Infrastructure Application Manager

We are looking to appoint an experienced Infrastructure Application Manager to join our Central Team.

About Us

The Harris Federation is a leading education charity with 51 Harris primary and secondary academies across London and Essex. The founder, Chairman and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We now educate some 38,000 young people and closing the gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers has always been a core mission. 

The Harris Federation has a track record of accomplishment in achieving success through rapid school improvement and has built an unrivalled reputation for running outstanding academies in London. 

Our central team comprises of a dedicated, driven group of departments working centrally to provide support across the Federation and all of our academies. Across a multitude of key departments, we maintain an outstanding body of staff all integral to supporting central and academy finance, HR, Data, Estates management, Talent and many more. 

Main Areas of Responsibility

This role will primarily be responsible for designing, implementing and supporting M365 applications including helping to implement and roll out the new applications and processes.  To ensure that all applications and data are secure by working with the IT Security Manager to design and implement secure systems by design.

Key accountabilities

• To design, develop and implement M365 solutions to address business needs
• Administer and maintain the M365 tenant
• Develop and deliver appropriate training courses for various end users to ensure high level of user adoption.
• Promote the use of M365 Applications to support teaching and learning activities across the Academies.
• Organise and chair Office 365 Champions groups to spread best practise. Document and disseminate this best practise accordingly
• Work with subject matter experts and business stakeholders to gather and document business requirements for improvement projects
• Gather and manage the requirements for assigned projects through appropriate methods such as workshops, interviews and reviewing existing documentation and business processes.
• To ensure sufficient and appropriate documentation is created and maintained to support the continued use of the M365 Applications and Functionality.
• Work with the Infrastructure team to ensure appropriate DR and resilience, security and integration with internal systems and Office 365 where appropriate.
• To work specifically with the Infrastructure security manager and data protection team to ensure M365 applications are secure and reduce the risk of data loss.
• In alignment with the Compliance Team and Infrastructure Security Manager, provide advisory and consulting support to help staff adhere to security policies and expected controls.
• Escalate risks and issues to the appropriate levels and ensure a timely resolution to actions raised.

Service Management

• To provide 3rd line support in conjunction with the overall ICT Team to ensure the continued efficient use of M365 Applications including SharePoint, Teams and OneDrives
• To log all incidents and requests appropriately on the helpdesk system
• To resolve the incidents and requests within the target resolution time and to document these within the system
• To escalate any incidents to the appropriate team as necessary

The postholder will additionally have responsibility for:

• Assessing and adopting new apps when available for O365
• Migration of data from File Servers to O365
• Auditing and monitoring of SharePoint & O365
• As lead, monitor O365 app usage, changing and implementing policies where required
• Implementing, maintaining and monitoring backup and the retention of cloud-based data

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience with SharePoint / M365 Administration.
• Be competent in the creation and implementation of information security solutions, procedures and practices.
• Knowledge of how to utilise Sensitive Info types and regular expressions with DLP and Mail Transport rules to enhance Mail Flow protection
• Identify, implement and maintain retention labels across all SharePoint sites
• Have excellent analytical, audit and investigative skills
• Attention to detail and excellent report and documentation writing skills
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as ability to present and explain information in a way that establishes rapport, persuades others, and gains understanding across the organisation
• Ability to produce and deliver engaging training sessions and materials
• Understanding of different business functions and how they operate within an organisation
• Ability to apply problem solving techniques and get results
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience with SharePoint Online & O365 Services
• Have experience of implementing information security within cloud-based environments
• Ability to react quickly and effectively to issues
• Proven analytical, audit and investigative skills and judgement and reasoning ability
• A proven track record in working to strict timescales and of working with staff at all levels
• Experience of delivering small projects, management of scope and customer expectations
• Technical IT background
• A good understanding of the GDPR
• Good planning and organising skills, with strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint

Rewards & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.

We look for talented individuals who share our vision for creating exceptional places of learning, and are committed to ensuring that every child in London has access to the best possible education.

In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.