Network & Telecoms Systems Connectivity Engineer

NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care; Salford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health authority is looking for a Network & Telecoms Systems Connectivity Engineer to manage a 400-site Cisco-based network. The role involves installation, configuration, and maintenance of voice and data networks, requiring strong Cisco/Meraki skills and the ability to diagnose complex LAN/WAN issues. The ideal candidate will have a BSc in Computer Science and relevant certifications. This position offers an opportunity to develop in a dynamic team with no two days the same.

Qualifications

• Required to have a BSc in Computer Sciences or equivalent.
• Experience in Cisco IOS installation and configuration.
• Ability to work within service level agreements.

Responsibilities

• Support project management ensuring effective task delivery.
• Install, configure, and maintain voice and data networks.
• Diagnose LAN/WAN faults and liaise with customers.

Skills

Cisco/Meraki skills

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

BSc (Hons) in Computer Sciences

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

ISEB Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management (ITIL)v3

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)

Tools

Cisco technologies

VPN solutions

Windows operating system

Job description

Network & Telecoms Systems Connectivity Engineer

The Network & Telecoms team is a well-established team made up of former PCT staff from various Greater Manchester localities, internal promotion from more junior roles and external recruitment over that past 15 years. The job involves a mix of BAU and project work and solo and team working. The bulk of the team's work is network based; the telephony element is very small these days. The biggest undertaking is the management of the COIN, a 400-site network spanning Greater Manchester, currently provided by VMO2 but more recently we have introduced AD-Wan with Meraki. The network is Cisco based, and strong Cisco/Meraki skills are a must, this includes wireless. In this role you can enjoy a role where no day is the same and the job is never dull. There is always a fresh challenge and lots of opportunity to develop for the right candidate who is focused and hungry to learn and develop in an experienced and dynamic team.

Main duties of the job

Support teams to ensure that the portfolio of tasks/projects is planned, managed and delivered effectively.

Ensure accurate and open communication and co-ordination with a range of organisations and individuals, researching and drafting correspondence and papers and ensuring the management of specific tasks, lead reporting and analysis across a range of specialties, functions and projects.

Be a key member of the team as well as supporting effective communication and stakeholder management, both internally and externally.

The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an on-going basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department and the Organisation.

About us

Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) are partnerships of health and care organisations that come together to plan and deliver joined up services and to improve the health and wellbeing of people who live and work in their area. Their purpose is to improve outcomes in population health and healthcare; tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience, and access; enhance productivity and value for money and support broader social and economic development in their area efficiency. This will be delivered in neighbourhood, place, combinations of places and GM system.

Job responsibilities

Installation, configuration and maintenance of voice and data networks including configuration, upgrades, troubleshooting, backup, recovery, security, tuning, managing user access and providing advice and guidance to users.

Provide configuration, support and maintenance of firewalls / routers / switches / voice components, including upgrades, configurations, troubleshooting, backup, recovery, security, tuning, managing access and providing advice and guidance to customers and 3rd parties as appropriate.

Diagnose complex LAN / WAN faults, including Server / PC fault-finding where appropriate.

Work with suppliers, enabling and supervising 3rd party and external suppliers as appropriate.

Liaising with customers and 3rd party suppliers in the evaluation, specification and purchase of voice and data networking hardware / software and ensuring that appropriate inventory records are created and maintained.

Test all new router / switch / firewall / voice component software revisions in a Test environment before applying these to live environments.

Visit customers on site, GM wide, to carry out installations & support requirements.

Advise relevant staff on complex voice and data network faults.

Ensure all IT voice and data network changes are documented, and inventory of all relevant equipment is maintained, working closely with Monitoring / Admin team members.

Escalate incidents and problems to the Infrastructure Manager as required.

Update the Service Desk database in a timely manner.

Work with Monitoring / Admin team members in maintaining system logs and report on service failures / faults / downtime.

Ensure all relevant IT Policies are adhered to.

Take responsibility for projects as designated by the Infrastructure Manager.

Maintain knowledge of technological changes and new approaches within the IT industry.

Build and maintain up to date knowledge of Health and IT policies in the Private Sector and NHS in relation to IT requirements and trends.

Required to make day to day decisions to safeguard the integrity of network and telecommunications systems and the service.

Exercise good judgement in all things concerned with the voice and data network services, their security and availability.

Use own initiative and work within agreed parameters to exercise judgement in taking decisions regarding workload and problem resolution without referral back to the Infrastructure Manager.

Required to exercise good time management skills to efficiently resolve incidents and problems.

Participate in an on-call rota as required.

Person Specification

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION

• Registered member of professional informatics body such as UKCHIP, BCS, Assist etc.

QUALIFICATIONS

• BSc (Hons) degree in Computer Sciences or equivalent level of qualification and experience of working at a similar level.
• Cisco certified Network Associate (CCNA) or evidence of working towards another relevant technical discipline or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level.
• ISEB Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management (ITIL)v3 or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Cisco Certified Network (CCNP) Professional

EXPERIENCE

• Experience of Cisco IOS installation and configuration of voice products.
• Experience of working in a service desk environment within service level agreements (preferably ITIL).
• Experience of planning and installing LAN / WAN networks.
• Experience of managing Enterprise Remote Access and VPN solutions

KNOWLEDGE

• Demonstrable experience of working in a large organisation using Cisco technologies
• Good knowledge of networking principles to include strong understanding of TCP/IP, IP subnetting, VLANs, QoS, DNS, DHCP, SSL, routing and switching.
• Good understanding of WAN technologies including MPLS Knowledge of Network resilience and disaster recovery.
• Good knowledge of IP Telephony / SIP trunking / ISDN / IP-PBX, Cisco Call Manager.
• Advanced knowledge of Windows operating system, configuration and installation and troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of the workings and ability to use and configure smart phones Excellent analytical skills and the ability to apply them towards the investigation of existing installations.
• Ability to arrange meetings with customers and arrange demonstrations of a working VPN to potential new customers.

COMPETENCIES

• Skills for communication on complex information and administrative matters, requiring developed interpersonal and oral/ written communication skills
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Skills for supporting project management
• Skills for managing aspects of projects ensuring they meet financial targets
• Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload with minimal supervision working to tight and often changing timescales
• Ability to pull together comprehensive draft reports, data and letters. Negotiating, networking and persuasive skills
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to re-prioritise

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.