DevOps Specialist

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Availability and Capacity ManagementStandards and Procedures: Ensure the effective implementation of technical standards and procedures for system availability and resilience.Regularly review and update these standards to meet the evolving needs of the Trust.Capacity Planning: Identify potential capacity issues, monitor system performance, and take proactive steps to ensure systems can handle current and future workloads. Implement scaling strategies to avoid disruptions in service availability.Remedial Action: Initiate timely corrective actions to address capacity issues or system failures, ensuring minimal downtime and a seamless user experience.

2. Development Process OptimisationProcess Efficiency: Identify and lead opportunities for process optimisation within the DevOps lifecycle, focusing on automation and reducing manual interventions.Utilise industry best practices to improve development workflows and systems integration.Solution Implementation: Guide the team in implementing process changes and optimisations, ensuring alignment with Trust goals and enhancing system efficiency and user satisfaction.

3. Information SecuritySecurity by Design: Design and implement solutions with security controls embedded from the outset.Ensure all systems and services are engineered to mitigate security threats and comply with data protection and security policies.Access Control: Oversee the security and integrity of systems by managing user access rights, monitoring potential threats, and implementing disaster recovery procedures.Ensure compliance with Trust policies on data protection.Devops Specialist

4. Systems Design and IntegrationSystems Design: Lead the design and development of systems that handle medium to high levels of risk and complexity, ensuring they meet the Trusts operational and business needs.Select and apply the appropriate design standards, tools, and methods for each system.Integration: Coordinate integration activities across systems, ensuring seamless operation between various platforms.Collaborate with developers, system administrators, and other stakeholders to ensure successful integration testing and deployment.

5. Programming and BuildSoftware Development: Lead on the design, coding, testing, and documentation of programs or scripts with medium to high complexity.Ensure the use of the right development standards and tools for each project.Prototyping: Actively engage in team-based prototyping activities, iterating design patterns and working closely with end-users to validate prototypes.Choose appropriate prototyping methods for the task at hand.Root Cause Analysis: Perform root cause analysis for production errors, developing software solutions to address issues and prevent recurrence.

6. Service Support and ReportingService Delivery: Provide expert support for the Trusts digital services, ensuring that service levels are maintained.Manage the release management platform, keeping it up to date and producing operational and service performance reports.Reporting: Work with key stakeholders to discuss and improve service reporting processes, ensuring that operational delivery reports are accurate, timely, and provide valuable insights.Add commentary to reports to help interpret the data for non-technical audiences.

7. Development and Innovation of Information SystemsSystems Performance: Monitor and manage system performance, capacity, and growth.Provide advice on necessary upgrades and hardware/software replacements to ensure system reliability and performance.Innovation: Stay up to date with new technologies, researching and evaluating their potential impact on Trust systems.Make recommendations on the adoption of emerging technologies that could benefit the Trusts infrastructure and services.Devops Specialist

8. Communication and RelationshipsComplex Communication: Communicate complex and highly technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences, including senior management, clinicians, and administrative staff. Translate technical jargon into clear, accessible language to ensure understanding and collaboration.Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with user researchers, developers, infrastructure teams, and other DDaT colleagues to ensure a collaborative approach to system design, development, and support.Represent user needs internally, prioritising user-focused outcomes and facilitating productive discussions around system design and functionality.

9. Financial ResponsibilityBudgeting and Cost Management: Work with the DevOps Manager to manage the financial aspects of the DevOps team, including budgeting for hardware, software, and infrastructure costs.Ensure that projects and solutions are delivered in a cost-effective manner, without compromising on quality or performance.Vendor and Contract Management: Negotiate and manage contracts with external vendors, ensuring value for money and alignment with the Trusts technical and operational requirements.Work closely with suppliers to ensure SLAs are met and services are delivered on time and within budget.

10. Physical ResourcesInfrastructure Management: Lead the commissioning, configuration, and maintenance of network and server infrastructure.Ensure all systems are physically and logically secure, maintaining an accurate inventory of all digital assets, including hardware and software.System Upgrades: Plan and implement hardware and software upgrades to maintain system performance and reliability.Manage database migrations and upgrades as required to ensure system growth and performance needs are met.

11. Training and MentoringKnowledge Transfer: Provide training and mentoring to team members and other Trust staff, ensuring technical knowledge is shared across the team.Actively contribute to the professional development of the DevOps team through formal and informal training sessions.Technical Leadership: Lead by example in maintaining high technical standards, encouraging continuous improvement and innovation within the team.Offer guidance and support to less experienced colleagues to ensure the successful delivery of technical solutions.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Technology, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Professional certifications such as AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, Azure DevOps Expert, or equivalent.
• ITIL certification and familiarity with project management methodologies (e.g., PRINCE2) are advantageous.

• Experience of Prince 2 or Agile project management

Experience

• Significant experience in IT particularly in a DevOps setting Experience of Configuring and managing databases such as MySQL,
• Working knowledge of various tools, open-source technologies, cloud services and the development of APIs and integration standards On-going commitment to attend training courses to update and develop IT skills.
• Evidence of excellent customer service skills and a commitment to improving services and performance for end users.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Berkshire Hospital Main Site

London Road

reading

RG1 5LA

Employer's website

https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/