team, define architecture, monitor SLAs, and ensure compliance with industry standards including NCSC 14 Cloud principles, ISO27001, PCI-DSS and PSN, while driving disaster recovery and incident-response planning.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience designing, implementing and managing complex network environments.
• Proven ability to lead network teams and deliver secure cloud/on‑prem solutions.
• Strong understanding of security standards and incident response processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Network Team delivering solutions and services with strong security focus.
• Define and communicate IT strategy and roadmaps for networking.
• Design and govern cloud and on‑prem networks ensuring cost control and security.

Skills

Network leadership

Design authority

Security-by-design

Cloud & on-premise architecture

Disaster recovery planning

Incident response

Governance

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

PCNSE

Tools

Cisco Meraki SD-WAN

LAN/WiFi

Cisco ACI

Palo Alto Firewall

Microsoft Azure

Zscaler

SIP Trunking

SBC

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Our client, a London based Local Authority, are looking to recruit an individual to lead the Network Team, delivering solutions and services for the organisation and monitoring our network to ensure availability and quality. You will be a subject matter expert and design authority for the client's approach to networking, including Azure-based cloud network services, tooling, and platforms.

Duties:

• As an experienced technical leader, you’ll build a professional and capable network capability to manage projects, provide general support and administration workload, and monitor the networks in the authority's agreed SLAs in a way that embraces cyber security.
• Play a pivotal role in defining, communicating and delivering our IT strategy and roadmap, ensuring that the organisation embraces security-by-design and best practices.
• Focus on clear, achievable principles and direction for services with the correct blend of cloud and on-premises technologies.
• You’ll build alignment and shared understanding across our projects, guiding teams to build the right thing, build it right and control the costs, ensuring that our data remains secure.
• Collaborate with technical stakeholders to design and build best-practice network architectures, governance, and tooling.
• Ensure our systems conform to recognised industry standards, including the National Cyber Security Centre 14 Cloud principals, ISO27001, PCI-DSS, and PSN.
• You will ensure the team proactively investigates and responds to all operational and security incidents, providing thorough post-event analysis and remediation.
• Develop a detailed disaster recovery plan for our network, contributing to our incident response plans and ensuring they are consistent with the corporate business continuity plan

You must have a deep understanding of network fundamentals: Candidates should possess a comprehensive understanding of networking concepts, protocols, and technologies, coupled with hands-on experience designing, implementing, and managing complex network environments.

• Extensive experience designing, implementing and managing solutions incorporating Cisco Meraki SD-WAN, LAN and WiFi, Cisco ACI, Palo Alto Firewall, Microsoft Azure, Zscaler and on-premise data centre solutions is essential for this role. Candidates should demonstrate proficiency in configuring, troubleshooting, and optimising these technologies.
• Experience designing and maintaining voice and communications technologies, including SIP Trunking and Session Border Controllers (SBC), Microsoft Teams and Netcall Liberty Converse.
• Experience and understanding of cloud architecture and implementation features including security services primarily with Microsoft Azure.
• Solid understanding of security protocols, cryptography, authentication, authorisation and security.

Due to the nature of this specialist role, the post holder should have relevant professional certifications to demonstrate core competency. Examples of relevant certifications include:

• Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE)