IT Ops team leader - network provisioning

• Department – IT Operations
• Responsible to: Head of IT Operations
• Location: BL9 8RR
• Hours – 08:30-17:00 40 hours  

Role Overview

Reporting to the Head of IT Operations, The IT Comms Provisioning Team Leader will oversee the comms team, ensuring efficient management of all network communications orders, including lines, network overlay, and telephony. This role involves leading and coordinating the activities of the comms coordinators, and SD WAN project managers, managing their program of works related to new store openings, business closures, and SD WAN transformation project, ensuring all tasks are completed on schedule and to a high standard.

Key Responsibilities Accountabilities and Tasks:

• Manage Network Comms Team:Oversee the team responsible for coordinating all elements of network communications for IT, ensuring the successful delivery of services, including internet line ordering, network switch/routers, SD WAN overlay installation, telephony, and cellular solutions.
• Allocate and Coordinate Work:Distribute and manage the team’s workload, including handling tickets, project work, and ensuring consistency across tasks.
• SLAs and KPIs Management:Manage, maintain, and review SLAs and KPIs for the team, ensuring targets are met and performance is optimized.
• Documentation and Reporting:Create and maintain process documentation for the team. Produce reports to support new store openings, new services, and strategic IT projects, highlighting status and milestones.
• Risk and Issue Management:Identify and manage risks, issues, actions, and decisions, escalating to senior management as necessary.
• Continuous Improvement:Contribute to ongoing improvements within the wider IT Operations team, driving process enhancements.
• Stakeholder Communication:Handle regular communications with stores and stakeholders, keeping them informed about project progress and updates.
• Comms and Cellular Deployment:Oversee tactical cellular deployments for new stores and manage comms-related equipment, including stock management and ordering.
• Site Closures Management:Take full responsibility for comms ceases, billing validation for site closures, and ensuring accurate process documentation.
• On-Site Audits and Travel:Conduct European and UK-wide site visits, where required to review third-party installations, and ensure adherence to JD standards.
• Reporting and Analysis:Compile and present weekly/monthly statistics, highlighting key work, risks, and issues, feeding into strategic reporting for IT Operations.
• Team Leadership:Exercise full line management responsibilities, ensuring the team meets all deadlines and maintains high standards in job completion Part of and feed  into the leadership team for IT Operations.

Skills/Experience/Knowledge needed:Essential

• Project Management:Ability to effectively manage multiple network communications projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within scope.
• Leadership:Strong leadership skills to guide, motivate, and manage a team, ensuring high performance and collaboration.
• Technical Knowledge:An understanding of network communications, including internet lines, SD WAN, telephony, and cellular technologies.
• Problem-Solving:Excellent problem-solving skills to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve issues related to network provisioning and team coordination.
• Communication:Strong communication skills to liaise with stakeholders, vendors, and team members, ensuring clear and effective information flow.
• Experience in using Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and project tools.
• A valid UK passport.
• A valid UK driving license.
• Experience working in a projects environment, minimum 3 years.
• Experiencing managing a team.

Preferable

• Experience working in a retail environment.
• Understanding of software tools such as Microsoft Project , excel and Visio.
• Understanding the business drivers (e.g. tangible, intangible benefits)

The Company:

The JD Group is a leading omnichannel retailer of Sports Fashion, Street & Premium Fashion, Outdoors and Gyms with over 60,000 colleagues over 3,400 stores across several retail fascia's in over 30 markets around the world.

We are an equal opportunities employer who embraces and values differences. We recognise the importance of an inclusive workplace culture in which everyone can thrive irrespective of their background or identity.

To be a part of this successful and continuously growing company, you will have the desire to ingrain our strategic goals of being a people first, a digital leader and customer focused organisation which provides operational excellence and is continuous with identifying new areas of growth into our day-to-day.

We know our employees work tirelessly to make JD Sports the success it is today and in turn, we offer them some amazing benefits:

• Incremental Holiday Allowance
• Staff Discount on qualifying purchases across Group retail stores and online
• Exclusive Colleague Bike Discount scheme
• Discounted Gym membership
• Personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work
• Access to Apprenticeships and accredited qualifications

Interested?

If you are interested in this position, then press the Apply Now button.

Due to the high volumes of applications our opportunities attract, it takes time to review them all. If you don't hear back within two weeks of your application, please consider your application to have been unsuccessful on this occasion

Applications that meet the skills criteria will be contacted for a 1st stage meeting with the talent team. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to interview with the hiring manager.

Thank you again for your time.