At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in delivering top-notch network services and tackle complex technical challenges.
- Company: Join a leading independent engineering firm with a rich history and innovative projects.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, training opportunities, and a clear career progression path.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative culture that values diversity and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in network operations while developing your skills in cutting-edge technologies.
- Qualifications: Strong background in network engineering and experience with Cisco and managed services.
The predicted salary is between 48060 - 58740 £ per year.
We're seeking a Network Operations Lead to join our IT Services network operations capability, providing both day-to-day technical leadership and strategic direction. The role will ensure robust operational and technical ownership and service delivery across the current customer network, while driving future growth across Fortinet, SD-WAN, security and managed network services.
As the senior technical lead, you will guide and support Cisco, Mitel and Network Engineers, act as a senior escalation point for complex incidents, technical queries and service-impacting issues. You will also play a key role in developing the team’s expertise beyond traditional Cisco support, enhancing capability in modern networking and security technologies. Working closely with Service Management, Operations, Projects and technical stakeholders, you will ensure smooth service transitions, effective risk management, and the delivery of reliable, high-quality network services for customers.
Some of your key deliverables for the role include:
- Providing visible and practical leadership to the Network Operations team, helping to set the tone for a high-performing, collaborative and technically capable ITIL service function.
- Coaching, guiding and supporting Cisco, Mitel and Network Engineers in day-to-day service delivery.
- Setting clear technical standards, priorities and escalation expectations across the team.
- Supporting skills development, knowledge sharing, recruitment and succession planning.
- Encouraging a collaborative, accountable and service-focused team culture.
- Acting as a senior technical authority for network operations, providing assurance and ownership across Fortinet firewalls, SD-WAN, routing and switching, network security and Cisco infrastructure.
- Supporting complex troubleshooting, technical reviews and problem management activity.
- Strengthening governance, standards and consistency across network support services.
- Embedding lessons learned and driving improvements following incidents, escalations or service issues.
- Helping the Service Centre deliver a reliable, responsive and well-controlled network service.
- Supporting SLA achievement and improving incident, change and service request performance.
- Identifying recurring issues and driving root cause activity to reduce repeat incidents.
- Ensuring runbooks, support models and operational processes are clear, maintained and followed.
- Contributing to improvements in monitoring, automation, documentation and service resilience.
- Working with project and technical teams to understand new Fortinet and SD-WAN solutions.
- Shaping the operational support model and ensuring services are transitioned effectively.
- Capturing and maintaining knowledge required for ongoing support.
- Building internal capability so engineers can confidently support Fortinet and SD-WAN services.
- Supporting customer service reviews where technical input or assurance is required.
- Contributing to major incident activity and customer escalations.
- Working closely with Service Management to ensure customer issues are understood and progressed.
- Translating complex technical matters into clear actions, updates and service improvements.
What we're looking for:
- Strong network engineering experience gained within a service-focused environment, ideally with exposure to managed services, enterprise networking and operational support.
- Proven Cisco enterprise networking experience, including routing, switching and WAN technologies.
- Experience supporting complex technical issues within an operational or Service Centre environment.
- Understanding of ITIL methodology including incident, change, problem and service transition processes.
- Ability to guide others through technical decision-making and escalation management.
- In addition to technical credibility, the role requires someone who can lead, influence and develop others.
- The postholder should be comfortable setting standards, coaching engineers, supporting prioritisation and working collaboratively with operational, technical and service management colleagues.
Desirable Experience:
- Experience with Fortinet technologies, SD-WAN deployment, firewall management or network security would be highly beneficial.
- Fortinet NSE, FCSS or equivalent practical Fortinet experience.
- Cisco CCNP or equivalent enterprise networking accreditation.
- Experience transitioning new services into operational support.
- Exposure to UC or Mitel environments.
- Experience building capability, documentation and support processes within a technical team.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Calm, structured decision-making during incidents or escalations.
- Ability to influence across operational, technical and service management teams.
- Focus on service quality, continuous improvement and team development.
- Practical, accountable and customer-focused approach.
Next Steps:
As a business, we’re on a journey to build on our culture where everyone is included, treated fairly and with respect. This starts with recruitment and how we bring people into the organisation. We’ll do our best to outline the recruitment process to you ahead of time with plenty of notice. If you require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure your needs are met.
About Us:
We are one of the leading independent engineering and services businesses in the UK. Founded in 1921, with a turnover of £500m and 3000 employees, we are proud of our history of developing great people through our investment in training. Working across a variety of sectors within the building and infrastructure industry, our innovative, responsible and forward-thinking approach allows us to work on fantastic ground-breaking projects, providing solutions using the latest tools and technologies. Progression is something we value, and we will make sure that when you join us you have a clearly defined development path, supported by regular reviews, training and ongoing support to enable you to be the best you can be.
Network Operations Lead in Carbrook employer: NG Bailey
ECS Engineering Services Ltd is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and collaborative work culture that prioritises employee growth and innovation. With a commitment to excellence in engineering solutions, employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact while working on exciting projects that contribute to sustainability and infrastructure development. Located within the dynamic NG Bailey Group, ECS provides unique opportunities for professional development and the chance to be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to building a lasting legacy.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Network Operations Lead in Carbrook
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what NG Bailey values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
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Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges NG Bailey might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
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Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at NG Bailey!
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We think you need these skills to ace Network Operations Lead in Carbrook
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at NG Bailey.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at NG Bailey. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at NG Bailey
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
