Network & Communications Specialist
The closing date is 28 June 2026.
Help power technology that supports better service user care. We are looking for a values-driven infrastructure leader to help shape our digital strategy, lead a 3rd line network and communications team, and deliver secure, reliable services that make a real difference across our trust.
Key values: Lead with compassion, kindness and respect; Drive innovation that improves outcomes and efficiency; Deliver resilient, patient-focused digital services.
Main duties of the job
Lead the secure delivery and ongoing performance of infrastructure and systems, ensuring high availability, resilience, and compliance through best practice design, maintenance, monitoring, and continuity planning.
Provide day-to-day leadership of a 3rd Line Network and Communications team, including performance management and delivery against strategic objectives.
Take ownership of complex technical incidents and major outages, driving resolution while communicating effectively with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders, and collaborating with external partners.
Apply specialist expertise to troubleshoot, analyse and resolve technical issues, while supporting security and data protection standards.
Contribute to service improvement, major incident management and change processes, supporting safe, reliable, and digital services.
Job responsibilities
* Support the Infrastructure & Cyber Manager in shaping and delivering digital strategy by identifying emerging technologies and driving improvements in ways of working and cost efficiency.
* Provide leadership to a 3rd Line Network & Communications team, ensuring infrastructure, systems, and services are secure, resilient, and fit for purpose.
* Establish and maintain IT best practice policies, processes, and standard operating procedures.
* Lead and contribute to complex, multi-stream technical projects and programmes.
* Represent Technical Services at governance boards, providing expert advice and reporting.
* Define and communicate technical requirements, ensuring secure and feasible solutions.
* Develop business cases and options appraisals to secure investment funding.
* Collaborate with suppliers and stakeholders to plan, resource, and deliver projects.
* Support design, implementation, and upgrade of infrastructure in line with best practice.
* Deliver transformational digital capabilities that support frontline services.
* Drive improvements in working practices to enable new technologies and ways of working.
Person Specification
Technical skills
* Lead the team in responding positively to change, working effectively under pressure and managing changing or conflicting priorities.
* Develop internal policies, procedures, and services relating to the support and delivery of technical infrastructure and technology, and communicate them to facilitate compliance.
* Engage and manage third‑party suppliers in the delivery of operational IT services and incident resolution, ensuring contractual obligations are met.
* Conduct complex audits of technical infrastructure, record results, interpret them and report outcomes accurately.
* Write effective business cases demonstrating value to the Trust through investment in digital technology and technical infrastructure.
* Have experience working within IT for the NHS or wider healthcare community.
Training and qualifications
* Educated to Degree Level in an appropriate IT discipline, or equivalent, relevant experience.
* Professional technical accreditations in a discipline relevant to the technical team being managed such as Cisco CCNA/CCNP, Aruba & Fortinet.
* ITIL v4 Qualification.
Experience
* Configuring, managing and monitoring network switches, firewalls and other critical IT infrastructure.
* Depth of 3rd Line technical skills & experience across a breadth of technical disciplines, gained through a combination of practical hands‑on experience and specialist technical training.
* Previous experience in a network line management role.
* Experience managing and maintaining VoIP systems.
* Experienced in driving transformational change and service improvements whilst maintaining operational service delivery.
* Understanding of Information Governance and IT policies and procedures within an NHS environment.
* Experience managing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI).
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
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