Network Manager

Required: Easter 2025

Salary: Up to £52,000 per annum

Line Manager: Deputy Head (Operations)

The Role

We are seeking to appoint a driven and proactive Network Manager to lead the delivery of first-class IT services to staff, students and other stakeholders. You will ensure the provision of safe, secure and reliable IT infrastructure and ensure the network, systems and School devices are working at optimum levels, enabling efficiency of teaching and learning and the smooth running of the School’s operational life.

This exciting role will give the successful candidate ample opportunity to apply their expertise and skills in an educational setting, and to shape the IT systems and provision within the School. You will enable both pupils and staff to fully benefit from the opportunities that technology can bring to the classroom, ensure that Cyber Security is safe and secure, and that file and data management is consistent, efficient and reliable.

The School

The King’s School, Gloucester has a rich academic tradition dating back to its founding in 1541. It houses the longest-serving classroom in Europe and is held in high esteem amongst the local and wider community, winning Gloucestershire Independent School of the Year in 2020 and 2021, and being Highly Commended again in 2022 and 2023. Following the 2022 ISI Inspection, King’s was proud to be declared ‘excellent in all areas’.

Main Duties

• Manage the School’s IT infrastructure, ensuring that the network and digital systems are fully functional, continue to meet the requirements of users and comply with digital and technological standards;
• Line manage the School’s team of IT Technicians, overseeing their professional development and ensuring a robust and consistent service across the School;
• Lead the delivery of IT-related developments throughout the School and actively seek opportunities for innovation and improvement;
• Provide strategic advice to Senior Leaders on IT developmental capacity, ensuring resources and services are aligned with national educational trends, anticipated statutory requirements, and the School’s own developmental objectives;
• Proactively monitor network performance, improve systems, troubleshoot issues and optimise resources throughout the School;
• Ensure that the use of IT in School is appropriately controlled and managed, and that cyber security provision is suitably robust, including regular testing, review of system activity reports and maintenance of a Cyber Security Policy and Incident Response Plan;
• Be responsible for systems that adhere to the highest standards of web filtering, supporting the safeguarding and online safety of pupils;
• Oversee the School’s servers, cloud-based services and the maintenance of all hardware (including CCTV, telephones, AV equipment and other platforms), delegating as required to ensure that IT equipment is in good working order and day-to-day issues are resolved as they arise;
• Manage the administration and troubleshooting of externally hosted IT services, such as Microsoft 365;
• Assist the marketing manager with the management and maintenance of the School's website;
• Ensure that the School has the relevant licences in place for software and IT services, and to work with stakeholders to review and rationalise these;
• Understanding and administering the school network: switches, cabling and Wi-Fi access points;
• Ensuring that appropriate backups are taken of school data;
• Maintenance and configuration of the School’s management information systems;
• Serve as the School’s lead technical resource, liaising third-party suppliers/service providers and overseeing service level agreements to ensure contracts deliver value for money;
• Provide technical support and training for staff and pupils as necessary;
• Ensuring that IT staff have access to appropriate CPD opportunities;
• Manage the inventory of software and hardware resources;
• Work collaboratively with the Deputy Head (Operations) to produce and manage a yearly IT budget;
• Any other duties that may reasonably be assigned by the Deputy Head (Operations) or Headmaster.

Personal Profile

• Excellent proficiency in IT, including hardware configuration and diagnostics, network management, system implementation and control, system security and risk management;
• A desire to work in an educational environment;
• Enthusiasm, drive and a proactive attitude to cope with the many demands placed on this busy department;
• Outstanding customer care and the ability to work across the entire scope of the School;
• Excellent communication skills, able to work well within a small team and establish good working relationships with both staff and pupils;
• The ability to work under pressure, prioritise workload effectively and manage colleague frustrations with tact and understanding;
• Be capable of showing initiative, including the ability to think ahead and work flexibly;
• A willingness to learn and develop as technology and best practice evolves;
• Sound knowledge of Microsoft desktop and server operating systems, Microsoft Active Directory, Microsoft Azure/Entra ID/Office 365 platform, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft OneDrive, Azure AD Sync;
• Prior experience of working in a school would be advantageous but training in school systems will be provided;
• An IT-relevant qualification and experience of team leadership are highly desirable.

Hours of Work

The Network Manager shall work from 08:00 to 16:30, Monday to Friday with a one-hour lunch break. This may vary on occasion to allow support for events at non-core times, and there may be other occasions when you are required to work, including evenings and weekends. Remuneration will be given for any additional hours worked.

Holidays

Holiday entitlement will be 25 days per annum plus Bank Holidays, rising to 30 days per annum after 5 years of service.

Benefits

• A contributory pension through Aviva APTIS;
• Generous fee remission for children at King’s;
• Before / After School Care for children at King’s;
• Access to a Doctor for advice and short consultations;
• Staff Wellbeing Programme;
• Cycle to Work Scheme;
• Lunches;
• Parking.

Applications

Candidates should apply through TES or by sending a completed School Application Form and Covering Letter via email to recruitment@thekingsschool.co.uk. A CV is not required.

For further information, please contact Mr Harry Fuller on 01452 337337 or via email to recruitment@thekingsschool.co.uk.