Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage a diverse network infrastructure, ensuring connectivity across key sites.
- Company: Join the West Midlands Combined Authority, a leader in public service innovation.
- Benefits: Generous pension scheme, 28 days leave, healthcare plans, and discounts on shopping.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and community engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on critical infrastructure while developing your technical skills.
- Qualifications: Extensive networking experience and knowledge of cloud and hybrid environments required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is seeking a Principal Network and Infrastructure Specialist to take ownership of a diverse and business‑critical network estate, spanning core switching, enterprise Wi‑Fi, and voice systems across key sites including transport hubs, offices, and partner locations. The role involves managing Cisco‑based switching environments, VLAN configurations, and supporting Aruba wireless networks to keep people, places, and services connected.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead, manage, and continuously develop the organisation’s network, voice, and connectivity infrastructure across cloud and on‑premises environments, ensuring alignment with the Tech and Insights strategy and industry best practice.
- Provide expert technical leadership and 3rd‑line support for highly complex infrastructure issues and transformation projects, making independent, informed technical decisions to maintain resilient and secure services.
- Ensure the network infrastructure is secure, reliable, and recoverable by overseeing performance, monitoring, backup, disaster recovery, and compliance with cyber security, data protection, and governance standards.
- Drive the adoption of modern, scalable architectures and automation, identifying opportunities for improvement, managing risks and dependencies, and delivering solutions that provide value for money.
- Oversee and support the delivery of infrastructure services through effective collaboration with internal teams, contracted resources, and external suppliers, while contributing to skills development and knowledge resilience within Digital and Data.
What’s Essential
- Extensive experience within networking and infrastructure environments, including but not limited to cloud virtual networking, LAN / WAN, firewalls, voice and wireless technologies.
- Extensive experience administering, configuring, and designing a multisite and hybrid cloud enterprise network environment.
- A good understanding of network and infrastructure roadmaps and the ability to evaluate the applicability for business productivity solutions in accordance with the Digital and Data strategy.
- Experience deploying hybrid cloud networking and infrastructure solutions, such as managed service WANs, multi‑site enterprise LANs, enterprise wireless solutions, virtual cloud networking and secure resilient network environments and technologies.
- Experience with core network technologies such as data and voice networks, routing, Layer 3 switching, firewall configuration, VLANs, software‑defined network technologies and secure resilient design principles.
- Extensive knowledge of supporting Layer 2 / 3 Cisco and HP Aruba network environments and virtual networking.
Location
The position is based at 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD, with at least two days a week spent in the office.
Salary And Benefits
- We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate.
- This approach allows for potential year‑on‑year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees.
- Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.
- Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
- Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme allowing you to build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).
- 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + statutory days.
- Electric vehicle car benefit scheme.
- Healthcare plans.
- Discounted gym membership, will‑writing, and mortgage advice.
- Option to buy a bicycle, including e‑bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
- Three days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
- Interest‑free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology.
- Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big‑name retailers, and a Costco membership through the WMCA.
- Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top‑rated UK attractions and additional benefits and discounts.
- Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards glasses.
Right to Work in the UK
Proof of right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements before any employment offer can be confirmed. Non‑UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant visa from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
Principal Network and Infrastructure Specialist employer: WMJobs
Contact Detail:
WMJobs Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Network and Infrastructure Specialist
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, meetups, or online webinars related to networking and infrastructure. Connecting with professionals in the field can lead to job opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal website showcasing your projects, certifications, and any relevant experience. This gives potential employers a tangible way to see what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply; engage! When you find a role that excites you, reach out to current employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and express your interest in the position. It shows initiative and can help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 4
Keep it local! Apply through our website for the Principal Network and Infrastructure Specialist role. We’re all about finding the right fit, and applying directly helps us see your enthusiasm for the position!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Network and Infrastructure Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with Cisco-based switching environments and cloud networking. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant expertise!
Showcase Your Technical Leadership: In your application, emphasise any previous roles where you provided expert technical leadership or managed complex infrastructure issues. We’re looking for someone who can make informed decisions, so share examples that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities.
Highlight Collaboration Skills: Since this role involves working closely with internal teams and external suppliers, it’s important to illustrate your collaboration skills. Share experiences where you’ve successfully worked with others to deliver infrastructure services or projects.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at WMJobs
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Cisco-based switching environments, VLAN configurations, and Aruba wireless networks. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've successfully managed these technologies, as this will show your hands-on experience.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of complex infrastructure issues you've tackled in the past. Highlight your approach to making independent, informed technical decisions and how those decisions led to resilient and secure services.
✨Align with Their Strategy
Familiarise yourself with the Tech and Insights strategy of the West Midlands Combined Authority. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals and how you can contribute to their network and infrastructure development.
✨Collaboration is Key
Think about times when you've effectively collaborated with internal teams, external suppliers, or contracted resources. Be ready to share how you contributed to skills development and knowledge resilience within your previous roles.