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Network Specialist (10), Network Communications Team

REF SUPP101226

1 JOB DESCRIPTION

School or Division/ Address:

IT Services, Computer Centre, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1UD

Academic Faculty / Support Services Division: Network Communications, IT Services

(Supplementary information for recruitment only)

Job Family / Grade: Professional and Administrative / Grade J

Salary range: £35,256 - £39,685 per annum

Hours of work: 100% time Work pattern: Full time

Contract type: Open ended

1.1 Main Job Purpose

To be responsible, working closely with other members of the team and being guided by more senior members, for the installation, configuration, management, support, and operation of the University’s data network and the services and devices that run on it, including its links to JANET (Joint Academic Network), UHBristol, and NBHT, undertaking the wide variety of work that is associated with this. To be responsible for providing network security using the University’s main firewalls and also for other firewalls located throughout the University to provide additional network security where this is needed.

1.2 Statement of Responsibilities

Analysis, Reporting and Documentation

Install, configure, procure, upgrade, decommission and maintain the University network hardware/software and infrastructure; this includes routers, switches, wireless devices, media converters, voice over IP phones, and other associated equipment, and the software that runs on these devices, working closely with other University staff. This hardware must be made safe and secure, taking note of health and safety issues, and installed in an appropriate way.

To be responsible for all network cabling, both fibre optic and copper, in the Computer Centre communications and machine room being very careful not to disturb any existing cables or network devices. To assist with all network cabling anywhere else in the University. To label all cables and to keep a record of this information in a cables database (this information must be kept up-to-date to allow for quick resolution of network faults).

Network device configuration management. To keep all configuration files backed up on secure servers current and up-to-date, to allow the quick resolution of faults.

Produce documentation, including network diagrams and device configuration files. Customer Services & Support

Act as a point of contact for internal and helpdesk staff, and to initiate work on their behalf.

Give advice to members of the University on firewall/security matters.

Give advice and guidance on procurement, prices and suitability of different equipment options. Planning & Organising

Plan, schedule and prioritise important network upgrades and installations, to make sure these are implemented smoothly and efficiently to avoid network downtime.

Liaison

Act as the main point of contact for external bodies such as SWERN (South Western Regional Network), UKERNA (United Kingdom Education and Research Networking Association)/JANET (Joint Academic Network), and to initiate work on their behalf.

Decision Making

Responsibility for the management and organisation of the Computer Centre communications room.

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Problem Solving

Diagnose and resolve network faults, anywhere in the University. Continuous Improvement

Keep abreast and up-to-date with new technology and trends in networking, and to find, assimilate and apply technical documentation on products, technologies and/or legislation, in a rapidly changing environment.

People Management

Provide help and advice to ResNet (Residential Networking) and work closely with them, as required.

Teach and advise new members of staff in the work of the network team.

1.3 Relationships and Contacts

Line manager: Network Specialist (8)

Line manager to (where appropriate):

Internal Contacts

Contact with whom? Nature of relationship Purpose

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Line manager For direct supervision

Zonal Team Members

For fault reporting, network upgrading, network installation and configuration, to implement policies and to give network support and advice to.

ITSStaff

To work with colleagues in the Network Communications team and attend a weekly team meeting, to give network support and security advice to and to implement services and policies they require.

Academic staff/Post Graduates

For fault reporting, to implement network policy for and to give advice and support to.

Estates, CMI, Project Office, external consultants

For the upkeep of University infrastructure and for liaising with for installations and big projects.

University Information Security Manager

For advice on network security matters, to give security policies for implementation and configuration (firewall configuration information does also come from ITSstaff, computer officers, JANET or the post holder, other than just the security manager) and to discuss future policies and trends.

Specialists and Supervisors in my own and other ITS teams

For network faults, advice, installations and network policies.

Porters/security

Deliveries (sending and receiving goods), allowing security access for contractors and general building security matters.

External Contacts

Contact with whom? Nature of relationship Purpose

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JANET Network Contacts (UKERNA/SWERN):

For network fault reports, hardware/software installation and network configuration.

Equipment/Software Sales Suppliers (Including Capita, Cisco, Brocade)

For procuring new equipment, hardware/software fault resolution and support

Network service suppliers (VirginMedia, BT, C&W andVerizon)

For network installation, network fault resolution and escalation (for example, Telewest supplies many remote connections to the main University backbone network whose maintenance involves liaison and hardware fixes).

Contractors (AMP, Select, Siemon)

For network cabling installation and cabling faults.

Staff in other academic institutions

To give and take advice and for liaising on projects.

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1.4 Organisation Charts

CIO IT Services

Programme Manager

Assistant Director Sys. Dev.

Director HPC

Assistant Director Service Delivery

Assistant Director Infrastructure/Ops

R&D/ILRT Director

Network & Data Centre Manager

Senior Network

Specialist x 3

Network Specialist x 3

Data Centre Administrator

Residential & Mobile IT Manager

Network Specialist

x 2

Mobile Technology Specialist

Telecommunications Manager

Telephony Ops

Manager

Telecoms Engineer

Switchboard Operator x 3

Systems & Ops Manager

Team Leader, Systems & Ops x 2

Senior Systems Administrator x 6

Senior IT Support Specialist x 2

Systems Administrator x 3

Systems Administrator/Developer x 2

IT Support Officer

Admin Team

2 PERSON SPECIFICATION

2.1 Relevant Experience, Skills and Knowledge

Essential Desirable

Proven computing/networking work experience.

Good communication skills, both verbal and written.

Methodical, meticulous, thorough and adaptable.

Able to prioritise multiple, and often conflicting, demands.

Able to find, comprehend and apply appropriate highly technical information.

Ability to quickly learn new skills and adapt to new technology which is constantly evolving.

Able to work on own initiative, but not afraid take advice if necessary.

Good understanding of TCP/IP, data networking and concepts, the hardware involved in the movement of data between computers e.g. routers, switches etc, Local (LAN), Metropolitan (MAN) and Wide (WAN) Area Network technologies and many other network protocols.

Have Cisco IOS programming experience and system administration skills.

Knowledge of transmission media e.g. optical fibre, wireless and associated standards e.g. Cat5e, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n

Knowledge of health and safety issues.

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Good understanding of firewalls, especially Cisco PIX or FWSM (Firewall Services Module), and network security.

Good knowledge of using network and cable test equipment.

Knowledge of working in highly complex communication and machine rooms.

Good general PC, operating system and office package etc. skills.

2.2 Relevant Qualifications

Essential Desirable

Degree/HND, in Computer Science (or related discipline), or equivalent work experience.

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) is highly desirable.

2.3 Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Essential Desirable

Good at problem resolution.

Good interpersonal skills.

Team player.

2.4 Additional Criteria

Essential Desirable

3 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

3.1 The School/Division

3.2 Information Services

Information Services (IS) provides IT services and library services and support for teaching and learning, research and administration across the University. It comprises four service groups as well as a planning and administration group and the Institute for Learning and Research Technology (ILRT). Each of these groups is headed by an Assistant Director of Information Services.

The Director of Information Services, who is also the Deputy Registrar of the University, together with the Directors of Library Services, Information Systems and Computing and the Institute for Learning and Research Technology and the Assistant Director (Planning and Administrative Support) make up the Information Services Executive. This Executive, together with other Assistant Directors of Information Services and the Information Processes and Systems (IPS) Programme Director, make up the IS Senior Management Team.

3.3 Information Services is spread across 16 sites, has just over 320 staff in total and is split into four service groups:

Client Services, which is responsible for developing and maintaining links between Information Services and faculties and departments of the University. It is also responsible for ICT training and consulting, for teaching information skills, and for communication about and marketing of Information Services.

The Public Services group is responsible for the provision of high quality, user-focused, front-line library services to all members of the University and to a wider client base. This includes loan services, the provision of photocopiers and other equipment, and matters relating to access to library facilities.

The Information Management group acquires, processes and catalogues the information content which enables colleagues in the other parts of Information Services to support the University’s teaching and research.

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The Information Systems and Computing group is responsible for delivering information systems and computing services to all students and staff and to other members of the University.

In addition to these groups, the Information Services Central Administration group is responsible for secretarial and administrative services to Information Services; financial management; human resource management; management of health and safety and services to disabled users.

The Institute for Learning and Research Technology works on multiple aspects of technologies in education through services, research, development, teaching and consultancy at local, national and international levels.

3.4 Information Systems and Computing (ISYS)

Information Systems and Computing (ISYS) is responsible for delivering Information Technology (IT) services to all staff, students and other members of the University. The Department is organised into functional teams of specialists, each team being led by an experienced manager. Teams are responsible for a significant component of the University's IT services, for example, IT Help Desks & Support, the University Network, Corporate Systems development and support. Much of the development work of the Department is to deliver and implement the University's Information Processes and Systems and Information and Communication Technology Strategies, which underpin primary strategies for Research and Education and enable operational activities of other Support Services.

3.5 The Network Communications team

The University network consists of over 1000 networking devices (routers and switches, see Glossary below). These devices range in cost from £100’s to over £100,000. The total value of this equipment (not including cabling and ducts) exceeds £2,500,000. To interconnect these devices and the computers which use the network, we have (very approximately):

18,000 sockets on the wall and 15,000 ports on the networking devices themselves

over 1,000km of copper cabling &

over 200 km of optical-fibre. The network carries over 2 Terabytes (2,000,000,000,000 bytes) of information every day, while the email system handles over 1.5 million emails every week. The main University firewall handles and blocks, as traffic passes through it to and from the Internet, hundreds of millions of connections a day. The Network Communications team is involved in the following areas:

network design and development installation, maintenance and upgrading of data networks

network operation, monitoring, administration and support

wireless and conference networking facilities

network security data networks in students residence

provision of advice and support to home users

The ResNet Team manage the large and extensive network for students in nearly all of the University provided accommodation. They have about 4,500 users connected over a network of 300 devices across 23 sites in Bristol. Glossary The following are extremely simple definitions intended only to give a broad feeling for what the devices which form the basic building blocks of the network do. Cisco IOS: The programming language (and operating system) used to control the actions of Cisco

routers and switches. Router: A network device that forwards packets from one network to another. In UoB’s network these

are typically devices that cost between £30k-£100k. Switch: This is a device which connects together a group of computers and creates a network. The

cost of these, in UoB’s network, range from £100’s-£50,000.

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It should be added that a large number of the devices actually used in UoB’s network carry out BOTH functions and are sometimes referred to as ‘Layer 3 switches’.

3.6 The University and the City of Bristol

The University of Bristol's roots date back to 1876. Since its formation it has become one of the leading institutions among the UK's Russell Group of universities and operates globally, where it is recognised for its research and academic excellence. The University has a strong interdisciplinary approach and regularly features among the top ranking institutions in global league tables.

The University of Bristol’s mission is 'to pursue and share knowledge and understanding, both for their own

sake and to help individuals and society fulfil their potential'. This is underpinned by a vision where the

University of Bristol is an international powerhouse of learning, discovery and enterprise, whose excellence

is acknowledged locally, nationally and globally, and that is:

dedicated to academic achievement across a broad range of disciplines, and to continuous

innovation and improvement

research-intensive, supporting both individual scholarship and interdisciplinary or thematic research

of the highest quality

a centre for intellectually demanding, research-informed education that nurtures independence of

mind and helps students achieve their personal goals and serve society’s needs, both during and

after their time here

an inclusive and collaborative community of scholarship that attracts and retains people with

outstanding talent and potential from all walks of life and all parts of the world

a stimulating and supportive environment for all students and staff, distinguished by a commitment to

high standards, respect for the individual and a strong sense of collegiality

committed to operating in a sustainable manner

engaged with society’s interests, concerns, priorities and aspirations

a major contributor culturally, environmentally and economically to Bristol and the South West

well led and responsibly run, with an emphasis on consultative decision-making and open

communication as well as personal responsibility and accountability

Key to Bristol’s vision is a clear and consistent articulation of and dialogue with its many stakeholder and publics about the wide range of research carried out at the Institution and hence is often featured in many national and international media. It has a proud history of two way dialogue as part of its research activities and addresses the world’s key challenges through an interdisciplinary approach. The University also plays a lead role in the city of Bristol’s cultural and economic well being and carries out an extensive programme of events and activities on behalf of the city, as well as being a keen supporter of partner organisations’ activities. For more information, please see http://www.bris.ac.uk/university/

3.7 The University’s commitment to Equality and Diversity and a Positive Working Environment

As a leading global institution we are keen to attract the most highly talented individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds. Further information on our commitment to equality and diversity can be found at:

http://www.bris.ac.uk/jobs/diversity.html The University’s Positive Working Environment (PWE) agenda is an ongoing process with the aim of making working life at the University of Bristol productive, rewarding, enjoyable and healthy for all colleagues. To

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find out more about PWE please visit http://www.bristol.ac.uk/pwe/

4 APPLICATION PROCESS

Please visit our web site at www.bris.ac.uk/jobs, enter the vacancy number SUPP101226 into the job search and follow the link to the on line application process. The closing date for applications is 11 December 2014. Further information on the University’s application process can be found at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/application-process.html

5 SELECTION PROCESS

It is expected that the selection process, including interviews, will be held on 19 December 2014.