Network architect

Band 7 · Network architect · 496 job evaluation points

UK GDaD PCF level: Network architect

Most often performed at Civil Service grade HEO or SEO.

A network architect has responsibility for network designs and specifications to support business strategies using common tools.
At this role level, you will:
research new technologies and solutions, and ensure appropriate levels of assurance
plan, direct and co-ordinate activities, engaging with other stakeholders to manage and implement a programme
agree SLAs (service level agreements) and engage with third party vendors
have an understanding of most of the following network technologies: LAN (local area network), WAN (wide area network), wifi, data-centre LAN, SD (software-defined) networks, telephony, mobile solutions infrastructure, unified comms, network management solutions, network-specific security and remote access technologies and approaches
coach and mentor associate network architects where appropriate
collaborate with engineers to ensure systems are practically designed

Contains public sector information from the UK Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (https://understand-digital-data-roles-skills.service.gov.uk/), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

Responsibilities

Design local, wide area, wireless, and cloud network solutions for sites and services.
Design network segmentation for medical devices, clinical systems, and guest access.
Plan network changes in clinical areas with service leads so that care is not disrupted.
Agree service levels with suppliers and connection requirements with partner networks.
Assess new network technologies and their fit with the organisation's security standards.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Governance and assuranceUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: develop appropriate governance and assurance processes identify and recommend improvements to governance and assurance processes support others in following or applying governance and assurance processes
IT infrastructureUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: design and implement infrastructure solutions and services, for example, networking and physical infrastructure, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software, open source packages and solutions, or virtual and cloud computing
Systems designUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: design systems characterised by medium levels of risk, impact, and business or technical complexity select appropriate design standards, methods and tools, and ensure they are applied effectively review the systems designs of others to ensure the selection of appropriate technology, efficient use of resources and integration of multiple systems and technology
Systems integrationUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: define the integration build co-ordinate build activities across systems understand how to undertake and support integration testing activities
Technical understandingUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: show a thorough understanding of the technical concepts required for the role, and can explain how these fit into the wider technical landscape
Troubleshooting and problem resolutionUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: break a problem down into its component parts to identify and diagnose root causes troubleshoot and identify problems across different technology capabilities
Understanding health and care servicesThis reference	Working (2)	You can: explain the clinical and care workflows your work supports use common health care terms correctly with clinical and care colleagues recognise when a change could affect patient care and raise it
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Working (2)	You can: apply data protection principles to your work contribute to data protection impact assessments handle information requests and records correctly
Clinical risk managementThis reference	Working (2)	You can: take part in hazard workshops and contribute to a hazard log follow the clinical risk management process for your work provide evidence for a clinical safety case, such as test results
Identity and access managementThis reference	Working (2)	You can: create, change, and remove user accounts and access rights check access against role-based access rules
Vulnerability managementThis reference	Working (2)	You can: run vulnerability scans and report the results track fixes with system owners

Typical qualifications and experience

Specialist knowledge of network architecture, at master's level or equivalent experience.
Experience of designing and supporting enterprise networks.

Band 7 outline

Knowledge: Highly developed specialist knowledge, typically to master's level or equivalent experience.
Autonomy: Works to organisational policy; decides how results are achieved; is the expert others consult.
Scope: Several products or services, or a specialist function.
Leadership: Leads a team or a professional practice area.
Accountability: Delivery of a service or specialist function, and its budget if held.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	5	Gives highly complex or contentious information needing developed persuasion and negotiation, presents to large groups, or communicates where there are significant barriers to acceptance.	45
Knowledge, training, and experience	7	Highly developed specialist knowledge across the range of the specialism (master's level or equivalent).	196
Analytical and judgemental skills	5	Judgements on highly complex facts or situations needing analysis, interpretation, and comparison of options.	60
Planning and organisational skills	3	Plans several complex activities, adjusting plans as needed.	27
Physical skills	2	Skills gained through practice, such as standard keyboard use or driving.	15
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	3	Implements policies for own area and proposes changes that affect other areas.	21
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	1	Takes personal care of equipment and resources used in own work.	5
Responsibility for people	2	Supervises or coordinates staff day to day, trains others regularly, or gives basic HR advice.	12
Responsibility for information resources	5	Designs and develops major information systems, or runs information systems for several services as the main duty.	34
Responsibility for research and development	2	Regularly does research, development, trials, or equipment and system testing as part of the job.	12
Freedom to act	4	Results are defined, but the job holder decides how to achieve them, within broad policy.	32
Physical effort	1	Sitting, standing, and walking, with little physical effort.	3
Mental effort	4	Frequent prolonged concentration, or occasional intense concentration.	18
Emotional effort	1	Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	5
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 7: 466 to 539)			496

Banded above the UK GDaD PCF grade suggestion (Band 6): health-sector adverts place this role at Band 7. Knowledge is scored at master's level or equivalent for specialist knowledge across local, wide area, wireless, and cloud networks.