Communications Architect

Princes Liverpool is looking for a Network/Communications Architect to join their IT department. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to work at a senior level for one of the UK's leading FMCG businesses. We offer Hybrid working which includes three days a week from home and two days a week in our impressive offices situated in the Royal Liver Building with a car parking pass.

This is a fantastic opportunity as a business we are small enough to make changes quickly but large enough to do things on a bigger scale for the business. This position has the agility to make things happen and the support to make key strategic decisions.

Job Purpose

• To assume key responsibility for the evaluation, recommendation, implementation and management of the network and communications mechanisms necessary to ensure efficient communications both within the Princes Group and also with business partners, Achieved with guidance from and providing feedback to the Head of IT Service Delivery.
• To assist in the setting of key forward IT strategies, in conjunction with the Head of IT Service Delivery and other members of the Senior Management team.
• To manage incidents escalated from the Business Systems Support team by analysing problems and formulating practical resolutions to ensure IT service security and availability.
• To ensure that each relevant element of the IT communications infrastructure is managed to a standard that complies with Princes’ strict IT General Controls.
• To ensure knowledge is distributed between colleagues in the support teams.

Please note this role will involve travel to our UK sites a few times a month, and has the potential for future global travel to our overseas parts of the business. As a senior member within the team if emergencies / key projects come in there may be a need for you to flex your hours to support the business needs.

Why Princes?

• £5,977 Cash Car Allowance
• 14.5% Pension consisting of a 9.5% Employer contribution (Opt-In)
• 12.5% Corporate Incentive Scheme/Bonus (75% Princes Company performance, 25% individual performance based).
• Free Car Parking Pass
• 26 days Annual Leave including a day for your Birthday + Bank Holidays
• Flexible holidays - the option to buy/sell up to 5 days holiday each year.
• Hybrid Working & Core Hours - Monday is an anchor day in the office
• Private Medical Insurance (Single, Partner, Family Cover)
• Critical Illness Scheme
• Life Insurance
• Enhanced Family Friendly Policy (Maternity, Paternity, Adoption Leave)
• Discounted Staff Shop

Dimensions

The Communications Architect is responsible for the delivery of the network infrastructure, used by every employee and IT service within the organisation on a daily basis. The multitude of interconnected networks is the 'glue’ that binds the entire organisation and a stable communications platform is critical to the success of the business. The role has the following scope:

• 2500 users globally
• Royal Liver Building head office
• 10 UK sites, 7 manufacturing sites, 2 warehouses and 1 datacentre
• 3 European sites, 2 manufacturing sites and 1 office
• 2 Mauritius manufacturing sites
• 200+ servers

Internal contacts can include members of the organisation at all levels, from junior staff to Chief Executives. Regular contacts will be with Senior Managers and both Departmental and Group Directors. External contacts will include representatives from our key technology partners who provide equipment, service and support. These contacts will be for the negotiation of contracts and services, as well as resolution of day-to-day issues and also the definition of future strategy

Principal Responsibilities

• Primary responsibility for the development and management of efficient communications mechanisms, both internal and external to the business.
• Primary responsibility for evaluating, transitioning and managing the relationship with Princes’ communications partners.
• Primary responsibility for managing communications contracts and billing.
• Responsibility for network security concepts, in agreement with the Security Architect and Head of IT Service Delivery.
• Efficient management of communications projects to ensure on-schedule and within-budget delivery.
• Provision of regular capacity and usage reports for the Head of IT Service Delivery to ensure a well-managed and available communications platform and to drive future investment, where necessary.
• Retain up-to-date knowledge of emerging communications technologies and recommend adoption strategies.
• Provide technical expertise within business continuity and disaster recovery.
• Provision of Incident Reports in the event of service outages, to include root cause analysis and preventative measures to ensure incident recurrence is minimised. Target audience can be all management grades, up to Chief Executive level.
• Efficient management of changes, following Princes’ change management policy to ensure changes are delivered on-schedule.
• Support and administration of the network and communications environment to ensure application access to staff at all times.
• Ensure all related documentation is kept up to date to enable support of systems by other members of the team and department
• Assist in the troubleshooting of all areas of the IT Core Infrastructure, specifically with internal firewalls which underpin our network segmentation.

Experience Required

• Aruba Local-Area Network technologies, both in office and production site environments (desirable not essential)
• Network Access Control system development & management expertise
• SD-WAN network technologies expertise
• Aruba Wireless LAN technologies expertise (desirable)
• Telephony technologies expertise
• Mobile device management technologies and management
• Deep knowledge of supplier management
• Secure networking principles
• Secure Remote Access and Internet technologies
• Microsoft Windows Server networking concepts
• Networking principles (e.g. DNS, DHCP)
• Fortinet Firewall management competence
• VMware ESX networking competence