Description
Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, and supported by a small team, this post is responsible for the development, growth, management, and delivery of SFC’s Cloud infrastructure and associated projects. This is high profile work as part of SFC’s longer-term Digital Transformation that will turn SFC into a smarter and more secure organisation.
The work is broad, and we expect colleagues to bring their talents, enthusiasm, and can-do attitude to their work. In return, colleagues can expect opportunities to take on different work portfolios over time, to develop expertise and breadth of knowledge and to work as part of a close-knit team of colleagues.
Key Responsibilities
* Define and implement the strategic vision and direction of the Azure Cloud Infrastructure in alignment with business objectives and IT standards.
* Lead, manage, and mentor a high-performing team of Cloud IT professionals, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and customer-centric service delivery.
* Develop and maintain an Azure Cloud Infrastructure roadmap, addressing both short-term operational needs and long-term strategic growth objectives.
* Ensure robustness, scalability, security, and compliance of the Azure Cloud Infrastructure, enforcing best practices and regulatory standards.
* Collaborate with various internal teams and external partners to build an integrated and optimized IT infrastructure.
* Direct the assessment and selection of Azure Cloud services and tools, conducting cost-benefit analyses and risk assessments to inform decision-making.
* Oversee the design and implementation of Azure Cloud migrations, ensuring minimal business impact and maximum value realisation.
* Manage the budget for Azure Cloud infrastructure, ensuring cost-efficiency and value for money.
* Facilitate regular knowledge sharing and training sessions for the team to stay up-to-date with the latest Azure Cloud advancements.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
ESSENTIAL SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
1. Proven experience in a similar senior role, managing and developing Azure Cloud Infrastructures.
2. Extensive knowledge of Azure services, cloud computing technologies, business IT applications, security, network configurations, and system operations.
3. Demonstrable experience in cybersecurity best practices and the integration of cybersecurity strategies into cloud operations to mitigate potential threats.
4. Demonstrated leadership and team management abilities, including the capacity to lead high-performing, diverse teams through prior technical coaching/leadership roles.
5. Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.
6. Excellent analytical, strategic conceptual thinking, strategic planning, and execution skills.
7. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to liaise with stakeholders at all levels.
8. Proven ability to analyse, understand and respond to complex issues demonstrating good judgement.
9. Relevant certifications across major Cloud Providers, preferably Microsoft Azure.
10. Degree level education (SCQF level 9) or equivalent experience
DESIRABLE SKILLS
1. Qualified in structured Project delivery methodologies (for example PRINCE II or Project Management Professional)
2. Microsoft Expert Certifications, Solution Architect, Enterprise Administrator, Cyber Security Architect
CORE TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE (ESSENTIAL)
1. Solid background in on premises infrastructure, virtualisation technologies or applications.
2. Solid background in the Microsoft 365 Suite, Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams
3. Solid background in Microsoft Intune (Windows 10/11, Autopilot, Android/iOS, MAM/MDM)
4. Proven experience in Azure Virtual Desktop deployment and management
5. Proven experience in Azure Networking (Routing, DNS, Connectivity)
6. Proven experience with Azure IaaS (networking, storage, virtual machines).
7. Proven experience with Azure Backup & Recovery Services.
8. Proven experience with Azure Governance (Blueprints, policies, tagging, cost management).
9. Proven experience with Azure Active Directory including on premises Active Directory.
10. Experience with Windows Server
11. Experience with Azure Security (NSG, ASG Sentinel, Security Centre, Defender, ACL, Azure Firewall, Policy).
CORE TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE (DESIRABLE)
1. Azure Security (NSG, ASG Sentinel, Security Centre, Defender, ACL, Azure Firewall, Policy).
2. Proven experience with Azure SQL (Managed Instances & PaaS).
Benefits
· Normal full-time hours of work are 35 per week,. We will consider flexible working arrangements. A flexi-time system is in operation.
· Annual leave entitlement of 26.5 days pro-rata, rising to 30 days pro-rata after 2 years’ continuous service. Public and privilege holiday entitlement of 13 days pro-rata.
· A flexible approach to hybrid working, giving you flexibility to work from home anywhere in the UK for some of the time while also maintaining regular in-person contact with colleagues.
· Annual pay review: approved within the framework of the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy and negotiated with our recognised trade union, Unite. Salaries are reviewed annually in April for employees who commence employment prior to 1 October in the preceding year.
· Eligibility to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme. With its low member contribution rates and generous employer contributions, this gives you a secure, inflation-proof pension for life with no investment uncertainty. Details of contribution rates together with further details of the pension benefits are available on the Civil Service Pensions website. There is also the option of a Partnership pension account.
· Support for continuous professional development: as a part of SFC, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support for continuous learning and professional development. Civil Service-Learning curriculum has thoughtfully designed to cater to various learning preferences, allowing employees to engage in a manner that best suits their needs. All our educational resources are conveniently accessible through the CSL website.
· Support for health and wellbeing, including generous occupational sick pay, free access to confidential advice and support through our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, Special Leave (paid and unpaid), a contribution to learning outside work through our Lifelong Learning Fund, free winter flu vaccination, and access to occupational health support.
· We provide support to SFC employees with Volunteering Days.
· Support for travel to and from work, including a salary sacrifice cycle loan scheme, cycle storage and shower facilities, an interest-free loan for bus or rail season tickets and free office car parking for employees on a first-come basis.
We are the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, more commonly known as the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).
We are Scotland’s tertiary education and research authority and our purpose is to sustain a world-leading system of tertiary education, research and innovation that enables students to flourish, changes lives for the better, and supports social, economic and environmental wellbeing and prosperity.
We do this by investing around £2 billion of public money to deliver:
* Tertiary learning and teaching.
* Skills and apprenticeships.
* Student support and participation.
* Research, innovation and knowledge exchange.
* Data collection and dissemination.
* National quality assurance and enhancement processes.
* Capital and digital infrastructure for the sector.
* Strategic change, responsive provision and research priorities.
As a non-departmental public body established by the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005, we are directly accountable to Scottish Government Ministers and the Scottish Parliament. We work across many government portfolios and are sponsored by the Lifelong Learning Directorate.
We hold colleges, universities and other funded bodies to account for their delivery of required outcomes. We are also the statistical authority for colleges, and work closely with the UK-wide Higher Education Statistical Authority (HESA), to provide data and statistics for government, decision-makers, and the wider public.
We work in partnership with a wide range of partners and bodies, including those we fund, across all aspects of our remit.
You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for these roles: we do not offer sponsorships.
Further information about SFC is available on our website Scottish Funding Council home page (sfc.ac.uk).
We are pleased to support applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, race and ethnicity, socio-economic background, gender, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, as well as those who have skills in Scottish Gaelic or British Sign Language, who have the right skills for the job.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and actively encourage interviews through the scheme.
We will consider secondment applications for most fixed-term or temporary positions and in many cases also for permanent positions. If you are interested in applying on a secondment basis and this option is not explicitly mentioned in the job advert, please contact recruitment@sfc.ac.uk for further information.
This profile has been created to describe, in outline, the nature of appointments at this level. It is an indicative document and the exact nature of these duties will vary with time and from post to post. Post holders will be expected to carry out any work that is commensurate with their grade or that may reasonably be required of them.