Senior ICT Systems & Network Administrator

Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust is seeking a Senior ICT Systems & Network Administrator to ensure the delivery of a stable, secure, and resilient IT service across the organisation.  You'll be responsible for the effective operation of both on-premises and cloud-based systems, supporting the organisation’s wider ICT strategy and digital transformation initiatives.  You will play a key role in infrastructure management and operational support, while also providing technical guidance to the Tier 1 ICT Service Desk team. Responsibilities include client, server, and network administration, alongside the technical delivery of projects that enhance and evolve the organisation’s digital capabilities.

About the Role

At Acorns Children’s Hospice we offer specialist palliative care and support for children and their families across the West Midlands. We are there wherever and whenever they need us, in the hospice, community and at home. Our aim at Acorns is to help families feel equipped to cope at every stage of their child’s life with dedicated teams offering psychological, emotional and practical support. 

As Senior ICT Systems & Network Administrator, you will:

• To deliver routine systems and network administration at infrastructure-level, maintaining key ICT services and infrastructure across the organisation.      
• Assist in the safeguarding of ICT services from security threats via pro-active management of updates and patches to key systems and network infrastructure
• Monitor critical ICT services and infrastructure, both cloud and on-premises, highlighting security and performance issues, taking actions as directed
• Actively contribute towards Acorns digital strategy, implementing, and supporting projects in accordance with defined processes.
• Provide advice and guidance to the Tier 1 Service Desk team & Tier 2 Systems Administrator in respect to their personal and professional development. 

About You

• Recent experience of supporting and working with an ICT service desk environment in a 3rd line role.
• Relevant professional qualifications or industry certificates with evidence of continuing professional development.
• Cisco CCNA Certified, Microsoft AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator Certified, Microsoft AZ-500 Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate
• Demonstrable experience in systems administration in relation to:
  • Group Policy Management
  • Azure Active Directory (Entra ID).
  • Exchange Online.
  • Network Switch Management
  • Microsoft InTune Packaging & Deployment
  • Infrastructure management & monitoring
  • M365 Administration (Advanced)
• Experience of leading on technical projects.
• Experience working with Palo Alto / Strata Cloud Manager
• High level knowledge and understanding of LANs, WANs, VPNs and common networking configuration and components.

What We Offer 

• £41,792 per annum
• 37.5 hours per week
• Based in Birmingham with travel to sites across the West Midlands
• Employee discounts from leading retailers – including the Blue Light Card
• Discounts on refurbished tech
• Health cash plan
• Gym membership and equipment discount scheme
• Bike2Work scheme - save up to 42% on bikes and equipment 
• Wellbeing, legal and financial support
• Career development through our Acorns Academy offering leadership, coaching, fundraising, clinical training and more.   
• Generous contribution to group personal pension plan (7.5%) or continuation of current NHS pension scheme
• NHS pension scheme life assurance or Acorns group life assurance scheme
• Annual leave entitlement increases with length of service 

Interviews are scheduled to be held on 3 June

You need to be eligible to work in the UK to be considered for this role. We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and therefore any successful candidate will be subject to a DBS check and will be asked to provide two satisfactory references.

As a UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting organisation we are committed to ensuring that the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child is embedded into both culture and practice within the organisation. As an employee you will be a Duty Bearer for Children’s Rights and support all children to be Rights Holders. 

If you have any questions, please contact us at recruitment@acorns.org.uk

Find out about our culture, career development, benefits and more here: Why Work for Acorns?