Network IT Manager

Main duties and responsibilities 

Working with her/his line manager and the senior leadership team to develop and maintain high quality ICT networks and systems, which are regularly reviewed to ensure that the school’s needs are met. 

All aspects of hardware and software including installation, operation, upgrades, repair and replacement. 

Supporting teachers regularly with interactive tools and highly effective IT to promote the highest possible T&L standards 

Securely maintaining information held on the school’s database system/s including archive files and historical data. This includes data held offsite.  

Providing technical advice, training and assistance in ICT related matters to staff/ students and where appropriate for school matters, their parents. 

Ensuring that health and safety requirements and other relevant regulations are in place and adhered to. 

Supporting and encouraging the school’s ethos and its objectives, policies and procedures. 

Other duties of an appropriate level and nature may also be required, as directed by the line manager. 

Please note that the post holder may be required to work outside of normal school working hours for extended school status activities, school events, meetings and emergencies. 

Operational 

Manage the effective development of the school’s information and communications networks.  

Advise and assist her/his line manager and the SLT on hardware and software issues within the school including any ICT developments, relevant bids and identification of suppliers. 

Manage the ‘Knowledge Base’ and ‘Help Desk’ systems to provide a programme of maintenance and support in response to a log of problems experienced, changes and their resolutions. 

Manage, in liaison with line manager and SLT, the project planning of ICT developments by establishing required development/resourcing plans as required. 

Support the delivery of INSET programmes for staff as required. 

Network Maintenance and Security  

Manage the operation of the school’s information and communication networks including switches and the instillation of additional network components, undertaking appropriate upgrades and repairs. 

Ensure that staff and students have an efficient, robust, reliable and secure ICT environment, including back-up schemes for the curriculum and administration ICT environments. 

Ensure security of work on the network by maintaining a regular programme of backing-up including mirrored hard drives, setting and monitoring access levels of all users, and ensuring that anti-virus software, systems and procedures are in place and regularly updated at timely intervals, including filtering systems. 

Monitor and manage the use of the internet and IT systems within the school and report issues to her/his line manager. 

Establish in liaison with her/his line manager contingency plans in case of emergencies including power cuts, system faults and equipment damage. 

Coordinate the provision of live operational scheduling and monitoring as required, including integrity checking for archive/back-up data, data export for networks and other regular housekeeping and maintenance procedures. 

Organise and manage the installation and configuration of hardware and software as required including the deployment of new releases, testing and training for staff and students. 

Monitor the performance of hardware, software and networks and report as required. 

Managing and maintaining the virtualisation system, upgrading and patching, creation of new virtual servers, testing and signing off for production. 

Monitoring, maintaining and developing the wireless network, assisting with deployment and configuration and troubleshooting of access points. 

Configuration of the Storage Area Network (SAN), assigning data stores and access permission to servers. 

 General 

Attend parents’ evenings, open days, school events and meetings as required. 

Ensure that financial procedures such as placing purchase orders and authorising invoices for payment are carried out as required. 

Be responsible for the effective management of budgets within her/his remit and negotiate best value rates with contractors and suppliers. 

Arrange and provide training sessions for staff to ensure that they are aware of associated procedures and regulations. 

Keep abreast of developments, current initiatives and changes in her/his field and communicate to staff as appropriate. 

Network Manager Person Specification 

Qualifications and experience:  

ICT training at Level 3 or equivalent, MCSE and CCNA or similar product certifications with (GCSE at grade 5 or above) or equivalent, in English and mathematics. 

Evidence of successfully managing ICT network/s, hardware and software functions in order to support the day-to-day operation of an educational establishment/company. 

Experience of managing change and implementing new systems/procedures/controls. 

Experience in the line management of staff. 

Knowledge and skills:  

Able to lead, develop and motivate a team of staff, delegating duties as required. 

Very good analytical and problem solving, prioritising and change management skills. 

Good verbal and written communication skills appropriate to the need to communicate effectively with colleagues, students and other professionals. 

Significant working knowledge of a range of ICT software, hardware and other resources. 

Thorough understanding of networks, LAN, WAN and Internet topologies, protocols and techniques together with proven technical background in desktop computers and peripherals. 

Managing and monitoring a budget, and providing required reports. 

Personal Qualities  

Ability to show initiative and to prioritise own work and that of others even when under pressure. 

Desire to enhance and develop skills and knowledge through CPD. 

Commitment to the highest standards of child protection and safeguarding. 

Candidates are expected to have working knowledge and experience of a wide range of networking technologies.  The list below shows some of the key systems used at the school  

• VMware vSphere v6.5  
• Google Workspace for Education, Chromebook management
• RM CC4 and RMUnify
• Microsoft Server 2012, 2016 + SQL 2008,  Microsoft AD, IIS, DHCP, DNS, WSUS, GPO, TCP/IP, VLans
• Networking skills inc. LAN/WAN/Wifi 
• Dell , EMC, QNAP  Storage (SAN) + Servers technologies 
• Sophos AntiVirus Enterprise Server 
• PaperCut Printing Solution 
• Veeam  Backup solution 
• IP telephony system (NEC, VOIP) 
• Ubiquiti Wireless Network 
• MIS Arbor 
• Webscreen (LGfL internet filtering system)
• Helpdesk Ticket system   
• Cashless Systems (CRB Cunninghams) with iDstore Biometric solution