IT Data Platforms Applications Specialist

About Us

Our IT team are vital to our business in many ways. Not only do they assist their colleagues across the business by supporting and enabling everything from desktop computers and networking to managing infrastructure, they also take care of cyber security and develop applications. 

How they do all that is just as important: our IT teams provide services that are bespoke, cost-effective, secure and reliable. They also look ahead to see how IT can help the business to implement strategy and be an enabler for both efficiency and success. 

The IT team offers a wide variety of roles and opportunities to work at the forefront of technology using the very latest toolsets. In return, their development is supported and they’re encouraged and enabled to maintain their evolving knowledge in line with innovation. 

Just so you know our name is changing. From September 2022, Western Power Distribution will be known as National Grid. We’re changing our name, but our people and focus on providing great service to customers remains unchanged. We’re responsible for keeping the energy flowing to communities across our region for your home or business. As part of National Grid, we’re now the largest electricity transmission and distribution business in the UK at the heart of a clean, fair and affordable energy future.

Western Power Distribution is an equal opportunities employer, a Disability Level 1 Employer and a corporate signatory of WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) programme. Our desire is to bring in more employees from diverse backgrounds to build further on our inclusive culture. We value and celebrate individual difference and we believe that an inclusive culture will help the business grow as a positive, strong and innovative company.

Job Introduction

An opportunity has arisen for an Applications Specialist working within the IT Department’s new Data Platforms Team. 

The Data Platforms team looks after a multitude of industry standard data and reporting 3^rd party applications, with projections for the need to grow as we look to increase digitalisation across the company. As a key member of this growing team your duties will involve end-to-end management of these applications (working in conjunction with our colleges in the Windows and Database teams), from initial design to installing, configuring, supporting, managing and maintaining the applications as needed.

As part of our hybrid working approach this role offers a mix of office and home working. Hybrid working can only be considered once your initial training is complete and subject to business need.

*Please note the successful candidate may initially be appointed at a lower salary until all relevant courses and training are complete.

If you are offered a position, you will be required to undertake and successfully complete a BS7858 security screening check.

As part of our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, all applications to Western Power Distribution jobs are automatically anonymised by our recruitment system. This is with the aim of realising our ambition to have a workforce which is reflective of the community we serve and eliminating unconscious bias, allowing employees to be appointed based on their talent, skills and experiences regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic.

Our hiring managers will have no access to your name, age, gender or other diversity information until after shortlisting has taken place. This detail will become visible before interview to allow managers to prepare.

Main Responsibilities

You will be working in a small team delivering both project work and BAU support, taking ownership of issues on existing applications (travel to other regions and offices will be required from time to time), ensuring any issues are resolved to the satisfaction of the customer.

• Contribute to the strategic direction of new technologies and data platforms on which the companies systems will run.
• Project management on new application implementations and large scale changes from initial design to go-live.
• Perform the installation, maintenance and customisation of approved and supported applications across all environments.
• Provide end-to-end support and incident management of the company’s Data Platform applications and platforms (for example, Microsoft/Oracle industry standard applications).
• Monitor and manage application health and resilience, including liaising with other IT teams for system monitoring, backup/restore/failover and taking part in DR testing.
• Ensure that cyber security requirements are maintained to the required level and that all components of the application are patched to the appropriate level.
• Develop PowerShell scripts to automate regular tasks such as routine application maintenance, patching or software upgrades and report generation.
• Deliver service without supervision (including site visits), and the supervision of staff such as 3rd party contractors, as appropriate.
• Create, edit and maintain process documentation and knowledge base articles.
• Create and manage changes via the change management system, ensuring all approvals are obtained and change process followed keeping stakeholders informed of progress.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will have strong technical, troubleshooting, planning and organisational skills with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Experience of working in a customer-facing role is essential. You will also have a proven track record of providing technical delivery through design, build and implementation stages.

• Experience and knowledge of the following systems and applications would be beneficial  (the more the better, however some training can be provided):
  • Microsoft Windows Server
  • Windows Security including Active Directory
  • Oracle Application Technologies (Java/WebLogic/Hyperion EPM)
  • Database technologies (Microsoft SQL Server/Oracle Database)
  • Business Intelligence Applications (OBIEE/Power BI/WebFOCUS)
  • Data Integration Applications (ODI/SSIS)
  • Web Tier technologies (IIS/Apache/OHS)
  • PowerShell Scripting skills
  • Data Warehouse Applications
  • Networking knowledge (IP addressing, firewall rules, DNS, Load balancing)
  • Cloud Applications (Google/AWS) and APIs
• Experience of project management and project delivery with multiple stakeholders and comfortable working across multiple projects and immersing yourself in a team
• Build good working relationships with both technical and business stakeholders, gaining their respect and trust based on your knowledge and professionalism
• Have the ability and desire to quickly learn new technologies.

As a member of the team, you may be expected to participate in a compensated Out of Hours standby working arrangement and may be required to work paid overtime. As the team supports multiple WPD sites, a driving licence and own transport is required. You will also be required to undergo security and DBS vetting due to the nature of the role and our company.

About The Company

If this is your opportunity to join us, you’ll find we offer a supportive, rewarding and friendly working environment where you’ll be empowered to build a career. Along the way, you’ll be invested in, be enabled by the latest technology and find that we’re always interested in evolving our systems and processes so that we get even better, every day.

Our extensive benefits package includes:

• A competitive salary between £50,815 - £56,786
• 26 days paid leave plus 8 bank holidays, up to 28 days with continuous service
• Competitive contributory pension scheme (maximum company contribution up to 10%)
• Annual Share Save plan
• Flexible working hours – subject to 37 hours per week and some set core hours
• Progression & career opportunities
• Close mentorship and regular feedback
• Training and development opportunities
• Support via our Employee Assistance Programme, including musculoskeletal and physiotherapy services
• Home working kit including laptop, monitor & headset provided
• Free On-Site Parking

Additional Application Information

Recruitment correspondence is usually sent by email, so please do check your email account including spam/junk folders regularly after the closing date.

To enhance your candidate experience, we recommend using Google Chrome to complete your online application. Should you have any questions regarding this or require additional support to complete your online application, please email recruitment@westernpower.co.uk

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early should sufficient numbers of suitable applications be received. We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible.