Infrastructure & Networks Lead - UK

Job Title:                     Infrastructure & Networks Lead - UK

Industry:                      Banking

Location:                    United Kingdom

Salary:                         Competitive Salary Package + Benefits

Job Purpose:

As Senior technology leader, [Infrastructure, networks and Operations], you are responsible for overseeing and managing the bank's technology Infrastructure, operations, and resources. You play a crucial role in enabling the bank to leverage technology effectively, mitigate risks, and maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving bank and financial services industry.

Responsibilities:

• Technology Strategy and Alignment: Support, Develop and implement a modern technology strategy that aligns with the bank's overall business objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices in the UK banking sector. Ensure that the delivery of the technology strategy supports the bank's digital transformation initiatives, enhances customer experience, drives operational efficiency, and falls within the banks risk appetite.
• Technology Infrastructure Management: Assist and support the design, implementation, and embedding of the bank's technology infrastructure, including core banking systems, digital channels (e.g., online banking, mobile apps), payment systems, and Microsoft Azure regions. Ensure compliance with relevant UK banking regulations and industry standards, such as those set by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• Product Engineering Leadership: Assist and support the process of requirements gathering and translation into technical specifications for all processes and products that are to be deployed on the bank’s technology platforms. Ensure all stakeholder inputs (customer, product and business leadership, governance, risk and compliance etc) are captured prior to investment. Serve as the primary contact between engineers/technical vendors and the bank to ensure technology meets ongoing business requirements.
• Information Security and Cyber Risk Management: Ensure developments build upon and enhance existing information security and cyber risk management policies, procedures. Enhance controls to protect the bank's information assets and customer data, ensure compliance with the UK's data protection laws, such as the Data Protection Act (DPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), as well as industry-specific regulations like the PRA's Operational Resilience requirements.
• Regulatory Compliance and Reporting: Ensure that the bank's technology operations, systems, and processes adhere to relevant UK banking regulations, such as those related to operational resilience, digital operational resilience, and IT risk management. Collaborate with the bank's compliance and risk management teams to ensure accurate and timely regulatory reporting.
• Technology Governance and Risk Management: Ensure adherence to and maintenance of an effective technology governance framework, including policies, procedures, and risk management processes, to ensure the bank's technology operations align with industry best practices and regulatory requirements. Contribute to risk assessments, audits, and incident management processes.
• Open Banking and Fintech Collaboration: Bring Industry expertise of developments in the UK's Open Banking and fintech ecosystems. Explore opportunities for collaboration and integration with third-party providers to enhance the bank's digital offerings and customer experience while ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
• Technology Budget and Resource Management: Assist, support and manage the bank’s technology budget, allocating resources effectively to support the bank's strategic objectives and regulatory requirements. Ensure timely and efficient utilization of technology resources and group technology relationships, shared best practice and synergies to support the transformation including utilisation of offshore development and associated group resources.
• Team Management: Manage the team responsible for Infrastructure and Networks, ensuring day-to-day management, regular one-to-ones and team meetings, and be responsible for the learning & development and performance management of your direct reports.
• Talent Management and Development: Assist and support to Recruit (in conjunction with CTO), develop, and retain skilled technology professionals with expertise in areas such as core banking systems, digital banking, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. Foster a culture of continuous learning and provide training and development opportunities to ensure the technology team stays up-to-date with emerging technologies and regulatory changes.
• Strategic Leadership and Collaboration: Engage, support and assist in strategic advisor to the CTO and technology team, providing guidance on technology-related matters and collaborating with business units and Industry experts to identify and implement technology solutions that drive business growth, enhance customer experience, create long-term efficiencies, and maintain regulatory compliance.
• Industry Engagement and Thought Leadership: Participate in industry forums, working groups, and relevant regulatory consultations to contribute to the development of best practices and regulatory frameworks for the UK banking industry. Establish the bank as a thought leader in leveraging technology and addressing emerging challenges and opportunities in the UK banking sector.
• Vendor & Stakeholder Management: Manage relationships with external vendors and service providers, ensuring adherence to SLAs and effective delivery of services. Work closely with internal stakeholders, including senior management and the Group IT team, to ensure IT services meet business needs and regulatory requirements. Assist in negotiations with technology vendors for the procurement of hardware, software, and services.

Note that the bank runs a hybrid of in-house support (Intra-Group) / outsource model where the majority of the technology resources and infrastructure are provided by Group technology (serving a number of companies including the UK bank). A number of functions such as talent management and development will be done in conjunction with technology leadership of the Group, with a focus on talent that will support the design, development implementation and maintenance of the UK bank's technology estate.

Experience

Technical

• 15+ years of experience in IT infrastructure management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role in UK banking or financial services environment.
• Proven expertise in core network architecture and management, particularly in cloud environments.
• Experience with Microsoft Azure, specifically managing multi-region infrastructures in Azure South and Azure West with ExpressRoute connectivity.
• Strong background in Windows and Linux server management and multi-site IT operations.
• Experience managing IT in a hybrid cloud environment, ensuring seamless integration between on-premises and cloud-based systems.
• Demonstrated knowledge of cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and disaster recovery planning.

General

• You are a seasoned technical and people leader with a strong blend of technical expertise, leadership skills, and domain knowledge within the financial services industry.
• You have prior experience in software engineering (preferably architecture, development and operations).
• You have in-depth knowledge of core banking technologies, including but not limited to transaction processing, customer data management, and financial product management.
• You have proven experience managing vendors and platform providers, including those that may be being transitioned out from the portfolio.
• You have a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements relevant to the UK financial services industry.
• You have demonstrated experience in building and managing high-performing technical teams, including recruitment, retention, and talent development.
• You have worked in a digital bank or technology company (serving the financial service industry) that understands how to build, deploy and operate software to meet regulatory standards in a lean and agile manner.
• You have at least 15 years of experience in technology leadership roles within the financial services industry
• Strategic mindset with the ability to align IT infrastructure with broader business and technology goals.
• Deep technical knowledge of network architecture, cloud technologies, and systems administration.
• Excellent communication skills to engage effectively with senior management, internal teams, and external vendors.
• Ability to manage complex IT projects and ensure the delivery of high-quality, secure IT services.

Qualifications/Education/Training

Essential

Desirable

Educational Background:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, or a related field.
• A Master’s degree or MBA can be advantageous for leadership roles.

Essential General Training and Qualifications

Leadership and Management Training:

• Training in team management, leadership, and strategic planning.
• Courses in change management to effectively lead cloud transitions.

Communication Skills:

• Training in effective communication, both verbal and written, for stakeholder engagement and reporting.
• Skills in presenting technical concepts to non-technical audiences.

Financial Management Training:

• Understanding budgeting and financial analysis to manage cloud and network expenditures effectively.

Risk Management Training:

• Training in risk assessment and management to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities in cloud and network infrastructures.

Agile Methodology:

• Familiarity with Agile methodologies to enhance project management and delivery.

Vendor Management:

• Understanding vendor selection and management processes, especially for cloud service providers and technology partners.

Experience Requirements

• Work Experience:
  • Typically, 10-15 years of experience in IT, with a focus on cloud and network infrastructure.
  • Prior experience in leadership or managerial roles, overseeing teams and projects.
• Industry Knowledge:
  • Understanding of industry trends, best practices, and regulatory compliance relevant to cloud computing and networking.

Certifications:

• Cloud Certifications:
  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect
  • Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
  • Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect
• Networking Certifications:
  • Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
  • Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
• Security Certifications:
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
  • Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
• Project Management Certifications:
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
  • Agile or Scrum certifications (e.g., Certified ScrumMaster)

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and their services.
• Strong understanding of networking concepts (routing, switching, firewalls).
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation).
• Knowledge of DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines.
• Familiarity with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Understanding of database management and storage solutions (SQL and NoSQL databases).

Key Competencies

Cloud Architecture Expertise

• • Deep understanding of cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and architecture best practices.
  • Ability to design and implement scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud solutions.

Network Design and Management

• • Proficiency in designing, deploying, and managing complex network architectures.
  • Knowledge of protocols, routing, switching, and security measures in networking.
  • Firewall configuration and management

Cybersecurity Awareness

• • Strong understanding of security best practices, risk management, and compliance frameworks (e.g., GDPR, SWIFT CSP, CQUEST, DORA, PSD2, ISO27001).
  • Ability to implement security measures to protect cloud and network infrastructure.

DevOps and Automation Skills

• • Familiarity with DevOps practices and tools that enhance collaboration and efficiency.
  • Experience with automation tools for infrastructure management and deployment (e.g., Ansible, Jenkins).

Data Management and Analysis

• • Understanding of data storage, management, and analytics in cloud environments.
  • Ability to leverage data for performance optimization and strategic decision-making

Problem-Solving

• • Strong analytical skills to identify problems quickly and develop effective solutions.
  • Ability to navigate complex situations and make decisions under pressure.

Strategic Thinking

• • Ability to develop long-term strategies for cloud and network operations aligned with business objectives.
  • Vision for future technological trends and their implications on infrastructure.

Key Performance Indicators

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Head of Infrastructure and Network

Network Uptime and Availability

• Target: Achieve 99.9% or higher uptime for critical network infrastructure.
• Metric: Network uptime percentage, frequency and duration of outages.

Incident Response and Resolution Time

• Target: Resolve 90% of infrastructure incidents within defined SLAs (e.g., critical incidents within 1 hour).
• Metric: Average incident response and resolution time, SLA compliance rate.

Infrastructure Security and Compliance

• Target: 100% compliance with security policies and regulatory requirements (e.g., patch management, vulnerability assessments).
• Metric: Number of security incidents, compliance audit pass rate.

System Performance and Optimization

• Target: Ensure optimal performance with <75% average CPU and memory utilization.
• Metric: System performance metrics (e.g., CPU, memory usage), frequency of optimization updates.

Project Delivery Timeliness

• Target: Complete 95% of infrastructure projects on time and within budget.
• Metric: Project completion rate, adherence to project timelines and budget.

Disaster Recovery and Backup Management

• Target: Conduct disaster recovery tests biannually with 100% success rate. &lt

Place of work