Networks Lead Technical Designer

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Job Purpose/Overview

Responsible for the Technical Design associated with the Operational Networks - [“the Network”]. Leading the management of Technical Solution Design elements as part of the overall Service Design, ensuring that the Solution Design supports the stated operational SLAs and is aligned with the strategic direction of the business. Acting as technical point of contact for other technical stakeholders for issues relating to the Network.

Other Duties Include:

• Ensuring that the Network remains architecturally coherent and aligned to the operational needs of the business as articulated by the other Service groups (Voice, Surveillance etc.).
• Provide technical leadership to the Network team to drive positive change.
• Provide consultancy to potential Service consumers, helping them to understand how to optimally consume Services as well as sourcing ideas for enhancements to Network Services.
• Maintain oversight of all proposed changes to the Network to ensure the implementation of the agreed changes do not impair Network service levels.
• For all project delivered Network change, proactively engage with project teams to help draft, review and approve Technical Designs changes on behalf of the Cross Functional Service Designer.
• Ensure all Network change is in accordance with the BMS processes.
• Act as the principal technical PoC for our network service suppliers, ensuring that delivered network services are in accordance with the contracted Supplier Agreements and Service Levels.
• Ensure technical viewpoint incorporated into key Network decisions (Programme, Assurance, Supply Chain etc.).
• Continually seek to optimise delivery of Network Services.
• Provide Service Design representation within the Cross Functional service domain and to the wider stakeholder community across the business.
• Provide input into the Enterprise Architecture service Roadmaps.

Autonomy

• Works unsupervised.
• Has freedom and responsibility to allocate and commit resources to achieve Service Design and Project goals.
• Provides technical direction to network service suppliers without recourse to higher authority.
• Responsible for the performance management of all direct reporting staff and provides feedback to respective managers for indirect staff.
• The ability to identify Design issues and challenges before they impact project or service delivery as well as any corrective change actions required.
• Be able to coordinate large disparate teams to tight timescales with little or no additional support.
• Expected to apply own judgement and expertise to determine the course of action required to resolve complex Technical (Technology) Design decisions within the Design Governance processes.
• Determines when issues should be escalated to a higher level.

Job Scope

• The Networks Lead Technical Designer leads, directs, integrates and validates the work of multi-skilled teams to achieve Service Delivery and Project objectives.
• The Networks Lead Technical Designer role aligns to the ITIL function for Service Design Management reporting to the Service Designer.
• Specific roles are technical design, architecture and design authority for the technologies used in the service.
• Tactical Planning: Able to identify short term Design decisions that can resolve programmatic and service delivery challenges in a way that does not undermine the Safety assurance or undermine the Roadmap for the Network Service.
• Review Change Requests and associated plans as raised by the Service Operations team to identify whether the proposed change is within the Design envelope.

Strategic Planning

• Negotiate on a national and international scale with such organisations as ICAO, European Union and Eurocontrol to further NATS business interests for Technical Design.
• Liaise with Project Managers, Service Transition Managers, customers and other stakeholders to agree technical performance requirements, timescales, work plans and other matters that affect the execution of project tasks.
• Identify and document possible service improvements, technology end of life issues and so mitigate future technical or operational problems.
• Develop technology strategies in conjunction with the Service Owners, Service Delivery Managers and Enterprise Architects to meet NATS business objectives, highlighting possible future technical or operational benefits and risks.

Essential Skills and Experience

• The post holder must be highly motivated and able to communicate clearly both orally and in writing, understanding and reviewing reports written by others and writing documents forming part of the formal documentation of a change, minutes of a formal meeting or a formal report.
• The post holder must have good interpersonal communication and management skills.
• The ability to lead, coach, motivate and develop members of the design and service team to maximise their contribution, including Work Package delivery to projects and the operational teams in coordination with Practice Managers.

Skills

• Degree in an Engineering or IT subject or equivalent knowledge acquired through experience in a safety critical environment.
• Qualification and experience must balance technical engineering with business acumen to meet both the technical and business management requirements of this role.
• Applicants not holding the above qualifications but who have undertaken structured Engineering training (recognised by a professional body) and have extensive engineering experience will be considered.
• In lieu of the above qualifications the candidate will be required to demonstrate one of the following alternative criteria:
• Relevant lower level engineering qualifications such as an Apprenticeship coupled with demonstrable experience in enterprise scale Datacentre or IT infrastructure, networking etc.
• Evidence of expert level experience and knowledge gained in a relevant transferable environment, over a significant period and holds or has held a relevant certification.
• Ability to operate at level 6 (Initiate, Influence) of the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA).
• Experience in a Service Design Organisation delivering and developing technologies for safety critical Services to meet operational commitments.
• Demonstrate Leadership in technology design focused on the continual improvement of the service designed to fit a market need whilst balancing all stakeholder requirements.
• Is comfortable operating under circumstances where there is a high degree of uncertainty, particularly early in the service lifecycle.
• A proven track record of balancing risk with reward/return.
• An accomplished, credible and respected leader with well-developed communication, influencing and negotiation skills gained in a complex organisation undergoing significant transformation.
• Proven leadership of multi-disciplinary teams (that could span marketing, sales, architecture, engineering, suppliers and service operations) across the full service lifecycle and through a matrix based, safety related organisation.
• Career record of leading technology design in successful business change programmes.
• Excellent appreciation of ITIL methodologies and standards; ideally accredited to Foundation and Practitioner standards.
• Good understanding of the NATS operating environment and our strategic intent / objectives.
• Extensive Engineering/IT/Business management experience in a fast paced, customer centric and multi-site business.
• Strong interpersonal skills with an inherent ability to effectively communicate with and influence internal and external stakeholders up to a senior level.
• High levels of energy, drive and resilience, with the flexibility to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Drive and determination to champion and improve customer satisfaction.

Additional Vacancy Information

We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally. We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely. If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you.