Network & Telecommunications Manager

The post-holder is a senior technical leader within the Network and Telecommunications team, responsible for the design, operation, security, resilience and continual improvement of OUH’s network, communications and connectivity services. The role provides strategic and operational leadership for the Trust’s enterprise network infrastructure, ensuring that critical services remain secure, available and fit for purpose in support of clinical care, operational delivery and organisational objectives., The post-holder supports the development and delivery of related strategic objectives, operations, security and support to the Trust’s enterprise connectivity and communications services, including wired and wireless networking, unified communications, telephony, cloud connectivity, network security, contact centre services, paging systems and associated technologies. The role provides services for OUH and supported NHS organisations across Oxfordshire and the wider health and care system.

The post-holder is responsible for ensuring that the network and communications infrastructure is secure, resilient, scalable and fit for purpose, supporting clinical services, digital healthcare technologies, electronic patient records, medical devices, Microsoft 365 services, cloud-hosted applications and collaboration platforms.

Ensures compliance with regulatory, information governance, cyber security, legal and professional standards. Oversees network, telephony, collaboration and cloud connectivity services, including externally provided and outsourced services such as public network connectivity, NHS national network services, cloud communications platforms, managed services and strategic technology partnerships.

Provides leadership for service resilience, capacity planning, business continuity, disaster recovery and technology refresh programmes., * Within a budgetary framework and with full accountability, takes responsibility at a senior level for all aspects of the design, development and provision of network and telecommunications services within a large organisation where the measures of success depend on achieving clearly stated business/financial goals as well as on the successful technical implementation and use of telecommunications systems.

• Directs the process of budgeting, estimating, planning and objective setting for the activities of the network and telecommunications function. Establishes and directs processes to monitor performance and take corrective actions as appropriate at the highest level. Initiates and manages innovation and change, demonstrating the special leadership skills needed to delegate to and motivate members of the senior management team.

• Manages problems through to their resolution.
• Having a thorough knowledge and understanding of the employing organisation’s business, representing the organisation externally and deals confidently with other senior managers within it.
• Takes full responsibility for departmental structure and organisation, senior staff selection, recruitment and career development policy within agreed parameters.
• Leads the process of determining policy for network and telecommunications matters including hardware and software procurement, staff development and rewards, selection of methods and standards, security, marketing and selling of services and products.

• Positive
• Enthusiastic
• Calm
• Well organised
• Logical
• Analytical
• Innovative
• Decisive
• Good interpersonal skills

Desirable criteria

• Able to sustain concentration
• Attentive to detail
• Good mediation skills
• Patient & sympathetic, * Significant experience leading technical teams and enterprise technology services within a complex organisation
• Experience providing strategic and operational leadership for critical digital infrastructure, network or communications services
• Experience managing service performance, operational risk, resilience and business continuity
• Experience managing suppliers, support contracts and third-party service providers
• Experience leading service improvement, technology refresh or transformation initiatives
• Significant experience of managing enterprise network and telecommunications services within a large, complex, multi-site organisation
• Demonstrable track record of successful service delivery, including operational management and technology project implementation
• Demonstrable experience of working within a customer focussed service delivery environment supporting critical business or clinical services
• Experience supporting highly available, secure and resilient network, communications and connectivity services
• Significant experience operating at a technical management level

Desirable criteria

• Experience within the NHS or other large public-sector organisations
• Experience contributing to digital strategy, governance or organisational planning
• Experience managing operational and capital budgets
• Experience delivering cloud, infrastructure or modern workplace transformation programmes
• Experience supporting cyber resilience, business continuity, disaster recovery activities or major incident management
• Experience acting as technical authority or subject matter expert within a complex technical environment
• Previous working experience of supporting large enterprise networks within the NHS or other large public-sector organisations
• Experience with unified communications, telephony, contact centre or collaboration technologies, * Good team-working
• Ability to influence, engage and communicate effectively with senior stakeholders
• Able to relate appropriately to various professional groups within and outside the Trust
• Good understanding of customer and supplier relationships
• Good verbal and written communication
• Able to produce and present concise, high-quality documentation, clear reports and business cases
• Good presentation skills

Desirable criteria

• Strong leadership and motivational skills, * Demonstrable expert knowledge and skills in: CISCO IOS/IOS-XE
• CISCO Router & Switch hardware
• Excellent knowledge in Routing Protocols (specifically EIGRP, OSPF)
• LAN, WAN and VPN technologies
• Extensive knowledge of Layer2 and Layer 3 protocols
• IPv4 addressing/subnetting
• DHCP, DNS
• Wireless (CISCO Unified WiFi - LWAPP/CAPWAP)
• Cisco NEXUS switches and Datacentre technologies
• Security standards and protocols
• Structured data wiring/cabling standards and regulations
• CISCO ASA/FTD Firewall technologies
• Network Management and Diagnostic tools (e.g. Solarwinds, CISCO Catalyst Centre)
• Cisco VPN - e.g. Anyconnect, IPSEC L2L, DMVPN
• Network Strategy planning and designing
• Excellent network troubleshooting skills and reporting
• Understanding of analogue and digital (IPT) telephony: - large PABX equipment, - private networks, - end user support/training, - wiring systems, - structured wiring schemes, - specification of equipment, - voice and data integration, - report generation using a call logger
• Significant experience in a telecommunications services discipline or within a telecommunications related industry
• Broad understanding of business and technical issues
• In-depth commercial and technical expertise, often in a variety of environments
• Possesses a high level of management skills, with particular emphasis on interpersonal and negotiating skills and the ability to motivate staff
• Shows the ability to delegate effectively to technical staff, whilst maintaining full management control
• Demonstrates the special leadership skills needed to handle innovation and change resulting from the implementation of new telecommunications systems solutions
• Demonstrates current and thorough understanding of developments in the application of telecommunications and is able to assimilate and interpret advice from specialists - technical or otherwise
• Maintains a sound knowledge of the business of the employing organisation and has good commercial acumen
• Demonstrates a knowledge of telecommunications standards and codes of practice
• Customer focussed

Desirable criteria

• Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery Planning
• Project Management methodology (I.E. PRINCE2)
• Strong working/hands on experience with modern Cisco switches (including C9300/C9500/C9600 and Nexus Datacentre switch models) and Cisco series routers
• Network Switch Configurations
• CISCO IP Telephony technologies
• Cisco UCS platform
• Cisco ISE
• Proxy platforms
• Service Now, * Degree or equivalent experience
• GCSE ‘C’ grade or equivalent in English and Maths or appropriate qualification in a relevant subject
• Network industry recognised certifications - CCNA\CCNP Enterprise

Desirable criteria

• ITIL training/qualifications
• CCNP Wireless or Security
• Cisco Certified Specialist - Enterprise Design
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate
• Equivalent demonstrable experience in enterprise network architecture, secure connectivity and infrastructure design, * Driver with access to own transport

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence., Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. For more information on OUH please view OUH At a Glance by OUHospitals - Issuu

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel., Sexual Safety Charter: In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles

Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.