Description
Directory Services & Messaging Specialist
This is a contract role, initially for a period of one year, with extension likely. Excellent rates paid.
Technical environment:
MB switched Ethernet LAN, with Firewalls, Routers, Switches (Layer 2 & 3), Wireless, VPN equipment and IPS. Microsoft Windows Domain architecture with Active Directory. Several of the local authorities participate in aNationalActiveDirectoryForest Database Servers are predominantly Microsoft SQL Server running on Microsoft Windows Server hosted within a Data Centre and multiple remote locations. A number of high availability technologies are currently in use including Clustering (MSCS), Log Shipping and other third party utilities. Replication is widely used between sites and DMZs and includes Snapshot, Transactional and Merge Replication. The hosting facility currently houses 600 web sites on 300 Servers approximately. WAN & MAN environment, utilising Firewalls (predominantly Checkpoint & Cisco), Routers (Cisco 7204 & downwards), Switches (Layer 2 & 3, Cisco 6509 & downwards), Cisco load balancers, Wireless, VPN equipment and IPS SAN using Dell Compellent. Zoning, Switching & storage administration. IIS, versions 5.0 to 7.0, is an integral part of the hosting service. Monitoring systems include Microsoft Operations Manager 2007, Solarwinds, IPMonitor, Netflow. Website Analytical tools currently using Webtrends to set up and analyse logs using the on premises solution. DNS is used both internally and externally and runs off Windows Server 2003 & 2008. Tasks:
Maintain, monitor and provide emergency cover for the national infrastructure, encompassing a national Windows forest implementation of 24+ geographically and administratively dispersed domains. Resolution of support issues arising from differing IT support and technical groups. Troubleshooting, diagnosing, and supporting application and technical architecture development, test and rollout activities.
Implementation of multiple application projects based on MS business systems technologies. Driving and supervising detailed end to end technical architecture design, build, test, and deployment activities.
Develop Standards and conduct research in Infrastructure and best practise. Implement, where practical, recommendations of Microsoft reviews across the sector. Develop and manage the migrations of the infrastructure, eg from Exchange at centrally hosted and local levels within a national forest. Assist in the completion of a security audit of the entire LA network, systems and procedures in line with ISO 27001 standard and periodic reviews thereafter. Deploy and support solutions for inventory, security patching, system monitoring & application deployment, such as System Centre Essentials, Windows Deployment Services and Configuration Manager, and central monitoring of the critical national infrastructure. Configure, deploy and support Proxy Server and Firewalling (ISA 2006) and web content filtering solutions. Provide on-site consultancy and support to local authorities as required. It is expected that considerable on-site activity will occur involving some overnight stays nationwide. Liaise with network teams (both the company and local authority) to ensure Network best practices are adhered to. Effect skills transfer to existing members of the ICT Consultancy team and others as requested. Communicate with other technology experts in relation to integration of Network technologies with other technologies in a WINTEL enterprise environment. Attend and contribute to meetings, seminars, workshops etc. as required by the Network Services Manager. Demonstrate a strong commitment to ensuring customer satisfaction in all of their dealings with the company and its customers. - 4 years experience in Exchange in a senior technical role
- Experience of migrations of the infrastructure, eg from Exchange 2003 to at centrally hosted and local levels within a national forest.
- 4 years experience of Windows Operating Systems (Windows Server ) andActiveDirectoryForest.
- Experience of ISA 2006 arrays. Configuration of access , web and Exchange publishing rules
Skills:
- Proven ability to analyse existing infrastructures and requirements, design and implement appropriate changes to take account of business and industry developments and client needs.
- Knowledge of Web Filtering applications such as Websense and Surf Control and Linux knowledge.
- Proficiency in Scripting.
Desirable
- maintaining, monitoring and providing emergency cover for a large infrastructure, encompassing a Windows forest implementation of geographically and administratively dispersed domains.
- resolving support issues arising from differing IT support and technical groups. Troubleshooting, diagnosing, and supporting application and technical architecture development, test and rollout activities.
- Configuration of networking and network load balancing. In depth knowledge of authentication models.
- operating in ITIL-type environment.
- deploying and supporting solutions for inventory, security patching, system monitoring & application deployment, such as System Centre Essentials, Windows Deployment Services and Configuration Manager, and central monitoring of critical infrastructure.
- security audits of large networks, systems and procedures in line with ISO 27001 standard and conducting periodic reviews thereafter.
- implementation of multiple application projects based on MS business systems technologies, driving and supervising detailed end to end technical architecture design, build, test, and deployment activities.
- designing and implementing disaster recovery procedures.
- delivering consultancy in a client facing environment.
- virtualisation technologies especially VMware.
