Lead Systems Administrator

Location

Taunton, Somerset, South West

About the job

Job summary

We’re seeking talented Lead Systems Administrators to come and join our amazing technology division here at the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO).

These are really exciting career opportunities where you will have the chance to support, develop, improve and maintain our technical systems and platforms including 3rd Line Support, servers, storage, networks and cloud technologies.

At UKHO flexible working is our default:  we balance the freedom to choose how we work with our responsibility to meet business need, We manage through trust and measure performance on outcomes, not presence. You will benefit from amazing career development opportunities, a great company benefits package and a friendly, collaborative and supportive working team and environment.

The role will be contractually based at our office in Taunton. Due to the nature of the role you will need to come into the office as needed which may become at least 1 day a week and you'll ideally be within a 1.5 hour commute of our office based at TA1 2DN.

Watch our video to find out more about working for the UKHO:

Job description

Our Lead Systems Administrators work within our Technical Systems Team, providing expertise and guidance across the business on processes and best practices. They also as research new technologies as a subject matter expert on platform technologies, which enable our business teams to be more effective.

Person specification

Your primary responsibilities would include oversight of and hands on configuring, monitoring, improving, and troubleshooting the UKHO technical environment on an ongoing basis as well as designing and implementing business improvements through the use and development of platforms, tools and systems.

This position is also responsible for the development and maintenance of policies and procedures relating to operation and support of the technology environment covering architecture, change management, backup/restore, audit, governance and, in conjunction with the other UKHO Technical Operations Teams the maintenance of access controls and security configuration.

Person specification, skills and experience required:

You should also possess the following attributes:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, acting with professionalism at all times

• Ability to understand and analyse complex business requirements.

• Experience in future planning and technology roadmaps.

• Able to manage own workload and time efficiently. Uses initiative and ability to work unsupervised and understands the need to plan in advance and think through the potential complications. Identifies appropriate solutions to problems and acts accordingly.

• Able to technically lead and guide team members both technically and strategically.

• Be able to analyse complex business requirements, propose possible solutions and make recommendations.

• Experience of making decisions at the appropriate time, taking into account the needs of the situation, priorities, constraints and the availability of necessary information.

• Have experience of leadership and staff development in matrix management environments, in a technical/support team environment). Experience of directing others to undertake tasks.

• Experience of checking progress against targets, reporting as necessary and taking action to resolve exceptions.

Pay

Further information can be found in the attached Document “Additional Pay Information”.

SC – non reserved

This is a Ministry of Defence non-reserved post and although open to UK, British Commonwealth and European Economic Area nationals, successful applicants will require a security clearance (SC) and therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 12 consecutive months within the last 5 years.

Nationality Statement

Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules. If you’re applying for a role requiring security clearance, please be aware that foreign or dual nationality is not an automatic bar. However certain posts may have restrictions which could affect those who do not have sole British nationality or who have personal connections with certain countries outside the UK

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Broad technical experience of implementing of wide variety of Server, Storage or Networking technologies at an architecture, design and technical expert level.
• Be able to analyse complex business requirements, propose possible solutions and make recommendations.
• Broad experience working with Cloud technologies, Azure, AWS or Google Cloud.

Benefits

We offer a range of benefits to support your lifestyle, including generous leave allowances, flexible working hours, a lift-share scheme, enrolment in the Civil Service Pension scheme, and regular training and development opportunities. To see the full breakdown of our benefits, view our downloadable candidate pack.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply:

Simply, hit 'apply now' at the bottom of this page.  We only ask for a CV to be uploaded to our job portal - Please submit your CV with no personal details.

Important tip**- please ensure that your CV includes how you meet the shortlist criteria outlined below.**

You will be asked the following 'Killer question' as part of your application.

Have you got experience with using Microsoft Azure on a day-to-day basis?

Those who do not answer the question or do not evidence their experience will not have their full application scored at shortlisting stage.

Timeline

Advert closes for applications on 5th February 2023

The sift is due to take place w/c 6th February 2023

Interviews are likely to be held w/c 13th February 2023

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There maybe occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Short-list Criteria

All applications are processed anonymously.

You will be short-listed against the following criteria taken from the CV you will be asked to upload:

Technical Skills:

• Broad technical experience of implementing of wide variety of Server, Storage or Networking technologies at an architecture, design and technical expert level.

• Be able to analyse complex business requirements, propose possible solutions and make recommendations.

• Broad experience working with Cloud technologies, Azure, AWS or Google Cloud.

Interview Criteria

Civil Service Behaviours (Level 3):

• Changing and Improving

• Communicating and Influencing

• Delivering at Pace

Technical Skills:

• Broad technical experience of implementing of wide variety of Server, Storage or Networking technologies at an architecture, design and technical expert level.

• Be able to analyse complex business requirements, propose possible solutions and make recommendations.

• Broad experience working with Cloud technologies, Azure, AWS or Google Cloud.

See here for further information: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Process:

• Single Stage Interview via TEAMS. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information)
• Interview will be with a panel of no more than 2 people and will last approx. 60mins

Onboarding Checks:

In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. You will also need to apply for SC (Security Checked) Clearance, but you may be able to start your role before gaining this.  Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.

Civil Service Commission

Recruitment into the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission which has two key functions.

• To maintain the principle of selection for appointment to the Civil Service on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

• To promote an understanding of the Civil Service Code which sets out the constitutional framework in which all civil servants work and the values they are expected to uphold, and to hear and determine appeals made under it. More detailed information can be found at on the Civil Service Commission website: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.