An exciting opportunity has arisen at Oaklands for an IT Operations Engineer to ensure the effective operation, maintenance, and development of the college’s IT infrastructure and systems

The Oaklands Education group is a vibrant and diverse learning centred community, providing transformational education for over 100 years. Oaklands is more than just a College and is well positioned to be internationally known, nationally recognised, regionally relevant, and locally significant.

Oaklands is ambitious at reaching a greater number of individuals, businesses and stakeholders through its diverse group, to grow our portfolio and offer, to meet global economic and social needs in a transformational way and we are seeking an IT Operations Engineer to play a vital role in our journey.

We are looking for an enthusiastic IT Operations Engineer to join our team and play a crucial role in supporting the digital environment by managing servers, networks, cloud services, and security systems. In this position, you will be an important member of a team that maintains and support the college’s core IT infrastructure, including servers, storage, and network equipment as well as contributing to the planning and implementation of IT projects such as system upgrades, migrations, and new deployments. You will also be responsible for administering virtual environments e.g. Hyper V and cloud platforms and services.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to move from IT Support or step up from a junior operations role. The successful candidate should be able to work both independently and as part of a team, have excellent troubleshooting and analytical skills and have a good foundation knowledge of Windows server environments. You should be proficient in Microsoft Office and capable of managing multiple priorities effectively. Previous experience of working in an IT team is essential, along with a commitment to providing a high-quality service to all users of the Colleges Digital environments.

Key Responsibilities:

Infrastructure & System Management

• Maintain and support the college’s core IT infrastructure including servers, storage, and network equipment.
• Monitor system performance and availability, proactively identifying and resolving issues.
• Administer virtual environments (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V) and cloud platforms (e.g., Microsoft 365, Azure).
• Manage Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, and other core services.

Network & Security

• Support the configuration and maintenance of LAN/WAN, firewalls, VPNs, and wireless networks.
• Implement and monitor cybersecurity measures including endpoint protection, patch management, and threat detection.
• Assist in maintaining compliance with data protection regulations and safeguarding policies.

Operational Support

• Provide 2nd/3rd line technical support for escalated incidents and service requests.
• Collaborate with the IT support team to ensure timely resolution of issues and high-quality service delivery.
• Maintain accurate documentation of systems, configurations, and procedures.

Project Delivery

• Contribute to the planning and implementation of IT projects such as system upgrades, migrations, and new deployments.
• Work with internal stakeholders and external vendors to deliver technical solutions aligned with college objectives.

Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity

• Support the development and testing of backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity plans.
• Ensure regular backups are completed and tested for integrity.

Person Specification:

Essential:

• Experience in managing Windows Server environments and Microsoft 365.
• Solid understanding of networking principles and technologies (e.g., VLANs, routing, switching).
• Experience with virtualization platforms and cloud infrastructure.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices and tools.
• Excellent troubleshooting and analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Desirable:

• Experience in an educational or public sector environment.
• Familiarity with ITIL practices and service management tools.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA, ITIL).

Qualifications:

• HND or equivalent qualification in IT, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Professional certifications in infrastructure, networking, or cloud technologies are advantageous.

Additional Information:

• This role may require occasional evening or weekend work for maintenance or project delivery.

Why Oaklands?

We want you to love coming to work, feeling healthy, happy and valued. That's why we've developed a benefits package with you in mind. We have fantastic benefits like;

• Generous holiday allowance - 30 days plus bank holidays.
• Local Government Pension Scheme with excellent employer contributions.
• Ongoing CPD and free access to Adult Community Learning courses.
• Free onsite permit parking.
• Onsite gym (St Albans Campus) and wellness treatments at discounted rates.
• Cycle to Work Scheme and discounted travel through UNO Bus Scheme.
• Eye care vouchers and employee assistance programme.
• Mental health and wellbeing support, including peer supporters.
• Staff development days and annual awards celebrating your achievements.

If you like what you see, why not start your application now? We consider applications as we receive them and reserve the right to close adverts early (for example, where we have received an unprecedented high volume of applications). So, it's a good idea to apply right away to ensure you're considered for this role.

Oaklands is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to helping find great work opportunities for great people.

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