Job Introduction

This role sits in Route Services, a business area that has been created to supply services to the routes in the safest, most cost-efficient and effective way, enabling them to benefit from economies of scale and optimised national resources.

Working in the IT Services Team, you will provide our customers with smart technology for the railway of today, designing fit-for-purpose and innovative solutions. Your vital work will help to manage the day-to-day running of our vast IT estate, from safety critical systems maintenance to hardware provision, supporting thousands of employees every day.

Main Responsibility

Provide authoritative technical expertise to develop the ongoing technical strategy for Network Rail’s cloud platform. Leads the development and maintenance of the required technical standards and policies Network Rail’s key strategic cloud services, providing the necessary strategic guidance for the use of the platforms.

What will you be doing?

1. Defines the technical operating strategy for Network Rail’s strategic cloud platforms, and the definition and maintenance of technical standards for the use of Network Rail’s chosen cloud platforms.

2. Define, author, and maintain IT Operations policies for cloud so activities are carried out in a safe, secure, and repeatable way to minimise the risk of incidents and outages.

3. Provide expert-level consultancy services to IT delivery projects utilising Network Rail cloud platforms, maintaining alignment to industry and Network Rail best practice, to reduce cost and speed of delivery.

4. Provide expert level technical support to assist IT Operations colleagues in resolving issues with Network Rails cloud platforms to reduce the impact of incidents on the business.

5. Identify, communicate and address future and current risks, opportunities and challenges for Network Rail arising from developments or changes in the cloud technology arena, in order to minimise the impact of such changes on the quality or cost of the service provided.

6. Influence and guide strategic direction to confirm that Network Rail’s strategy and policy for the cloud prioritises maintainability, supportability, and best practice with relation to the technology domain to allow Network Rail to deliver required service levels at the lowest cost.

7. Ownership of technical-level relationship with the relevant enterprise cloud providers (e.g. Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Oracle, Google) to drive close working, ad-hoc technical advice, and previews of upcoming technologies so that Network Rail receives improved value for money, speedy resolution of issues and foresight of changes like to impact future decisions.

8. Support the development and ongoing refinement of the cloud platform cost model, identifying opportunities to reduce costs and optimise service offerings.

The Ideal Candidate

Meet the essential criteria/ Apply today to join our team!

• Extensive experience in an expert-level role supporting and delivering solutions in the supported technology
• Development of the team’s skills, including: Self learning and knowledge sharing.
• Industry recognised high level qualification in the supported technology.
• Experience in design, development and support of bespoke solutions in the supported technology
• Demonstrable expertise in and knowledge of current and existing developments in the field of the supported technology.
• Experience of workload placement decisions between IaaS, SaaS, PaaS an on premise hosting
• Experience of Networking and Security compliance at technical specialist level
• Experience of Hybrid cloud integration at technical specialist level
• Able to identify suitable and optimised uses of cloud IaaS, PaaS, SaaS services to meet business and non-functional requirements.
• Experience of working as an expert authority in the supported technology domain within a large organisation.
• Reviewing and raising changes to support BAU and projects within their knowledge domain.
• Technical lead for Migrations and implementations of existing workloads into hybrid cloud and cloud native environments.
• Understands, explains and able to present complex technical concepts in a simple and meaningful manner.
• Commercially astute, with experience of cost modelling.
• Certifications in cloud technologies (current or expired) such as:
  • AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
  • Azure Fundamentals
  • OCI Infrastructure Foundations
  • AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate
  • Azure Administrator
  • OCI Certified Cloud Operations Associate
  • AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty
  • AWS Certified Security – Specialty
  • AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty

Who we are looking for?

We are committed to a diverse workplace enriched with representation from diverse cultures, backgrounds and skills. We pride ourselves on creating an environment where difference is embraced, and individuals can thrive. We recognise that the success of the team is dependent on a multi-cultural, multi-disciplined group of individuals, aligned to deliver successful solutions.

At Network Rail, we have a number of employee networks to reflect our diverse population and help to raise issues to the wider workforce and support their membership and support our Everybody Matters strategy, led by our central Diversity & Inclusion team. We have Diversity & Inclusion Champions who take part and lead on many activities, to drive through more initiatives to support an inclusive environment for all its people and promote a professional and positive working environment. For more information on Diversity & Inclusion at Network Rail, please follow this link

Package Description

Vacancy Type: Full-time but flexible working patterns will be considered.

Duration: Permanent

These positions are based in: Manchester or Milton Keynes (flexible)

Closing date: 25 August 2022

Band & Salary:  3C, £51,156 - £57,551

At Network rail you will have a clear development path, access to training and enjoy a range of employee benefits, such as; up to 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rail subsidies, a range of pension options, flexible and agile working arrangements, discounts on shopping, gym memberships and much more. 

Click ‘apply for this job’ to apply. If you would like to speak the Resourcing Team please contact Hayley.Tosney@networkrail.co.uk

For further information of the role please contact Katie.Harwood@networkrail.co.uk

About the Company

We’re an organisation where people matter. We matter to millions. 

Our role is to run a safe, reliable and efficient railway, serving customers and communities. We exist to get people and goods where they need to be and to support our country’s economic prosperity. Safety is our number one priority.  

We're undertaking an ambitious change. Our vision is Putting Passengers First - becoming a company that is on the side of passengers and freight users. 

As one of the UK’s leading equal opportunities employers, our values and the way we behave is important to us and we have created an environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution. We have seven employee networks that provide fantastic support, opportunities and development for applicants from all backgrounds. Click here for more information 

Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd