Head of Digital Infrastructure

Applications are invited for the above permanent, full time post working in Digital & Estates Infrastructure and Development.

Providing strategic and operational leadership for the University’s core digital infrastructure services, the postholder is responsible for all aspects of infrastructure delivery—including networking, server and storage platforms; on-prem, cloud and virtualised environments; endpoint management; cybersecurity; and high-performance computing. This role plays a critical part in enabling digital innovation, ensuring business continuity, and maintaining academic and research excellence.

Proven experience designing, deploying, and managing enterprise IT infrastructure at scale, including 250+ servers (physical, virtual, containerised) is essential.

Committed to Equal Opportunities.

Purpose of the Job

The Head of Digital Infrastructure provides strategic and operational leadership for the University’s core digital infrastructure services, ensuring resilient, secure, and high-performing platforms both on-prem and in the cloud which support over 350 servers, 10,000, users across teaching, research, and administrative environments.
The postholder is responsible for all aspects of infrastructure delivery—including networking, server and storage platforms; on-prem, cloud and virtualised environments; endpoint management; cybersecurity; and high-performance computing. This role plays a critical part in enabling digital innovation, ensuring business continuity, and maintaining academic and research excellence.

Main

**Responsibilities**:
Strategic Infrastructure Leadership
- Develop and deliver the University’s infrastructure strategy, ensuring alignment with institutional goals across teaching & learning, research, and professional services.
- Lead the design and deployment of scalable, secure, and high-availability infrastructure solutions serving over 10,000 users and supporting 250+ physical and virtual servers.
- Provide strategic direction across on-premises and cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS), including containers and virtual environments.

Infrastructure Operations
- Oversee the operation and lifecycle of network services (LAN, WAN, wireless, VPN), server and storage environments, directory and identity systems, and disaster recovery.
- Lead the University’s high-performance computing (HPC) and e-research infrastructure, ensuring reliable access for computational and data-intensive research disciplines.
- Direct endpoint management and digital workplace support for academic staff, researchers, professional services, and students, across physical and virtual learning and work environments.

Cybersecurity and Compliance
- Lead the cybersecurity function, overseeing endpoint protection, intrusion detection, vulnerability management, and threat intelligence.
- Ensure compliance with security frameworks, data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, Cyber Essentials Plus), and sector-specific guidance (e.g., Jisc).

Incident Management and Emergency Response
- Act as the technology lead for major IT incidents and service outages, coordinating cross-functional response and recovery efforts.
- Participate in the 24/7 on-call emergency incident response rota, including out-of-hours and occasional weekend availability.
- Provide expert-level troubleshooting and technical direction during critical events and lead post-incident reviews.

Solution Architecture and Innovation
- Evaluate and implement infrastructure solutions at scale, leveraging automation, orchestration, containerisation, and modern monitoring tools.
- Act as the senior infrastructure solution provider and technical authority for new service rollouts and systems upgrades across enterprise environments.

People and Financial Management
- Lead a multidisciplinary team of network engineers, system administrators, cybersecurity specialists, and research computing staff.
- Promote a collaborative, customer-focused culture with strong emphasis on service quality, innovation, and professional development.
- Manage infrastructure budgets, contracts, supplier relationships, and licensing arrangements to ensure value for money and sustainability.

Key Focus Areas
- Teaching & Learning Environments: Ensure robust digital infrastructure to support hybrid and in-person delivery, including VDI, lecture capture, and access to learning resources.
- Office and Administrative Support: Enable a reliable, secure, and flexible IT environment for staff across faculties, professional services, and leadership offices.
- Research Enablement: Provide advanced computational platforms, secure storage, and scalable data solutions that support interdisciplinary research and innovation.

Other

**Responsibilities**:

- This role includes participation in a 24/7 on-call rota and may require occasional out-of-hours or weekend work.
- The postholder will be expected to represent the University in national and sector-wide infrastructure and cybersecurity forums (e