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Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Network & Communications Specialist
The closing date is 28 June 2026
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Job Summary
Help power technology that supports better service user care.
We are looking for a values-driven infrastructure leader to help shape our digital strategy, lead a 3rd line network and communications team, and deliver secure, reliable services that make a real difference across the our trust.

• Lead with compassion, kindness and respect
• Drive innovation that improves outcomes and efficiency
• Deliver resilient, patient-focused digital services
  

If you're passionate about teamwork, continuous improvement, and using technology to support our people, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Lead the secure delivery and ongoing performance of infrastructure, systems, ensuring high availability, resilience, and compliance through best practice design, maintenance, monitoring, and continuity planning.
To provide day-to-day leadership of a 3rd Line Network and Communications team, including performance management and delivery against strategic objectives.
Take ownership of complex technical incidents and major outages, driving resolution while communicating effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, and collaborating with external partners.
Apply specialist expertise to troubleshoot, analyse, and resolve technical issues, while supporting security, and data protection standards.
Contribute to service improvement, major incident management, and change processes, with a focus on supporting safe, reliable, and digital services.
About Us
We are passionate about providing the very best care to the people we support, and we're looking for amazing people who share this passion to join us.
What is it that makes our Trust such a special place to work? Well, it's all about the people. Our staff, service users, carers and families all come from such diverse backgrounds and all have expertise and stories to share.
It's important that you feel supported in your role, that the people who you work with are as passionate as you are and that your health and wellbeing is taken care of
If you're interested in developing your career, you'll have access to a range of training and education opportunities, including apprenticeships, work experience and placements, as well as the chance to get involved in research.
We are very proud of the difference we make to people's lives each and every day and if that's something that you'd like to be part of we'd love to have you with us.
Details
Date posted
09 June 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£49,387 to £56,515 a year Per Annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
457-26-8030522
Job locations
Wardends Road
Wardsend Road North
Sheffield
S6 1LX
United Kingdom
Job Description
Job responsibilities
To support the Infrastructure & Cyber Manager in shaping and delivering digital strategy by identifying emerging technologies and driving improvements in ways of working and cost efficiency.
The role provides leadership to a 3rd Line Network & Communications team, ensuring infrastructure, systems, and services are secure, resilient, and fit for purpose.
Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain IT best practice policies, processes, and standard operating procedures
• Lead and contribute to complex, multi-stream technical projects and programmes
• Represent Technical Services at governance boards, providing expert advice and reporting
• Define and communicate technical requirements, ensuring secure and feasible solutions
• Develop business cases and options appraisals to secure investment funding
• Collaborate with suppliers and stakeholders to plan, resource, and deliver projects
• Support design, implementation, and upgrade of infrastructure in line with best practice
• Deliver transformational digital capabilities that support frontline services
• Drive improvements in working practices to enable new technologies and ways of working
  

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain IT best practice policies, processes, and standard operating procedures
• Lead and contribute to complex, multi-stream technical projects and programmes
• Represent Technical Services at governance boards, providing expert advice and reporting
• Define and communicate technical requirements, ensuring secure and feasible solutions
• Develop business cases and options appraisals to secure investment funding
• Collaborate with suppliers and stakeholders to plan, resource, and deliver projects
• Support design, implementation, and upgrade of infrastructure in line with best practice
• Deliver transformational digital capabilities that support frontline services
• Drive improvements in working practices to enable new technologies and ways of working
  

Person Specification
Technical skills
Essential

• Able to lead the team in responding positively to change, working effectively under pressure and dealing with changing or conflicting priorities.
• Develops internal policies, procedures and services relating to the support and delivery of technical infrastructure and technology. Supports the communication and understanding of policies to the wider organisation to facilitate compliance.
• Able to engage and manage third-party suppliers in the delivery of operational IT services and incident resolution, ensuring they meet contractual obligations.
• Able to undertake complex audits of technical Infrastructure, record results, interpret them and report outcomes accurately.
  

Desirable

• Able to write effective business cases which demonstrate value to the Trust achieved through investment in digital technology and technical infrastructure.
• Experience of working within IT for the NHS or wider healthcare community
  

Essential
Training and qualifications

• Educated to Degree Level in an appropriate IT discipline, or equivalent, relevant experience
• Professional technical accreditations in a discipline relevant to the technical team being managed such as Cisco CCNA/CCNP, Aruba & Fortinet
• ITIL v4 Qualification
  

Desirable

• Project Management qualification in PRINCE2
  

Experience
Essential

• Experience of configuring, managing and monitoring network switches, firewalls and other critical IT InfrastructureoExperience of configuring, managing and monitoring network switches, firewalls and other critical IT Infrastructure
• Depth of 3rd Line technical skills & experience across a breadth of technical disciplines, gained through a combination of practical hands-on experience and specialist technical training.
• Previous experience working in a network line management role.
• Experience of managing and maintaining VoIP systems
• Experienced in driving transformational change and service improvements whilst maintaining operational service delivery.
  

Desirable

• Understanding of Information Governance and IT policies and procedures within an NHS environment
• Experience in managing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI)
  

Person Specification
Technical skills
Essential

• Able to lead the team in responding positively to change, working effectively under pressure and dealing with changing or conflicting priorities.
• Develops internal policies, procedures and services relating to the support and delivery of technical infrastructure and technology. Supports the communication and understanding of policies to the wider organisation to facilitate compliance.
• Able to engage and manage third-party suppliers in the delivery of operational IT services and incident resolution, ensuring they meet contractual obligations.
• Able to undertake complex audits of technical Infrastructure, record results, interpret them and report outcomes accurately.
  

Desirable

• Able to write effective business cases which demonstrate value to the Trust achieved through investment in digital technology and technical infrastructure.
• Experience of working within IT for the NHS or wider healthcare community
  

Essential

• Educated to Degree Level in an appropriate IT discipline, or equivalent, relevant experience
• Professional technical accreditations in a discipline relevant to the technical team being managed such as Cisco CCNA/CCNP, Aruba & Fortinet
• ITIL v4 Qualification
  

Desirable

• Project Management qualification in PRINCE2
  

Essential

• Experience of configuring, managing and monitoring network switches, firewalls and other critical IT InfrastructureoExperience of configuring, managing and monitoring network switches, firewalls and other critical IT Infrastructure
• Depth of 3rd Line technical skills & experience across a breadth of technical disciplines, gained through a combination of practical hands-on experience and specialist technical training.
• Previous experience working in a network line management role.
• Experience of managing and maintaining VoIP systems
• Experienced in driving transformational change and service improvements whilst maintaining operational service delivery.
  

Desirable

• Understanding of Information Governance and IT policies and procedures within an NHS environment
• Experience in managing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI)
  

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Wardends Road
Wardsend Road North
Sheffield
S6 1LX
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.sheffieldpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Wardends Road
Wardsend Road North
Sheffield
S6 1LX
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.sheffieldpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact details
For Questions About The Job, Contact:
Infrastructure and Cyber Manager
Emma Porter
Emma.porter@sheffieldpartnership.nhs.uk
01142718177
Details
Date posted
09 June 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£49,387 to £56,515 a year Per Annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
457-26-8030522
Job locations
Wardends Road
Wardsend Road North
Sheffield
S6 1LX
United Kingdom
Supporting documents
Privacy notice
Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)