Network Specialist

Network Specialist - Location: Cheltenham, UK. Benefits: 27 days holiday plus Wellbeing day, Private Medical Insurance, Bonus scheme, Share scheme, Enhanced pension plan, Life assurance, On-site gym, Free on-site parking, Salary sacrifice schemes for Technology and Electric Vehicles.

Role overview: The Connectivity Services Specialist is responsible for the design, implementation, and support of LAN and Wi Fi infrastructure, with a focus on Cisco switching and Meraki wireless technologies. This role ensures the stability, performance, and security of onsite network services across Global locations. In addition to managing local network infrastructure, the role will oversee WAN connectivity provided by a third party partner, ensuring service quality, compliance with SLAs, and effective coordination for new deployments, changes, and incident resolution. The role requires strong technical expertise in LAN, WAN, Wi Fi, load balancers, data centre, SD networks and automation, Cloud (Azure, express routes), proactive problem solving, and effective collaboration with internal teams and external vendors.

Your objectives and responsibilities will focus on:

• Design, configure, and maintain LAN and Wi Fi infrastructure using Cisco switches and Meraki wireless solutions.
• Ensure optimal network performance, reliability, and security across all sites.
• Execute network changes, upgrades, and new installations in line with architectural standards and project requirements.
• Document configurations, topology diagrams, and changes following best practices.
• Act as the primary point of contact for WAN service providers (e.g., Verizon), managing service delivery, change requests, and issue resolution.
• Monitor WAN performance and ensure adherence to service level agreements (SLAs).
• Lead the resolution of network related incidents, performing root cause analysis and implementing preventive measures.
• Provide Tier 2/3 support for escalated network issues.
• Develop and maintain network standards, policies, and procedures (e.g., Wi Fi security, VLAN design, IP address management).
• Ensure compliance with IT security standards and regulatory requirements.
• Utilise monitoring tools to proactively identify and address performance issues.
• Generate regular reports on network health, uptime, and capacity planning.
• Work closely with internal IT teams, project managers, and business units to support infrastructure needs.
• Liaise effectively with external vendors and service providers.
• Identify opportunities to enhance network efficiency, reliability, or automation.
• Stay updated on emerging technologies and make recommendations for adoption where appropriate.

Your previous experience is likely to include

• Experience as trusted advisor and influencer in shaping business decisions and adoption of Cloud and Infrastructure solutions.
• Lead technical sessions making use of whiteboards or other resources to drive solution discussions leveraging published solution architectures for common infrastructure.
• Knowledge of working within ITIL, PRINCE and, ideally, ISO27001 environments.
• Results driven with the ability to deliver solutions that promote organisational benefit.
• Strategic business acumen and understanding of organisation strategy and ability to design information systems to deliver that strategy.
• Demonstrable experience of taking ownership of a project and leading a team through the design and implementation of that project.
• Team player with experience leading and collaborating cross team to ensure successful delivery of solutions.
• Good awareness of Spirax Sarco business model, processes and people through engagement with the business across all functions.

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate experience:

• Working within Infrastructure & Operations, or a similar operational team.
• Updating and maintaining policies, standards and procedures.
• Working with networks, servers, Active Directory, troubleshooting and maintenance of an IT infrastructure.
• Working knowledge of network protocols, standards and security practices.
• Working knowledge of SDWAN, Cisco and Meraki products.
• Advanced understanding and practical knowledge of TCP/IP, Switching and Routing, Next Gen Firewalls, Load Balancers, Web Proxies, Wireless Networking, VPN Appliances.
• Understanding of core IT Technologies (DNS, DHCP, BGP, OSPF).
• Possess relevant qualifications in IT, CCNA, CCNP, CompTIA A+.
• Possess knowledge of Enterprise Endpoint security, encryption, hardening protection and patching.

Company and inclusion

Spirax Group is a FTSE100 and FTSE4Good multi national industrial engineering Group with expertise in the control and management of steam, electric thermal solutions, peristaltic pumping and associated fluid technologies. Our Purpose is to create sustainable value for all our stakeholders as we engineer a more efficient, safer and sustainable world. Our technologies play an essential role in critical industrial processes and industrial equipment across industries as diverse as Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology, Power Generation, Semiconductors and Healthcare. With customers in 165 countries, we provide the solutions that sit behind the production of many items used in daily life, from baked beans to mobile phones. We support our colleagues to make their difference for each other as well as customers, communities, suppliers, our planet and shareholders by creating a truly equitable working environment where everyone feels included.

Benefits

You will receive a competitive salary (and a discretionary bonus), flexible working and excellent benefits including 27 days holiday allowance (before bank holidays), 3 days' paid volunteering leave, comprehensive private healthcare, enhanced pension plan, life assurance, optional participation in a Share Ownership Plan, free onsite parking, flexible benefits, and access to a personal discounts portal. We also offer a range of additional support and benefits through our Everyone is Included Group Inclusion Plan, detailed below.

Everyone is Included at Spirax Group

We are passionate about creating inclusive and equitable working cultures where everyone can be themselves and achieve their full potential. For us, that means supportive teams and strong relationships where everyone's contribution is valued - across social and cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, genders, gender identities, abilities, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and everything else that makes us human and unique.

We want everyone to be able to make their difference here, so we will always consider requests for flexible working.

We know that everyone needs some extra help from time to time too, so we have introduced a range of additional benefits through our Group Inclusion Commitments. These include gender neutral parental leave, 15 days of extra paid caregiver leave, paid time off and support for anyone experiencing pregnancy loss or domestic abuse, menopause friendly workplace principles and more. Learn more at

We are also a Disability Confident Committed Employer. If you would like to apply using this scheme, please select this option in our application form or notify our recruitment partners.