At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and support IT Infrastructure strategy as a Technical SME in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join Santander UK, a leading financial services provider with a commitment to innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days holiday, private medical insurance, and wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on IT infrastructure while growing your career in a supportive culture.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in IT Infrastructure and strong problem-solving skills required.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with global growth opportunities and a focus on inclusivity.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Overview
Santander UK CIO is looking for an IT Infrastructure Technical SME based out of Milton Keynes to shape and support the organisation’s IT Infrastructure strategy. As the SME, you’ll serve as a technical authority on Infrastructure-related matters, providing expertise across storage and backups, servers, networks, cloud solutions, API and middleware. The Technical SME will work with the Service Manager in the management of all phases of the product life cycle (non-technical and technical) from discovery to contract termination and exit. Our mission is to contribute to help more people and businesses prosper, with a strong risk culture and proactive risk management expectations.
What You’ll Bring
Our people are our greatest strength. The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Proven experience in a similar role as an IT Infrastructure SME or Senior Infrastructure Engineer (Required)
- Strong knowledge and understanding of IT Infrastructure, with a focus on Storage and Backups (Required)
- Proven problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues quickly and effectively (Required)
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, to clearly articulate technical information to diverse audiences (Preferred)
- Experience in change management, including developing and implementing change management strategies (Preferred)
- Experience in managing relationships with vendors and evaluating vendor performance (Preferred)
- Experience within licensing, contract renewals, QBRs & Service reviews (Preferred)
- Knowledge of Networking, Middleware, Cloud Infrastructure, and Virtualisation (Preferred)
- Soft skills: Excellent communication with senior teams and stakeholders at a business level (Essential)
- Constructively challenge technical findings and service outputs to drive continuous improvement (Essential)
Responsibilities
- Act as an Infrastructure Technical SME providing technical oversight, assurance and governance for infrastructure services delivered by intra-group functions and third-party service providers
- Serve as the recognised Subject Matter Expert in Backup and Storage services, including ensuring compliance to enterprise backup and recovery standards, retention, immutability, data protection controls and recoverability outcomes
- Govern enterprise storage services (SAN/NAS/Object) including capacity planning, performance, security compliance and lifecycle management aligned to global standards
- Challenge vendor designs and operational practices; contribute to design reviews and risk assessments
- Provide technical design reviews, service assurance and risk assessments for infrastructure services
- Assess and challenge 3rd party or intra-group changes to understand and mitigate impacts on service availability
- Maintain strong incident oversight including technical validation, root-cause analysis and ensuring effective corrective actions by vendors
- Manage technical relationships with intra-group providers and external vendors; translate technical risk into clear business impact
- Provide regular progress updates to the UK Service Manager, Leadership team and other stakeholders; own escalations and highlight risks or delays
- Extract actionable insights for technical services provided to Santander UK by internal and external providers
Benefits
- 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (increases to 31 days after 5 years) with option to purchase up to 5 additional days
- £6,000 car allowance per year
- Company funded private medical insurance
- Company-funded death-in-service benefit and income protection insurance; discounted rates for additional life assurance and critical illness cover
- Share in Santander’s success through share plans
- Staff benefits on Santander products with no fees, and access to discounts across Santander products and services
- Competitive rewards reflecting impact and value
- Wellbeing support across physical, mental, social and financial domains, including apps, gym access, online classes, flexible healthcare and mental health support
- Support for life stages (menopause, pregnancy, parenthood, etc.) with enhanced family leave and tailored wellbeing support
- Volunteer opportunities to contribute to communities
- Global growth opportunities across our international network
Compliance & Working Pattern
We are an inclusive organisation that provides equal opportunities for everyone. We are committed to accessible, fair and welcoming recruitment for all candidates. Roles are site-based with a hybrid pattern; colleagues are expected to attend the office at least 12 days per month (pro-rata for part-time roles). Consider travel distance, time and cost to your chosen office location.
Right to work in the UK
Every individual must have the right to work in the UK. If a visa/permit is required, this will not influence progress; however, if you do not have the right to work or a visa application is unsuccessful, Santander will not proceed with your application. We welcome applications with the understanding that relocation packages may not be available. Santander will pay the employer mandatory government fees for visa sponsorship. You may be liable for personal immigration and relocation costs.
What To Do Next
If this sounds like a role you are interested in, please apply. If you need assistance, contact resourcing@santander.co.uk.
IT Infrastructure Technical SME | S3 | CIO | Milton Keynes employer: Santander UK
Contact Detail:
Santander UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land IT Infrastructure Technical SME | S3 | CIO | Milton Keynes
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the IT infrastructure space, especially those who might have insights into Santander. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your technical knowledge. Be ready to discuss your experience with storage, backups, and cloud solutions. We want to see you shine as the SME you are!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills during interviews. Share specific examples of how you've tackled complex issues in the past. This will demonstrate your ability to handle the challenges that come with the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace IT Infrastructure Technical SME | S3 | CIO | Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the IT Infrastructure Technical SME role. Highlight your relevant experience, especially in storage and backups, and showcase your problem-solving skills. We want to see how your background aligns with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your expertise can contribute to our mission. Keep it concise but impactful – we love a good story that connects your experience to our needs.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since excellent communication is key for this role, make sure your written application reflects that. Use clear and professional language, and avoid jargon unless it's necessary. We want to see how well you can articulate technical information!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our company culture and values.
How to prepare for a job interview at Santander UK
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge, especially around storage, backups, and cloud solutions. Be ready to discuss specific technologies and how they relate to the role. This will show that you're not just familiar with the concepts but can also apply them in real-world scenarios.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since excellent communication skills are essential for this role, practice articulating complex technical information in a way that's easy to understand. You might be asked to explain technical issues to non-technical stakeholders, so think about how you would break down complicated topics.
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of past experiences where you've diagnosed and resolved complex technical issues. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, highlighting your analytical thinking and ability to work under pressure.
✨Understand Change Management
Familiarise yourself with change management strategies, as this is a preferred skill for the role. Be ready to discuss any relevant experience you have in developing or implementing these strategies, and how they contributed to successful project outcomes.