Senior Application Operations Engineer -Technology CSC - Counter Terrorism Policing HQ
Job Title: Senior Application Operations Engineer - Technology CSC - Counter Terrorism Policing HQ
Salary: The starting salary is £51,196, which includes allowances totalling £2,841.
The salary is broken down as £48,355 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £52,730. Plus, a location allowance of £1,841 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.
Location: Birmingham
Every day, our team works hard to support applications that will help to protect the UK. As part of our second line applications support team, you’ll troubleshoot technical incidents and provide operational support for our large portfolio of applications, which are critical to the UK’s Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) Network. Intrigued? Join us and play your part in protecting the nation.
Thanks to fast-evolving technology, new applications are being developed for policing all the time. Your task will be to help support this growing area by tackling applications-related issues. Day-to-day, you'll assist the Application Operations Engineers and Data Engineers in maintaining the Applications portfolio to ensure we have an accurate record of supported applications. You'll also be an escalation point for all applications-related incidents, managing them through to resolution. Whenever new or improved applications roll out, your role will be key in making sure that live support is seamless.
Part of the Applications and Data Team, you’ll work within an ITIL aligned environment. Responding to IT incidents, requests, problems, and changes, you will be our second line contact to police officers and staff around the country. By troubleshooting application issues, deploying new applications, and solving application defects, you can really make a difference.
We want you to take the initiative when it comes to good working practices and processes. So, you'll need experience of applications management and ideally, knowledge of ITIL-environments. With this expertise, you'll feel confident taking responsibility for outstanding faults, liaising with users and the other technical teams.
While strong technical expertise in application design and development, including agile methodologies, database design and infrastructure technologies is essential, you should be equally good with people – able to explain technical issues simply and form good relationships. If you’re a natural problem solver with an analytical mindset, great customer service skills plus a good grasp of ITIL, we’d like to hear from you.
In return for your efforts, you can expect a rewarding role, a competitive salary, a Civil Service pension, and excellent career development.
Job Summary
As a Senior Application Operations Engineer, you'll support business-critical systems that are vital to our work in an ITIL-aligned environment. Join us, and you won’t just be supporting applications – you’ll be helping to protect the UK. This is a great opportunity to join us at the Customer Service Centre (CSC), which provides IT services for the Counter Terrorism Policing network.
As a senior member of the team, you’ll also take on some additional tasks: implementing an ITIL-aligned Application Management strategy and mentoring junior analysts. In effect, you’ll be a subject matter expert, tackling escalations and developing our talent.
While an understanding of Microsoft development tools is essential (IIS, .NET, MS-SQL, Visual Studio), you should be just as adept with people – and be able to explain technical issues simply and form good working relationships.
We’re looking for an experienced Applications professional who inspires trust. You’ll bring strong technical expertise in application design and development, including agile methodologies, database design and infrastructure technologies. Equally important are customer focus and strong communication skills. Adept at connecting with others, you’ll discuss solutions, update stakeholders and deal with suppliers every day.
Key Tasks
The post holder will be required to do the following:
- Working within a service team monitoring components such as web servers, applications servers, log files, disk space and MS-SQL databases.
- A point of escalation for all Application related issues within the Applications and Data Team.
- Working as part of a second line support function following incident management through to incident resolution. Natural problem solving with ability to apply previous experience to new problems working towards root cause analysis.
- Ensuring the entire application estate aligns within Application Lifecycle Management.
- Working with third party suppliers, stakeholders, and departmental ICT teams to assist in delivering patch/release of applications while coordinating vendor support.
- Maintaining middleware such as; IIS, MS-SQL Server, Active Directory, ASP and NET, including troubleshooting, performance tuning, basic querying and resolving bottlenecks.
- Working on cloud and container technologies and Kubernetes.
- Design, development, testing and deployment of Tableau Dashboards.
- Report writing with tools such as PowerShell, JavaScript, HTML and SQL.
- Daily support of COTS and WEB based software applications with an emphasis on the ability to problem solve.
- Strong customer focus – understanding the needs of the internal and external customer and keeping them in mind when taking actions or making decisions.
Vetting
This post requires access to the most sensitive intelligence material on a daily basis. Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo National Security Vetting (NSV) Developed Vetting (DV) level before taking up the post.
Additionally, this material is of particular sensitivity to the UK and its distribution must be restricted to UK nationals. In approved circumstances dual nationals (of which one element is British) may also be granted access. However, in the event that potential conflicts of interest cannot be managed the post holder will not be able to see the intelligence material and will not be able to perform their duties. For the purpose of safeguarding national security and in line with Cabinet Office Policy, supported by Section 82(2) to (4) of the Police Reform Act (2002), applicants who do not hold or acquire Security Check (enhanced) (SC(e)) OR Developed Vetting (DV) clearance and meet the nationality requirements cannot be offered the post.
Confidentiality Agreement
Applicants should also be aware of the need to sign a confidentiality agreement on taking up the post.
Our Employee Commitments
Counter Terrorism Policing aims to create an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere and culture and an environment where all our people feel a strong sense of belonging and are able to reach their full potential. Where any group or individual can be and feel respected, supported and valued to fully participate and contribute to our mission of “Working to keep people safe from Terrorism”.
Inclusion, diversity and equality is at the front and centre of our approach to make the composition of Counter Terrorism Policing more representative of the communities we serve. As Counter Terrorism is rooted in Local Policing, to tackle today’s complex policing challenges, applications from across all communities are therefore essential and encouraged. Counter Terrorism Policing as a network is committed to ensuring that disabled people and those with long-term health conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations’.
Counter Terrorism Policing is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working arrangements, including part time working or job share. In addition, this role has been reviewed following learning from work during the Covid pandemic and may be done in an agile manner. In the first instance, please contact the vacancy holder to discuss how such arrangements could be accommodated (where applicable).
How to apply
Click the apply now button below and start your career at the Met. Applications will be via a detailed online application form.
Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 21st November 2024.
Once received, your application will be reviewed against eligibility criteria, following this, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager. The application review for this vacancy will commence around 06/12/2024.
Following application review, successful candidates will be invited to interview. Interview dates will commence around 13/12/2024.