Information Technology

We are heavily reliant on our ICT systems in order to deliver major business change programmes. Investment in ICT averages £3 million to £5 million per annum, and the major projects are implemented on a rolling programme. From web site development to major back-office systems; IT professionals are in constant demand, managing systems which run across a network of some 6000 end-users. If you enjoy the challenge of large-scale IT projects, this is the environment for you! The largest employer of professional IT staff is the central IT Division (part of our Resources Department) which employs approximately 140 staff across the full range of technical and IT management disciplines. Career development schemes operate in most of these teams.

Business Consultancy
Business Consultants are responsible for providing consultancy and advice concerning the planning and management of information systems and technology requirements, in support of forthcoming local and central government initiatives.

Advice typically includes the identification of required information systems/technology and also the professional support and assistance required for the management of such developments, including:-

• Formal specification of business requirements for ICT procurement
• Cost/benefit analyses and risk assessments
• Tender evaluations
• Post-implementation reviews

Consultants are also expected to make a significant contribution to the setting and development of appropriate professional standards for corporate use in relation to these activities.

Project Management
The scale of many of our ICT projects demands high quality project management. Our ICT project managers are fully trained in PRINCE 2 project management methodology to Certified Practitioner level, with many encouraged to undertake further qualification courses such as the ISEB’s project management courses. Projects vary greatly in terms of technical platforms, business risk and complexity, but all offer a rewarding opportunity to use a professional structured project management approach.

Project Manager's tasks include

• Ensuring that the project is clearly defined
• Managing all phases of a project using the prescribed methodology
• Planning, monitoring and controlling project progress
• Building, leading and motivating the project team
• Acting as the prime contact for the project

Business Application and Training
Business Application and Training staff produce technical solutions from customer business requirements by:

• Customising and developing applications using Web and Client Server technology to store maintain and deliver information and knowledge both internally and externally.
• Designing and supporting the Corporate Management Information Warehouse and its associated query tools.
• Developing, supporting and maintaining Geographical Information Systems providing a digital map base, map production, address-matching service, consultancy and web based applications.
• Analysing and meeting customer training needs on a wide variety of industry standard and Authority specific packages and applications.

Business Management
Business Managers own and manage the relationship between IT and Customer groups. Monitoring service delivery, negotiating charges, managing contracts and Service Level Agreements, production of financial statements and invoices are all part of the function. The main objective is to ensure the customer business needs are at the centre of our business planning and drive IT delivery. Through this process IT will accurately reflect the needs and aspirations of the customer. Tact, diplomacy, negotiating and relationship management skills are essential pre requisites.

Technical Support
Data Management, systems programming, and customer support are main aspects of roles within this section, as is having good knowledge of installing and maintaining operating systems and support software on the type of technology used.

This section also helps to ensure the smooth running, concurrency and availability of services we support as well as resolving many and varied technical problems.

Operations Support
The Operations Support group provide day-to-day support for the Authority’s mainframe and Unix systems, storage management, business continuity, security, capacity planning, backup and recovery, archiving strategies, application recovery, job scheduling, output management systems, change management (development to production) and performance monitoring.

Network Operations
The Network Operations group manages day-to-day running of the Authority’s telephone and data network. It provides a telephone service to 14 major sites and a data service to over 400 sites. The data network allows users to access computer services provided centrally at County Hall, to communicate with other sites if required, and to access the Internet via a central high-speed connection.

Customer Support
The Help Desk group is the first point of contact for users with problems or queries. They carry out first line problem determination and are responsible for managing the resolution of reported problems affecting service delivery.

Data Preparation
The Data Preparation group receive, batch, prioritise and perform fast data entry of operational input documents and survey documents.

System Security and Access
The System Security and Access group deal with security administration, setting up user profiles, support for electronic mail systems and access security.

User Support
The User Support group manages the Authority’s desktop PCs, Intel Servers, laptops, Personnel Digital Assistants (PDAs) and virus management. They support over 4,500 PCs and in excess of 200 Intel servers.

For more information on the above occupations please contact our Resources Departmental Personnel on (0115) 977 4008.