School Network Manager

Rochdale Council; Rochdale; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted gym memberships

Health care cash plan

Confidential staff counselling

Family friendly working practices

Job summary

Hollingworth Learning Trust is seeking a School Network Manager to join their team in Rochdale. This permanent position involves overseeing ICT infrastructure and leading the IT services team.

The ideal candidate will possess strong ICT management skills, manage helpdesk resolutions, and ensure effective use of technology by staff and pupils. Exceptional communication and technical troubleshooting skills are essential, as well as the ability to conduct training and negotiate with suppliers.

Qualifications

• Strong technical background in ICT management with understanding of network infrastructure.
• Ability to lead and maintain ICT infrastructure for effective use by staff and pupils.

Responsibilities

• Manage School based IT Services team and helpdesk resolutions.
• Oversee infrastructure upgrades and disaster recovery contingencies.
• Conduct ICT training and provide technical guidance to staff and pupils.

Skills

ICT management

Network infrastructure

Server management

Technical troubleshooting

Communication skills

Negotiation

Job description

School Network Manager – Permanent - All Year Round - 36.25 Hours per week

We are seeking to appoint an experienced manager and aspiring leader to join our team as School Network Manager. If you are someone who can lead, maintain, and strategically develop our ICT infrastructure for safe, effective use by pupils and staff, ensure our systems support teaching, learning, and business continuity, and effectively manage our IT technicians, you may be the person we are looking for and we would love to have a chat with you about the role and your potential application.

The successful candidate will have a strong technical background in ICT management, with a good understanding of network infrastructure, server management, and educational technology. You will lead the School based IT Services team, managing key areas such as helpdesk resolutions, infrastructure upgrades, disaster recovery contingencies, asset registers, and GDPR cybersecurity protections. You will enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, possess exceptional technical troubleshooting skills, and serve as a key member of the Support Staff Leadership Team (SSLT). Additionally, your personality and experience will ensure you have excellent communication skills, with the ability to provide clear technical guidance to staff and pupils, conduct ICT training, and negotiate effectively with external suppliers and contractors.

This role is part of the Trust ICT Team which comes with an excellent third line support team on advanced issues and development of its schools ICT development. This gives the successful candidate the support to quickly upskill themselves on the Hollingworth Academy ICT network and will manage the provision of technician support to local Primaries. We currently support four non-trust primaries.

About us

We are a friendly and professional team, working from our Central Office in Rochdale. This role is based at Hollingworth Academy. This is an exciting time to join our Trust, as we enter into the next phase of our growth. Hollingworth Learning Trust currently has three academies: Hollingworth Academy, Newhouse Academy and Heap Bridge Primary School, with a view to expand to four academies in Autumn 2026. Hollingworth Learning Trust’s core purpose is to make a positive difference to the lives of its children. Its role as a sponsor of our schools is to provide the support, challenge, expertise and resources necessary to significantly improve the provision for education – in line with our people first ethos.

The Role

We are seeking to appoint an experienced manager and aspiring leader to join our team as School Network Manager. If you are someone who can lead, maintain, and strategically develop our ICT infrastructure for safe, effective use by pupils and staff, ensure our systems support teaching, learning, and business continuity, and effectively manage our IT technicians, you may be the person we are looking for and we would love to have a chat with you about the role and your potential application.

The successful candidate will have a strong technical background in ICT management, with a good understanding of network infrastructure, server management, and educational technology. You will lead the School based IT Services team, managing key areas such as helpdesk resolutions, infrastructure upgrades, disaster recovery contingencies, asset registers, and GDPR cybersecurity protections. You will enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, possess exceptional technical troubleshooting skills, and serve as a key member of the Support Staff Leadership Team (SSLT). Additionally, your personality and experience will ensure you have excellent communication skills, with the ability to provide clear technical guidance to staff and pupils, conduct ICT training, and negotiate effectively with external suppliers and contractors.

Contract Information

Permanent. Full-time hours are 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday, All Year Round, 8:00am – 3:45pm

Start date

As soon as possible

Salary

NJC Scale Point range 24-28. FTE equivalent £36,581 - £40,444 per annum.

Other Benefits

• discounted gym memberships
• health care cash plan
• confidential staff counselling
• discretionary leave and family friendly working practices and more!

The Pension provider is the Local Government Pension Scheme, GMPF. The employer contributions are generous and help to provide you and your family with security for your future.

Closing Date

9.00am on Monday 19th October 2026.

Interview Date

Thursday 22nd October 2026

Professional Standards & Equality

Hollingworth Learning Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the person specification and will be required to apply for an enhanced DBS disclosure and all other pre-employment checks outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education. We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups including those based on ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

Applicants are informed that if appointed to this post their contract of employment will be with the Trust / Academy who is the employer, and not Rochdale Council.