Server Specialist

Job overview

Job overview

The South Devon Health Informatics Service is seeking a Server Specialist for an 18 month period to cover the secondment of an existing member of staff into another role.

Server Specialist is responsible for managing and maintaining the Trusts server Infrastructure, providing second line technical support through the service desk.

Please note this role has a requirement to participate in a weekly on-call rota, providing 24/7 emergency support for Torbay and South Devon and the wider healthcare community. If you have any queries around this on-call requirement, please get in touch with Damion Dishart ([email protected]).

Main duties of the job

• Ensure delivery of robust and reliable IT services which meet the health community’s clinical needs, and which comply with defined service levels.
• Assist the Server Operations Manager in the installation, management, configuration, and technical support of the Server environment.
• Perform assigned tasks in respect of infrastructure maintenance, security and backups.
• Provide 2nd/ 3rd line support of the server environment which may include out of hours support
• Ensure that any new installations of hardware or software are completed to departmental standards
• Ensure that all operating systems and relevant software are maintained to the correct level as directed by the Section Lead
• Manage server configuration ensuring user accounts, profiles and shares are administered to departmental standards
• Ensure data integrity is maintained by ensuring data backups and housekeeping procedures are followed and ensuring that failures are resolved, and issues are escalated to the Section Lead
• To perform overtime/out-of-hours support as required ensuring business continuity
• Ensure quality documentation for areas of responsibility
• Work with the Service Desk team to provide a high technical level of fault diagnosis support for all server equipment and peripheral devices. Report problems to third party maintenance companies where necessary. Ensure maximum availability of systems to users

Working for our organisation

The Server Team is a 7-person team in the IT Operations department, responsible for the development, deployment, maintenance and day-to-day running of the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust’s server, storage and back-up infrastructure.

We also provide services to the wider health community in the South Devon area.

We are a dynamic team, who share responsibility for all our functions. We encourage our staff to develop their skills and look to improve the service that is provided.

We are a self-motivated and caring team who are flexible and promote a healthy work/home life balance.

Why Work With Us

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Detailed job description and responsibilities

• Build productive working relationships with stakeholders such as clinicians, customer organisations, other technical or non-technical teams, other NHS organisations and suppliers
• Maintain effective communication within and between teams, reinforced by timely and professional documentation

• Plan work tasks efficiently and employ effective time management
• Organise conflicting priorities within own workload

• Responsible for operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of the server and datacentre infrastructure
• Accountable to Section Lead (Server Operations), Deputy IT Operations Managers, IT Operations Manager and HIS Director

• Participate in the development and review of policies relevant to server and datacentre operations
• Take responsibility for delivering services to contractual SLAs
• Ensure services are delivered in compliance with established standards such as ITIL Service Management

• Responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of the datacentre environment

• No direct line management responsibilities, although occasional deputising for senior staff may be required
• May be required to act as ‘champion’ for certain systems/technologies, develop detailed knowledge and cascade to wider team

• Extensive use of common IT products & technologies for office productivity tasks
• Display the highest levels of technical proficiency in server and datacentre operations

Person specification

Qualifications

• Azure Fundamentals or equivalent experience
• Full UK driving licence

• Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate
• ITIL v4 Foundation Training or Experience
• VMware vSphere Foundation Administrator 2024 (VCP - VVF)

Knowledge

• Knowledge of Windows Server Operating Systems
• Knowledge of Server technologies
• Practical experience Windows Server system management
• Good understanding of Server Virtualisation
• Knowledge of Enterprise backup technologies

• Knowledge of server hardware
• Knowledge of Open Source Operating Systems
• Sound knowledge of TCP/IP networking

Skills

• Able to demonstrate previous experience of server management using Windows operating systems
• Ability to use diagnostic tools to undertake fault finding on servers
• Ability to monitor the performance and capacity of the server infrastructure

• Experience of working with Microsoft Certificate Services
• Experience of working with Microsoft SQL Server
• Experience of supporting a VMware vSphere environment
• Knowledge of high availability storage systems including SANS/RAID

Requirements due to work environment/conditions

• Ability to deal with demanding users at all levels with courtesy and diplomacy

• Ability to work from home where required by the business

Physical Skills/Effort

• Current valid driving license
• Continuous use of computer to perform required duties
• Must be able to work out of normal hours at short notice to resolve problems which could affect entire organisations
• Required to regularly work within the computer room environment, exposed to noise and uncomfortable working conditions
• Required to travel both within and outside of the South Devon Health Community
• Good keyboard/mouse skills
• Occasional moderate physical effort lifting and carrying equipment

Mental/Emotional effort

• Requirement to deal with situations arising from the failure of critical systems which impact on the delivery of healthcare
• Ability to analyse data, write reports and cope with frequent interruptions to resolve issues arising from critical business systems failures and issues
• Planning of complex upgrades/installations
• Able to motivate self and others to complete tasks
• Ability to work unsupervised and manage multiple tasks with occasional conflicting priorities
• Good organisational ability and able to identify/implement improvements to processes and procedures

You will be joining the organisation at an exciting time. As the first fully integrated care organisation in England, we are working to improve the way we deliver safe, high-quality health and social care. We have a positive and vibrant working atmosphere, we are proud of our investment in our staff both in terms of developing potential career skills and valuing people.

If you provide support to a family member or friend with health or care needs, we aim to be a Carer-friendly employer. We have a ‘Staff Carers’ policy which includes flexible working where possible and a Carer’s Passport scheme that links you into support and discounts.

• We reserve the right to close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we encourage you to apply promptly.
• Please read the job description carefully and tailor your application to reflect the requirements of the role.
• Applicants who identify in their application form they are a part of the Armed Forces community will be guaranteed an interview, provided they meet the minimum essential criteria outlined in the job description and person specification for the role. Step into Health guidance can be found on our NHS Employers website.
• Correspondence will be sent via Trac, text, and email. Please ensure you check your email and Trac account regularly.
• Applicants with no previous NHS experience will ordinarily be appointed to the minimum of the band.
• If you have not received an invitation to interview within 28 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
• It is your responsibility to ensure the timely receipt of appropriate references.

If you require support you can obtain this from our Equality Business Forum which has representatives from all protected groups.