Network Engineer

Team / Directorate: ICT / Finance & Corporate Services

Salary: Up to £38,040 per annum

Contract type: Permanent

Work pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week (part time, annualised hours, compressed hours or term time working considered - discussions at interview stage welcome)

Interview date: Week commencing 29 July 2024

The role

As Network Engineer, you will be responsible for operating all corporate networking services in the Azure cloud and on premise.

As part of the Network Team, the successful candidate will provide technical support of all live services and cloud platforms within an ITIL framework and defined operating model, to deliver an outstanding customer focused service to agreed service levels.

You will support the Network Team Leader and collaborate with stakeholders in the wider project teams to deliver new services, features and technologies across an estate of over 40 locations, a large multi-region Azure deployment and associated inter-connections with third parties.

This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who is eager to make a difference and have a positive impact on the services that affect the lives of people, nature and the environment of Wales and who aren’t afraid of trying new things and challenging the status quo.

As an organisation we support flexible working. Our people have freedom to work across NRW and partner offices, or remotely, as required. You will be contracted to either our Bangor or Buckley office and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed on appointment. Any regular face to face meetings or training will be planned in advance. You will be required to provide out of hours cover on a rota basis which will be compensated for.

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Kevin Mullins at Kevin.Mullins@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Interviews will take place through Microsoft Teams

Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.

About us

There’s never been a more important time to join NRW (Natural Resources Wales) to make a real difference to the future of Wales’ people and nature. We are focussed on making our services better and simpler for citizens, business and stakeholders of Wales.

Established in 2013, NRW adopted a cloud first model without legacy technologies or migrations. Separated into sub-teams, we develop, manage and support a large Azure multi-region deployment supporting life preserving services for the nation 24x7. With over 100 web applications, associated databases and API’s, real-time environmental modelling, public alerting and reporting and IOT data collection of over 650 remote locations – interesting and exciting work with purpose is never far away.

Our ambition is to grow more talent in data, digital and technology in Wales over the coming years. To do that, we are collaborating with specialist design and development partners to enhance capacity and skills for the coming years. By creating blended teams of people from our own teams in NRW, and our delivery partners – we work collaboratively to shared goals and outcomes that deliver for the nation of Wales aligned to NRWs Digital and Corporate Strategy.

What you will do

In this role, you will join a team who are at the forefront of operations, supporting all end users and partners in their day-to-day activities. As Network Engineer, you will:

• Ensure the health and availability of applications and systems in line with ICT governance.
• Ensure that incidents and service requests are resolved within the agreed service level agreements.
• Follow the Platform Team workplan and work with the lead engineers to develop and enhance existing applications in line with ICT development methodology.
• Work with Lead Engineers to resolve issues and improve live systems.
• Advise and provide guidance for Analysts and Apprentices inside and outside the team.
• Follow proactive tasks and maintenance schedules and implement routine upgrades of services.
• Work with external strategic partners to ensure application issues are resolved within service level agreements.
• Release application and service enhancements in line with ICT governance.
• Assist in the coordination of User Acceptance Testing of NRW applications and services.
• Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
• Be committed to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
• Be committed to your own development through the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.
• Required to take part in incident response activities.

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills

Applications to this role will be assessed based on the following criteria both at shortlisting and interview. In your application please demonstrate, using the STAR method, how you meet the requirements outlined below.

1. Required: CCNA/CCNP or other relevant networking certifications – (Catalyst, ASA, Wireless)
2. Preferred: Checkpoint Firewall. Azure Cloud – general network, vWan, VPN.
3. Desired: Experience of managing MPLS in large scale environments. Barracuda WAF.
4. Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
5. Proven experience of supporting and maintaining infrastructure to SLA.
6. Proven track record of contributing and delivering infrastructure projects.
7. Knowledge of ITIL Service Management – specifically Incident and Problem Management.

Welsh language level requirements

• Essential: Level 1 – able to pronounce Welsh and use basic phrases

Please note if you do not meet the level 1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Benefits 

• Alongside your salary of up to £38,040, NRW will contribute an additional 28.97%, equivalent to approximately £11,020 per annum towards you being a member of the Civil Service Pension Scheme. Find out what benefits the Civil Service Pension Scheme
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days
• Weekly wellbeing hour to use as you choose
• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• Generous leave entitlements for all your life needs
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• Health and wellbeing benefits and support

See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.

Please keep reading

If you think you have what it takes to do this role, but don’t necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still get in touch and we will be happy to discuss the role with you in more detail.

We’re passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of opportunity irrespective of disability, neurodivergence, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, gender expression and gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, culture, or religion.   We put the principles of human rights, equality, fairness, dignity and respect at the heart of our values.

We are committed to equal opportunities and we guarantee interviews for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We want to attract and retain talented and highly skilled staff, so we make sure that our pay scales remain competitive. We advertise the full pay scale on our job descriptions. Appointed candidates start at the first point of the pay scale and annual increments are paid each year.

We want our staff to grow professionally and personally. From leadership development to access to further and higher education courses, our staff have opportunities to expand their knowledge on variety of topics, stay current in their field and continue to learn as their career progresses.  

We are a Bilingual organisation which complies with the Welsh Language Standards.  Welsh language skills are considered an asset to NRW and we encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills. 

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