Network Manager at the University of Reading (UK Visa Sponsorship)

The University of Reading is currently seeking the services of a seasoned Network Manager to join their Operations team.

The University of Reading is an exciting and vibrant place to work where there are opportunities to get involved with a wide variety of work, from corporate systems to high profile research groups, and from the museums and archives to a working farm. The University has been at the forefront of UK higher education for nearly a century. Over the decades we have become innovators and pioneers, pushing academic boundaries and leading social change. The University has a new Digital Strategy to 2026, our centenary year, aiming to “create a digital environment that empowers all students and colleagues to achieve more in an increasingly competitive world.” Considerable investment has been ring-fenced to achieve that ambition over the next five years focusing on new core values for our colleagues and students of being cyber secure, digitally fluent, data driven, fit for purpose and with a “user experience first” culture at the heart of all we do. The Operations team underpins these new services, delivering essential systems and services across the infrastructure layer which provide the foundation for all IT services across the University.

Position

Network Manager

Salary

£57,696-£64,914

Job Schedule

Full Time

Location

About the role

This position involves monitoring network performance, troubleshooting issues, and implementing security measures to safeguard against cyber threats. Collaboration with IT teams, vendors, and other stakeholders is essential to ensure the network meets the organization’s current and future needs.

Responsibilities

Act as a service/technical manager for the networks area within Operations team, Managing the day-to-day development and planning improvements designed to increase Reliability, performance and usability.
Provide specialist expert technical management (e.g. installation and configuration of core, Edge and distribution layer devices) of network services at the University of Reading, providing excellent service and highly available services that meet agreed SLAs.
Design and implement long-term, strategic capabilities for voice and data network Infrastructure.
Plan and shape the strategic direction of the network with a roadmap of activity looking Forwards at least 12 months.
Plan and perform day-to-day monitoring and manage (plan, arrange and schedule with External stakeholders) the routine maintenance (e.g. cable patching and replacing network Equipment in network cabinets across the university estate, performing firmware and Software updates) on network services to ensure that they are fit for purpose and able to Meet the demands of users.
Responsible for the line management of the Connectivity Team ensuring HR processes are followed. Partner with the Estates and Facilities team and other stakeholders on major infrastructure and capital projects delivering network provision and specialist knowledge, working to fixed Deadlines.
Propose and develop service improvements, designing systems to maximise new Capabilities, developing implementation plans and managing the implementation, Communicating with external stakeholders to plan and organise work packages.
Design and implement SLAs with stakeholders for network services whilst ensuring the Monitoring and evaluation of the SLAs are maintained to expected levels.
Undertake risk analysis against operational changes for high impact events (e.g. Core and Distribution layer work) as well as lower impact events, submitting changes to the Change Advisory Board for approval as required.

Requirements

Significant experience in managing a team
Experience in managing enterprise scale campus networks
Experience of tooling such as monitoring and automation
Experience in creating structured and complete documentation
Demonstratable good communication skills, including presentation of technical issues for non-specialist audiences
Proven ability to Manage and support a Variety of network Hardware, such as Edge, distribution, core and datacentre Network devices
Proven ability to Prioritise competing And complex work Demands
Demonstrable Troubleshooting skills With the ability to track Problems across Multiple systems and Platforms, ability to Take innovative Approaches to Problem solving
Experience in Managing a team Through complex Projects
Good team working Ability educated to degree Level or relevant Industry qualification
Professional level Certification from a Major network vendor (e.g. CCNA, JNCIA), Or equivalent Experience