Infrastructure Officer (Security) - Req24710

Job title:            Infrastructure Officer (Security)
Salary:               SO1 £32,076.00 to £33,945.00
Hours:               37
Contract:           Permanent
Location:           Leeds City Council

As an Infrastructure Officer (Security), you’ll thrive on providing support for Internet connectivity, content filtering and troubleshooting Internet access via proxy servers, with an enthusiasm for learning new technologies.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions. 

About you

As an Infrastructure Officer (Security), you will bring to the role:

• Excellent communications skills to all levels of staff
• Knowledge on networking would be advantageous
• Knowledge and experience on Firewalls and managing Proxy Servers
• Knowledge and experience managing various endpoint security products
• Knowledge on Virtual Private Networks

About the role

As our next Infrastructure Officer (Security), you will be supporting network access control systems which is integral to our team.

• Managing access connectivity through Firewalls
• Managing Intrusion Prevention systems
• Investigating VPN issues
• Supporting Remote Access users
• Managing Endpoint Security Products
• Supporting Network Access Control systems

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description

Job Purpose

Provision of second line technical support to ensure service availability to the customer.

Monitoring of the performance of systems and services (including hardware, software and network) and  the ongoing management of operational facilities to provide the agreed levels of service, seeking continually and proactively to improve service delivery.

The installation, testing, implementation or decommissioning and removal of equipment, hardware and appropriate software in accordance with agreed standards ensuring these are controlled and there is effective handover to operations and the user community.

Responsibilities

Technical / Professional Accountabilities:

• IT Operations  (SFIA level 2)  - The planning, implementation, control, review and audit of service provision, to meet customer business requirements. This includes negotiation, implementation and monitoring of service level agreements, and the ongoing management of operational facilities to provide the agreed levels of service, seeking continually and proactively to improve service delivery.
• Service desk and incident management (SFIA level 2) - The processing and coordination of appropriate and timely responses to incident reports, including channelling requests for help to appropriate functions for resolution, monitoring resolution activity, and keeping  clients appraised of progress.
• For this post experience in either Network Operation / Support or Systems Design / Integration is required.
• Network control and operation (SFIA level 3) - The day-to-day operation and control of all equipment within a local area network infrastructure. Includes production of network performance statistics, provision of network diagnostic information and site surveys.
• Network support (SFIA level 3) - The provision of network maintenance and support services. Support may be provided both to users of the systems and to service delivery functions. Support typically takes the form of investigating and resolving problems and providing information about the systems. It may also include monitoring their performance. Problems may be resolved by providing advice or training to users about the network's functionality, correct  operation or constraints, by devising work-arounds, correcting faults, or making general or site-specific modifications.

     OR

• Systems Design (SFIA Level 3) - The specification and design of information systems and their components to meet defined business needs, retaining compatibility with enterprise and solution architectures.
• Systems integration (SFIA Level 3) - The incremental and logical integration and testing of components and/or subsystems and their interfaces in order to create operational services.
• Porting / Software Integration (SFIA level 3) - Configures software and equipment and tests platform-specific versions of one or more software products. Reports the outcome of testing and identifies potential improvements to the process and to the software  products according to agreed designs and standards

The post also has the following responsibilities.

• Continuity management (SFIA Level 4) - The provision of service continuity planning and support. This includes the identification of information systems which support critical business processes, the assessment of risks to those systems' availability, integrity and confidentiality and the co-ordination of planning, designing, testing and maintenance procedures and contingency plans to address exposures and maintain agreed levels of continuity. This function should be performed as part of, or in close cooperation with, the function which plans business continuity for the whole organisation.
• Security administration (SFIA level 3) - The authorisation and monitoring of access to IT facilities or infrastructure in accordance with established organisational policy. Includes investigation of unauthorised access, compliance with relevant legislation and the performance of other administrative duties relating to security management.
• Problem management (SFIA level 4) - The resolution of incidents and problems throughout the information system lifecycle, including classification, prioritisation and initiation of action, documentation of root causes and implementation of remedies.
• Quality standards (SFIA level 3) - The development, maintenance, control and distribution of quality standards.
• Release Management (SFIA level 3) - Uses the tools and techniques for specific areas of release and deployment activities. Administers the recording of activities, logging of results and documents technical activity undertaken. May carry out early life support activities such as providing support advice to initial users.
• Configuration Management (SFIA level 2) - The lifecycle planning, control and management of the documentation, software, hardware and firmware assets of an organisation, system and/or service(s), including information relating to those assets and their dependencies and relationships. This involves identification, classification and appropriate specification of all configuration items (CIs) and the interfaces to other processes and data through techniques such as federation. Required information relates to storage, access, service relationships, versions, problem reporting and change control of CIs. The application of status accounting and auditing, often in line with  acknowledged external criteria such as ISO 9000 and ISO 20000, throughout all stages of the CI lifecycle, including (importantly) the early stages of system development.
• Service Management (Level 4) - Ensures that service management lifecycle requirements are fully considered and planned in to the development of and/or the on-going management of an ICT service. Identifies new service opportunities, provides input to the definition of services. Maintains service component information.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Method of Assessment (MOA) – A = Application Form I = Interview C=Certificate

Qualification and Training Requirements

• It is desirable for the post holder to hold an appropriate level of qualification, or has undertaken appropriate training, which fits with the technical environment at Leeds City Council. (C) 

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• For this post the post holder must have either a specialism in networks or system design / integration
  Network control and operation (A/I)) Where appropriate, has experience of taking responsibility for significant aspects of the installing, upgrading, operation, control and effective use of local and wide area networks for the communication of data, voice, text or images.
• Network support (A/I) Where appropriate, has experience to draft and maintain procedures and documentation for network support; making a significant contribution to the investigation, diagnosis and resolution of network problems.

     OR

• Systems Design (A/I) Experience of specifying user/system interfaces and translating logical designs into physical designs taking account of target environment, performance requirements and existing systems. Produces detailed designs and documents all work using required standards, methods and tools, including prototyping tools where appropriate.
• Systems integration (A/I) Where appropriate, has the ability to define the integration build, accept software modules from software developers, and produce software builds for loading onto the target environment; can configure the hardware environment, produce integration test specification, and conduct tests, recording details of any failures and carrying out fault diagnosis.
• Porting/Software Integration (A/I) Experience of configuring software and equipment and tests platform-specific versions of one or more software products. Reports the outcome of testing and identifies potential improvements to the process and to the software products according to agreed designs and standards.

Remaining areas of the specification are all required.

• Continuity management (A/I) Experience of contributing to the service continuity planning process and implements resulting plans.
• IT Operations (A/I) Experience of carrying out agreed operational procedures, contributing to the implementation of maintenance and installation work.
• Security administration (A/I) Experience of investigating minor security breaches in accordance with established procedures. Assists users in defining their access rights and privileges and operates agreed logical access controls and security systems. Maintains agreed security records and documentation.
• Service desk and incident management (A/I) Experience of handling incidents and requests according to agreed procedures and ensuring that documentation of the supported components is available and in an appropriate form for those providing support.
• Problem management (A/I) Experience of investigating and resolving incidents and problems in systems and services and assisting with the implementation of agreed remedies and preventative measures.
• Quality standards (A/I) The ability to control, update and distribute new and revised quality standards.
• Release Management (A/I) The ability to use the tools and techniques for specific areas of release and deployment activities. Administers the recording of activities, logging of results and documents technical activity undertaken. May carry out early life support activities such as providing support advice to initial users.
• Configuration Management (A/I) Experience of administering configuration items (CIs) and related information. Applies tools, techniques and processes for administering CIs and related information, ensuring protection of assets and components from unauthorised change, diversion and inappropriate use
• Service level management (A/I) Ability to monitor service delivery performance metrics and liaise with managers and customers to ensure that service level agreements are not breached without the stakeholders being given the opportunity of planning for a deterioration in service.
• Managerial Standards (A/I).

All staff at SO1 grade are expected to have the ability to work to the desired level of the staff standards. Below are the key areas which are essential for this role:

• Ability to work within the Council’s Equality and Diversity Policy both in employment and service delivery. Able to provide advice and guidance to junior staff on this policy.
• Ability to make a significant contribution to the service/business planning process.
• Ability to contribute to the setting of council policy in a constructive and effective manner.
• Experience of ensuring that all income due, for services provided, is received.
• Ability to work within the governance arrangement of the division and the council and to provide advice and guidance to other staff on their application.
• Ability to work on own initiative and take accountability for area of responsibility.
• Experience of developing and sustaining constructive working relationships both internal and external.

Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.