Army - Defence Children Services (DCS) ICT Senior Systems Engineer - Cyprus

Job summary

Are you an experienced ICT professional, looking for an exciting opportunity in a unique context? Then this role may be for you.

DCS Schools is looking for a skilled ICT Senior Systems Engineer to join our small, skilled team of ICT professionals who deliver ICT services, in an Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) aligned environment, to DCS School and Early Years settings across the globe.

Based in Cyprus, you will: provide a high quality, customer focused ICT system support to users in Western Sovereign Based Area (WSBA), and if required, to the Eastern Sovereign Based Area (ESBA) and other Rest of World (ROW) Locations; work collaboratively and creatively with the wider ICT team to create integrated processes, system development and an outstanding service to schools’ staff and students and DCS Headquarters staff. Manage the Cyprus WSBA ICT Services Team and operational IT delivery to all Head Teachers, MOD Schools and forward deployed HQ DCS staff. In collaboration with Senior System Engineer colleagues in Belgium and Cyprus, provide subject matter expertise, technical leadership and direction regarding the development, systems support and compliance of the MOD Schools Wide Area Network (WAN).

As a key player within the team, you will contribute to the delivery of outstanding ICT services to DCS staff and students across the estate.

This position is advertised as full time at 37 hours per week. Due to the nature of the work 100% office attendance is required.

Tour length is 3 years.

Defence Children Services (DCS) is a Defence delivery organisation, subordinated under Army Regional Command. Our Vision is that we Educate the Child – Support the Family – Defend the Nation. HQ DCS is UK based at Trenchard Lines, Upavon and has forward deployed staff all over the world. DCS is responsible for the education and care of children of accompanied Service and Defence entitled personnel in MOD schools and settings; provides advice and guidance in respect of education for service families in the United Kingdom and the wider world.

This is an established MOD post within Cyprus, and any Cypriot nationals (including dual nationals) will not be eligible to apply as a UKBC (UK Based Civil Servant).

Job description

Key responsibilities

The post holder’s key responsibilities and main duties are to:

• Enable the delivery of change to the catalogue of services offered by the ICT Team. Ensuring all change control processes are followed and help end users adopt new skills, behaviours and efficiencies to maximise the business benefit of improved ICT services.
• Actively maintain and support assurance process for the system. Providing technical advice and expertise to ICT Systems and Strategy Team Lead regarding specific roles and responsibilities as detailed.
• Deliver high quality support and advice by maintaining effective working relationships with key service stakeholders and users to the schools for a range of IT systems and services, many of which are business critical.
• Project manage and technically deliver all new builds/modifications/upgrades/overhauls to the System and provide leadership and guidance for System Engineers on installation, maintenance, configuration and support of servers and storage in DCS Hubs and MOD Schools and settings.
• Maintain, update and manage all technical documentation, including knowledge bases and configuration design documentation. Ensuring that all documents are current, up to date and available to maintain the System Security Accreditation process.
• Any additional duties supporting ICT System and Strategy and the wider IT support team when required.

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team via the Help link.

Person specification

The post holder will be required to hold the following essential knowledge and experience:

• Evidence of excellent and broad, practical and theoretical knowledge of Information and Communication Technology; architecture, installation and administration.
• Knowledge of project management in a complex and dispersed network environment.
• An in depth understanding of IT technologies, Office Productivity, Microsoft based operating systems and applications such as: Building, managing and deployment of Server 2022 and above, Windows 10 and 11, Office 365; Firewalls, Switch configurations, Anti Malware solutions, Active Directory, wireless and wired networks, TCP/IP, Mobile Device Management solutions, Azure AD and Microsoft 365.
• An understanding of Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and project management methodology
• Significant successful experience of ICT systems management, including running customer-facing services in a modern WAN environment and managing a range of stakeholders.
• Experience of change management ideally experienced in Change Management/ Advisory Board.
• Strong ICT team leadership skills, including the ability to both lead and support.
• Hands-on experience with computer networks, network development and administration.
• Evidence of successful experience managing software testing and integration.
• Experience of working with partner organisations in the delivery of objectives.
• Evidence and experience of managing conflict between different stakeholders, in particular where there may be different requirements and expectations.
• Evidence of commitment to roles undertaken and ownership of the outcomes achieved.
• The ability to interpret, model and articulate a strong vision for service quality and continuous improvement.
• The ability to challenge and negotiate with schools over their requirements, manage expectations and meet the requirements and demands of different stakeholders.
• Experience of using Microsoft Office applications and the competence to exploit the full potential of Office 365.
• The ability to perform effectively within a team and ensure all team members operate in a professional manner with issues dealt with promptly.
• Evidence of the following functional skills: application support, customer service support, incident management, information security, IT infrastructure, project management, relationship management, security administration, service level management, storage management and systems development management.

Desirable Qualifications

• A relevant IT Service Management qualification such as ITIL4

Personal Qualities

• The Senior Systems Engineer will possess excellent communication skills and be able to develop and maintain a good working relationship with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders. They will adopt an innovative and flexible approach to solving problems, be a self-motivator who can demonstrate initiative and be able to manage to strict and demanding deadlines.
• You will have high standards of professional integrity, be resilient, determined, confident and energetic. They will be committed to the delivery of excellent customer service, with the ability to adapt the approach as the situation demands and be able to develop a knowledge of a range of subjects.
• The post holder will be an inclusive leader and be visible, approachable and accessible. They will be an excellent coach and mentor

Other Duties

• The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of respon