Senior Network Specialist

Duration: 6 Months

Location: Bristol & remote (hybrid working)

Rate: £540 per day

Start: ASAP

IR35 Status: Inside

Role Overview:
We require a Senior Network Specialist for our higher education client to support a variety of Digital Strategy projects which include: VDI, Enterprise Storage, IDAM, Modern Network and Cyber Phase 5.

You will be required to fully design their core network services to ensure they are fit for purpose, resilient, available and able to stay up with requirements. You will also assist with the planning and implementing of the network strategy for the long term direction of their critical network services.

To design, build, administer and maintain their core network services so that users, both staff and students, and all dependent IT services have efficient, accurate and secure access to network resources and the Internet.

Installing upgrading and patching of all supported network devices on their core IT infrastructure.

Help make decisions and plan the direction of the network technology within the business.

To include proposals on the strategy, implementation and and maintenance of network security.

Ensure the network services are kept secure and prevent unauthorised access to Client data.

Analysis of complex technical problems and daily troubleshooting of a wide range of network services and related issues

Essential skills & experience required:

As the Senior Network Specialist you will possess the following:

A thorough understanding of all enterprise level network infrastructures, including related utilities and tools.

A thorough understanding of enterprise network vendor products, features, programming and configuration, and network protocols.

Minimum 2 years' experience of designing and architecting enterprise-level network services

In-depth experience of working in a project driven environment

Experience and thorough knowledge of logical and physical network design and architecture

Experience and thorough understanding of network management & monitoring systems, performance tuning and troubleshooting

Experience and thorough knowledge of all network backup and recovery scenarios

A thorough knowledge of network security management

Experience in change management and service management.

A thorough knowledge of all aspects of IT Infrastructure Systems and IT components with which the network services interact: user and server operating systems, client devices, storage devices etc.

A professional qualification or degree in computing, or 5 years' experience working as a Senior Network Administrator, which demonstrates equivalent professional development

ITIL v3 Foundation

Experienced in the design and maintenance of a high-security data centre environment

Monitoring and analysis techniques for both predictive and preventative measures for improving security, stability and performance

High-performance networking for Data Centre hosts, including Server Load Balancing (SLB)

Campus wireless network architectures, Wireless Access Points and Client connection troubleshooting.

High-performance core networks, including virualisation of different user traffic classes.

Hybrid working - The role will require you to be onsite one to two days per week in Bristol depending on operational demands.

There may also be the occasional travel to other Bristol sites and to Slough also if/when required.

To apply for this role please call Joanne Stanley - Tel: 01675 468926 or email:

Certes IT Service Solutions welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people with diverse experience and backgrounds

Certes Computing (and all of its subsidiary companies) is committed to promoting equality and diversity in its business operations.