Lead Infrastructure Engineer

Exciting things are happening within the Digital Services Team at Derbyshire County Council and we’re looking for a Lead Infrastructure Engineer to lead a small Azure team and manage services across our cloud infrastructure, local area networks (LAN) and Azure networking.

A major review of our organisation and strategies has been completed, and we have invested in new tools to support a comprehensive and innovative Digital Services transformation programme, to support the delivery of key services to the citizens and communities of Derbyshire.

This role will play a pivotal part in delivering the Council's digital transformation programme as a key member of Digital Services. The postholder will provide team leadership and service oversight across cloud infrastructure and networking, supporting both the Council's migration from on-premises data centres to Microsoft Azure and the ongoing delivery of reliable LAN and cloud network services.

The successful candidate will lead and develop a small team of technical professionals, coordinate specialist expertise and manage priorities across Azure services, LAN infrastructure and Azure networking. They will help shape and deliver infrastructure and network plans, ensuring services are secure, resilient, cost-effective and fit for the future. Working closely with business and technical stakeholders, the role will support the Council's New Ways of Working programme and enable the modernisation of critical services.

This is an excellent opportunity for an infrastructure / networking professional with strong leadership skills and a broad technical background who is passionate about delivering meaningful change within a complex organisation. You will need a working understanding of Azure and enterprise networking to guide the team, assess technical proposals and make informed service decisions, rather than being a hands-on expert in every technology. We are looking for someone who can draw on the expertise of engineers and suppliers, bringing enthusiasm, innovation and a commitment to making a real difference for the residents and communities we serve.

Key Responsibilities of this role are:

Based within a dynamic and exciting environment, you will lead the team and oversee services across cloud infrastructure and networking, with responsibilities including:

• Lead and develop the Azure team, coordinating specialist input into cloud infrastructure, access and migration activities.

• Shape the technical strategy and architecture for LAN and Azure networking, defining standards and engineering approaches for switching, routing, security, resilience, and hybrid cloud connectivity.

• Oversee cloud and on-premises compute and virtual infrastructure, working with engineers and suppliers to maintain secure, resilient services.

• Ensure services are delivered to agreed standards and levels.

• Act as a proactive team leader within Digital Services, setting priorities, coordinating delivery and guiding technical decisions across infrastructure and network services.

• Working closely with service stakeholders to identify and develop solutions to meet business requirements
• Championing new ways of working, innovation and flexibility and forward planning

What technical skills and experience can you demonstrate from the following?

• Infrastructure & Service Operations – A broad understanding of enterprise infrastructure, including servers, virtualisation, storage, backup, disaster recovery and monitoring, and how these support reliable services across on-premises and cloud environments.
• Identity, Access & Security – A working understanding of identity and access management, including Microsoft EntraID, hybrid identity, MFA and role-based access, together with the ability to work with specialists to maintain appropriate security controls and governance.
• Azure & Cloud Services – A working understanding of Microsoft Azure infrastructure and core services, such as virtual machines, storage, monitoring, backup and cost management. You should be able to guide delivery, assess options and risks, and oversee the work of specialist engineers without needing in-depth expertise in every Azure service.
• LAN, Azure Networking & Connectivity – Experience managing or coordinating enterprise network services, with a sound understanding of LAN switching, routing, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, firewalls and network segmentation. An understanding of Azure virtual networks and hybrid connectivity, such as VPNs and ExpressRoute, will help you oversee secure, reliable connectivity and work effectively with network specialists.
• Infrastructure Change & Transformation Delivery – Experience contributing to or coordinating infrastructure modernisation, network improvements or cloud migration, managing dependencies and risks and translating business requirements into achievable technical delivery plans. Experience of Azure migration would be beneficial, but leadership of a large-scale cloud migration programme is not essential.

What leadership skills and experience can you demonstrate from the following?

• Team Leadership & Service Management – Ability to lead and develop technical teams, set priorities across cloud infrastructure and networking, coordinate specialist expertise, manage suppliers and contracts, define roadmaps and standards, drive continuous improvement, and operate services in line with ITIL, cyber security and governance requirements.

• High level of communication and presentation skills both oral and written with the ability to advise on complex technical issues to non-technical audiences.

• First-line management or demonstrable readiness to lead a small technical team.
• Ability to organise delivery, clarify ownership and bring people together around a common plan.
• Experience contributing to infrastructure change, such as network improvements, service modernisation or cloud migration; experience coordinating delivery through technical specialists is desirable.
• Ability to learn quickly and develop both personal and team capability.

What we offer you:

• 27 days of annual leave plus another 5 once you reach 5 years of continuous service
• Flexi time, allowing up to an additional 2 days of leave per month
• Generous local government pension scheme
• Guaranteed incremental annual pay increases
• Cycle to work scheme
• A supportive working environment
• Commitment and investment in your continuing professional development.
• Discounts at selected county leisure centres

Our Digital Services Team is contractually based in Matlock, Derbyshire, but we work on a hybrid basis.

Derbyshire County Council is going through a period of positive development and transformation so it’s a great time to join and drive change.

How to Apply:

We are accepting CVs for this position so it’s easier than ever to apply! Just click on “Apply for this job”, register and upload your CV.

If you're passionate about technology and are ready to revolutionise the way Derbyshire County Council operates in the digital era, then we would love to hear from you.

If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact Tony.Bish@derbyshire.gov.uk

Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to contribute to the digital revolution at Derbyshire County Council. Apply now and be at the forefront of shaping the future.

Derbyshire County Council is an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities.

All candidates must be able to provide proof of right to work in the UK.

Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us! By joining Derbyshire County Council, you will have access to a range of amazing rewards and employee benefits, including our generous annual leave scheme, excellent local government pension and fantastic employee discounts.

Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us! By joining Derbyshire County Council you will have access to a range of amazing rewards and employee benefits, including our generous annual leave scheme, excellent local government pension and fantastic employee discounts. To discover more detail about the rewards and benefits available to you, click here

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This role currently offers hybrid working options which will be subject to service needs, there'll be an opportunity to discuss working arrangements for this position at interview.

Important: Derbyshire County Council holds a sponsorship licence, but this role does not offer visa sponsorship. Please apply only if you already have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship, as applications that do not meet this requirement will be rejected.

We welcome applications from individuals who share our values — being Collaborative, Innovative, Empowered and Accountable. These values describe who we are and what we stand for as a council. They help shape our culture, encourage consistent behaviour and guide how we work together to make a positive difference for both our employees and the residents we serve.