Network and Telecoms Team Leader in Gateshead

To provide operational leadership for the Trust's core IT infrastructure, ensuring the delivery of secure, resilient, and highly available digital services across clinical and corporate systems. The post holder will support the day-to-day running of infrastructure services including servers, networks, storage, cloud platforms, and telephony. They will work closely with the team to help coordinate incident resolution, monitor system performance, and ensure routine maintenance, upgrades, and lifecycle activities are delivered effectively. The role will also support cyber security and compliance activities, helping to maintain appropriate controls around patching, vulnerability management, secure configuration, and disaster recovery arrangements, and contributing to assurance for standards such as the NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) and Cyber Essentials.

In addition, the post holder will provide guidance and support to the infrastructure team, helping with workload prioritisation, skills development, and effective handover and escalation where needed. The role will contribute to service improvement and help maintain reliable IT services that underpin safe and effective patient care.

The post holder will take responsibility for the day-to-day coordination of the Trust's infrastructure services, ensuring systems remain stable, supported, and fit for purpose. This includes overseeing operational tasks such as monitoring system health, supporting incident and problem resolution, scheduling maintenance activity, and helping to manage infrastructure changes across servers, networks, cloud services, telephony, and related technologies. The role will also involve guiding the infrastructure team's daily workload, providing technical input where needed, and ensuring work is prioritised effectively. A key part of the role is working with colleagues across Digital, clinical, and corporate services, as well as external suppliers, to keep services running smoothly and to support planned improvements to the environment.

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of hospital and community-based services to people across Gateshead and the surrounding areas, with a strong focus on delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centred care. The Trust is committed to continuous improvement, innovation, and working collaboratively across services to meet the needs of the local population. Staff are supported to develop their skills and careers within a culture that values teamwork, respect, and compassion. Working for Gateshead Health means being part of an organisation that is dedicated to improving outcomes for patients, embracing digital development, and maintaining high standards of care and service delivery across all areas of the organisation.

The post holder will be responsible for the operational leadership and coordination of the Trust's core IT infrastructure environment, ensuring the stable, secure, and efficient delivery of services that support clinical and corporate functions. The role oversees the day-to-day management of infrastructure services including servers, networks, storage, cloud platforms, telephony, and associated systems, ensuring effective monitoring, maintenance, and timely resolution of technical issues. A key responsibility is to coordinate infrastructure activities such as planned upgrades, patching, lifecycle replacement, and change implementation, ensuring minimal disruption to services. The post holder leads and supports the infrastructure team, providing technical direction, managing workloads, and promoting skills development and effective working practices. They will work closely with colleagues across Digital services, clinical and corporate departments, and external suppliers to ensure service continuity, support delivery of projects, and maintain high standards of operational performance. The role also contributes to infrastructure planning, capacity management, and service improvement initiatives, while ensuring appropriate documentation, governance, and alignment with organisational policies and NHS standards.

Essential Experience:

• Proven experience working within IT infrastructure environments supporting servers, networks, storage, cloud, and telephony systems
• Strong understanding of Microsoft technologies including Windows Server, Active Directory, Microsoft 365, and Azure
• Experience of network infrastructure including routing, switching, firewalls, VLANs, and VPNs
• Experience supporting virtualised environments (e.g. VMware or Hyper-V)
• Experience of infrastructure monitoring, maintenance, patching, and upgrade activities
• Experience working with senior stakeholders, service users, and external suppliers

Essential Education:

• Degree in IT, Computer Science, or related discipline, or equivalent demonstrable experience
• Evidence of ongoing professional development in IT infrastructure or related technologies
• ITIL Foundation certification or willingness to work towards

Desirable:

• PRINCE2/Agile Project Management Qualification

Essential Skills:

• Experience supervising, mentoring, or leading technical staff or teams
• Ability to organise workloads, allocate tasks, and support team performance and development
• Experience contributing to or leading technical projects or service improvements

Essential Knowledge:

• Understanding of high availability, resilience, backup, and disaster recovery concepts
• Understanding of IT service management principles, including incident, problem, and change management (ITIL framework or equivalent)
• Knowledge of virtualisation technologies such as VMware or Hyper-V
• Strong understanding of network principles including routing, switching, VLANs, VPNs, and firewall technologies